Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Spirit

Introduction

As the vessel that launched a new class of ships for the Carnival line in 2001, Carnival Spirit is a mid-sized cruise ship that largely delivers good value for money. Like other ships in this line, Carnival Spirit wears its design elements on its sleeve, the overriding theme here being a visual tour of architecture and design from the last century and earlier. And the ship benefits from a January 2012 refurbishment that transformed one sun deck into an adults-only area and added a water park. But from almost the moment we first set foot on the ship, the thing that came foremost to mind was a grilled steak—with good reason, as it turned out.

Editor’s Note: In October 2012 Carnival Spirit moved Down Under and now calls the South Pacific her year-round home. During the relocation Carnival made some adjustments to the ship and some policies. According to Australia-based newsletter Cruise Weekly, Carnival Spirit’s billing system will now be in Australian currency, electrical outlets in cabins have been converted for Aussie plugs, and the food and drink menus have become localized (‘roo steaks, we’re guessing). Passengers are also no longer allowed to bring a bottle of wine into their cabin prior to disembarkation, as is Carnival’s policy on other ships.