CARNIVAL "FUNSHIP PRIDE"
The Theme is 'Beauty'
By Ethel Blum
It's not surprising that Carnival has come up with another winner in its newest vessel, Carnival Pride. Second in a series of 88,000-ton vessels designed to Panamax size, the 2,124-passenger ship follows in the wake of her slightly older sister Carnival Spirit and continues to redefine and tweak contemporary cruising options.
The 16th vessel built for the Fun Fleet, Carnival Pride offers an array of new and expanded facilities. These include a spectacular outdoor wrap-around promenade, a wedding chapel and a supper club voted by experts as "the best at sea."
A far cry from the old days, there are in-cabin amenity baskets in every accommodation, plush terry robes in all outside cabins and suites, diverse dining options, updated and upgraded menus, large conference centers, an Internet cafe and entertainment geared to passengers from two to 90 years old.
Except for its exterior, interior configuration and amenities, the Pride bears little resemblance to the Spirit. The central interior design theme, "Icons of Beauty," aptly describes the vessel. According to design architect Joseph Farcus, "Beauty inspires pride and icons of beauty have been recognized through the ages."
Beauty is interpreted in many ways on Carnival Pride. The focus is on the 15th and 16th century Italian Renaissance period that emphasized beauty in every lifestyle phase — art, music, the human body — as well as extravagance and indulgence.
Moving from one room to another is an experience best likened to a museum tour that goes from replicas of paintings and murals by acclaimed masters such as Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo, da Vinci and Botticelli, to art deco and contemporary artworks.
Pediments with ornate details in a Renaissance style are repeated throughout public rooms. Ornate glass vases and huge bronze statues of Roman and Greek gods mix with the whimsy of mermaids and seascapes to create the setting for the familiar "fun" theme associated with a Carnival cruise.
The Renaissance period inspired the décor of the lobby, atrium, Florentine Lounge, elevators and stairways. Detailing is awesome. The Atrium balustrade was created from classical sculpted bronze pillars with wave-cut glass panels in between reproductions of masterpiece paintings.
Inspired by Italian artisans and craftsmen of that period, the ship makes ample use of rich woods, bronze moldings and artworks dominated by sienna, gold and burnt-red tones. The lobby Atrium gives the impression of a typical Italian town center, with faux apartment houses on both sides.
The Starry Night jazz club's interior gives one the feeling of having wandered into a small open courtyard surrounded by walls, windows and shutters, while the famous Van Gogh painting "Starry Night" is used as a wall and ceiling mural illuminated by tiny lights.
Named after the famous prize created by Alfred Nobel, The Nobel Library, which also houses the 12-station Internet Café ($19 for one week unlimited use, or 75 cents per minute), follows a classical Swedish design.
Butterflies Lounge
Taj Mahal
Passenger favorites are the Sunset Garden and Butterflies Lounge, although finding them can be a challenge. Entrance to the Sunset Garden is alongside the Taj Mahal. It lines the bulkhead and is favored as a quiet, relaxing area decorated in gold, umber and burnt red with murals of Old Sol painted on interior walls.
Butterflies Lounge, directly below the lowest level of the Taj Mahal, is an inside room with an outside feeling. Its faux windows are decorated with colorful transparent fabrics that resemble butterfly wings. These disappear under special lights to illuminate the flocks of butterflies behind. For late-night entertainment, adult-only musical and comedy acts are presented.
The Ivory Bar, with resin-cast reproductions of ivory carvings interspersed with cast bonsai trees and pagoda-like lanterns, is a favorite after-dinner sing-a-long venue.
There are a dozen other public rooms, all themed to beauty. Access between rooms is eased by convenient, unusually spacious elevator lobbies and graceful staircases.
Atrium & Bar
A mini two-deck atrium in the aft section is one of the most beautiful areas on the ship. The focal point is a magnificent waterfall and staircase. On Promenade Deck it leads into the show room and is flanked by Piazza Café and the Starry Night jazz club. It also leads to the Perfect Game sports bar, with a fanciful motif of every imaginable sports ball serving as wall sculptures and table bases.
Via Veneto, the expanded shopping area, is one deck up on Atlantic Deck.
Other major rooms in this area are the Piano Bar, Rafael Lounge and the Chapel, which hosted four weddings on this cruise, an elegant card room and the Gallery. Passageways are treated as public lounges and on Promenade Deck are divided into intimate groupings by two sided replicas of old masterpiece paintings.
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES TO INTRODUCE BALTIMORE'S FIRST YEAR-ROUND CRUISE PROGRAM IN SEPTEMBER 2009
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MIAMI, June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, will launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning in fall 2009.
The new program kicks off September 13, 2009, and encompasses two different weeklong itineraries departing Sundays from the historic Maryland port. Baltimore's first year-round cruise program will feature a variety of
interesting ports on two distinctly different seven-day itineraries. Exotic Eastern Caribbean departures will call at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and Freeport, The Bahamas; while
Bahamas/Florida departures visit Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.
It is expected that the Carnival Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the Port of Baltimore. Including its new Baltimore-based program, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 17 North American departure
points, including 11 year-round homeports - the most of any cruise operator.
