Carnival Dream - Biggest Fun Ship Ever

by Paul Motter:
Carnival's largest ship ever, the 3,646-Passenger and 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, will debut in Europe in September 2009, and will launch year-round service from Port Canaveral in December, 2009.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the 3,646-passenger cruiser will be a new class of vessel for Carnival. With a new layout, sleek hull and distinctive profile, Carnival says the Dream is designed as the ultimate vacation experience.

New and unique features include The Piazza, a mid-ships indoor/outdoor café and live music venue. Dream offers elaborate children's facilities, including a huge Carnival WaterWorks aqua park. There are four "scenic whirlpools" that extend over the ship's beam, and a variety of new stateroom categories, including those specifically for families.

Carnival Dream enters service September 21, 2009, with a 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Naples, Livorno and Venice (two-day call); Dubrovnik, Croatia; Messina, Sicily; Monaco; and Barcelona, Spain. Two additional 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises will be offered on October 3 and October 15, 2009.

A 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing departs Rome (Civitavecchia) Oct. 27 and arrives in New York Nov. 12, 2009. Featured ports include Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga, Spain; Las Palmas, Canary Islands; and King's Wharf, Bermuda (overnight call). From New York are two eight-day Bahamas/Florida cruises departing Nov. 15 and 23, 2009 with a call at Port Canaveral followed by Nassau and Freeport in The Bahamas.

Following its New York departures, on Dec. 5, 2009, Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. Carnival Dream will depart every Saturday on alternating weeklong cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean cruises will call at Nassau; St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.V.I.; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles; while exotic Western Caribbean voyages will visit Cozumel; Belize; Costa Maya; and Nassau.