Carnival Spirit class profile and review

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PROFILE AND REVIEW

CARNIVAL
CRUISE
LINE

SPIRIT CLASS

Cruise line profile - Carnival Cruise Lines - Spirit class - profile and review

Above: Carnival Miracle
.

Above: Carnival Spirit. (Photo courtesy of Carnival
Cruise Line.)

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Vista class

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Conquest
class

Above right: Carnival Miracle.

Right: Carnival Pride.

Below: Carnival Legend.

Above: Carnival Pride.

Below right: Carnival Legend.

The Spirit class includes Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Spirit,
Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend and Carnival Miracle as well as
two ships that were built for Costa Cruises: Costa Atlantica and
Costa Mediterranea. Costa Atlantica, the first ship built in the
class, has been sold to CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, a join
venture between Carnival Corporation and China State Shipping
Corporation. Plans call for Costa Mediterranea to be transferred
to this joint venture in 2021.

Providing an upbeat mass-market cruise experience, the Spirit
class are medium size cruise ships. The four Carnival ships are
rated at 88,500 gross tons while their Costa-built sisters are
85,000 gross tons. Their dimensions are Panamax - - the maximum
permitted for a ship to pass through the old locks of the Panama
Canal.

Above: Costa Mediterranea.

    Under the Carnival configuration, the ships carry between
2,124 passengers double occupancy and 2,610 (all berths). The
ships are family-friendly with substantial facilities for children.

   The layout of the four Carnival ships is essentially identical.
However, the interior of each ship is quite distinct. The décor of
the public areas of each ship was designed around a different
theme. Each is quite bold and spectacular, making for a fantasy
experience rather than a sedate hotel experience.

   Each ship has a two-level main dining room at the stern. On the
Carnival ships, breakfast and lunch are done on an open seating
basis while at dinner guests can opt for eith traditional dining or a
flex dining program. The ships also have an extra charge specialty
restaurant under a canaopy that is built into the ship's funnel.
There are also a number of complimentary casual dining
alternatives including a large buffet restaurant.

   For entertainment, the Carnival ships have a large theater as
well as an array of bars and lounges. Sports facilities include the
main pool, which can be covered by a glass canopy, several
smaller pools, waterslides, basketball, mini-golf, and a jogging
track. There is also a spa and an adults-only Serenity area.

All of the ships were built by the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland
between 2000 (Costa Atlantica) and 2004 (Carnival Miracle).
Powered by diesel engines that generate electricity for 2 propulsion
pods, the ships have a cruising speed of 22 knots but can reach up to
24 knots. The pod system gives them good maneuverability.

Carnival

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's Dream
class

Click here for our profile and review of Carnival's S unshine
class