Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Spirit

Overview

Squished into the shallow space beneath the Pharaoh’s Palace on Deck 1, this theater is a fine intimate venue for standup comedians. The walls are lined with models of French chateaus, illuminated from behind; this does a nice job of opening up the room (the stage is not much more than seven feet tall!). Couches with cocktail tables provide ample slouching room for several hundred.

Drinks

Although there’s no real bar, the ship’s standard cocktail list was available from waiters serving at the Versailles Lounge.

Shows & Performances

The Versailles Lounge is used for karaoke, art auctions and future cruise seminars (the advice we heard here was informative, as far as Carnival cruises go), but comedians are the rule. The acts were family-oriented for the early shows, with blue words and raunchy bits being flung after 9 p.m. Either side of that hour the comedians we saw were pretty entertaining, and everyone in the front rows was fair game.

Versailles Lounge is reached by descending the narrow, spiral staircases found on either side of Pharaoh’s Palace; it is also accessible from the forward elevators.