"We're thrilled to introduce the first year-round cruise program from Baltimore aboard the Carnival Pride, a truly magnificent 'Fun Ship' that will visit a wide range of tropical destinations from one of America's most
historic cities," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO. "Today's consumers are more value-conscious than ever and considering that Baltimore is within a day's drive for millions of Northeastern U.S. residents, these new
seven-day voyages provide a convenient and affordable vacation option," he added.
"This is tremendous news for the Port of Baltimore and our State," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "Year-round cruising will allow the 40 million people that live within a six-hour drive of Baltimore to look beyondthe traditional cruising seasons and sail throughout the year. Carnival
Cruise Lines is internationally recognized as one of the finest cruise ship operators in the industry and we are happy to welcome their 'Fun Ship' to Maryland."
Year-Round Cruising From Baltimore
Carnival Pride's year-round seven-day cruises from Baltimore will visit popular destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida.
Carnival Pride's Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruises from Baltimore feature Grand Turk, a 10.5-square-mile island paradise which, in addition to a rich history, offers crystal-clear waters that attract snorkelers and divers the
world over. Ships dock at the Grand Turk Cruise Center, a modern facility offering an 800-foot-long private beach, a Margaritaville-themed restaurant and a variety of retail shops. Also featured is Half Moon Cay, a crescent-shaped private island offering beautiful beaches and a diversity of
watersports opportunities, along with a children's aqua park and beachside cabanas. The third destination on this itinerary, Freeport, The Bahamas, is the island chain's second largest city with excellent shopping at the
International Bazaar and the Port Lucaya Marketplace, along with stunning beaches and exciting golf opportunities.
Seven-day Bahamas/Florida cruises call at Port Canaveral, located on Florida's Space Coast and in close proximity to Orlando-area theme parks and attractions, as well as the world famous Kennedy Space Center. Visitors enjoy the area's gorgeous white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Other ports include Nassau, the historic Bahamian capital known for its outstanding duty-free bargains, beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. During their
visit in Nassau, guests can tour a variety of historical sites, including centuries-old forts. A daylong visit to Freeport rounds out this itinerary.
Special Six-Day Voyage from Baltimore
Prior to the start-up of year-round seven-day cruises, Carnival Pride will operate a special one-time six-day departure round-trip from BaltimoreSeptember 7-13, 2009. Featured ports on this voyage include Freeport and Port
Canaveral.
Fun Ship' Carnival Pride
The 88,500-ton Carnival Pride offers a host of facilities and features, including indoor and outdoor promenades, a wedding chapel, and an elegant reservations-only supper club located at the top of a soaring nine-deck-high
atrium and accessible by a glass staircase, just one of several different dining venues on board.
Other features include a ship-long promenade with a variety of lounges,bars and nightspots, including a multi-level theater showcasing lavish production revues. Family friendly amenities include organized programs for three different age groups - "Camp Carnival" for younger kids, "Circle C" for 12- to 14-year-olds, and "Club O2" for older teens - with supervised activities and expansive facilities for each.
Carnival Pride also offers a variety of accommodations including a wide selection of balcony staterooms and suites - perfect for scenic cruising. All Carnival Pride accommodations feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system
with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.
Carnival Pride also houses an Internet Cafe, along with ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service.
Carnival Cruise Lines is a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call
1-800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com . SOURCE Carnival Cruise Lines
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THE MUSIC OF DICK MORGAN
Dick Morgan
As a child in Petersburg, Virginia, Dick Morgan amazed adults by showing them he could play anything he heard. He landed his own local radio show at the tender age of 10, and soon he was playing with well-known jazz artists stationed at nearby Fort Lee. “Until then, my thing was just playing what I heard,” says Dick. “They taught me how to play jazz. I was lucky to have learned from the best.” In Norfolk, Virginia, Dick found himself performing one night for Duke Ellington, who had heard of the young pianist’s talents and dropped around to check him out. “Keep doing what you’re doing,” said the great bandleader. That fleeting moment remains one of Dick’s treasured memories.
At the age of 45, Dick made a conscious decision to radically change direction. He entered Antioch University and obtained a BA. Not content to leave it at that, he then entered Howard University and earned his law degree. Since then, while generally staying around the Washington, DC area, Dick has stayed busy performing, has lectured at Georgetown University and the Kennedy Center on the law in relation to music, and has taught voice and piano.
Dick Morgan has been a life-long contributor to the world of jazz. Over a 40-year span he has performed with such well-known artists as Herb Ellis, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Ernie Andrews, Keter Betts, and most recently, Etta Jones. Julian “Cannonball” Adderley arranged Dick’s first recording on the Riverside label, where he was featured on a piano jazz sampler that included Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and Billy Taylor. Since then, Dick has gone on to make many fine recordings under his own name, several of which are currently available on CD.
In constant demand for concerts, festivals and cruises, Dick has played the Norway and Holland America Lines Jazz Cruises, appeared at the Kennedy Center with Etta Jones and with his own group, headlined sold out concerts at Montpelier Cultural Arts Center and Strathmore Hall, and been a featured performer at the East Coast Jazz Festival every year since 2000.
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