Focus On: Carnival Breeze

By Aaron Saunders On February 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment

When she sets out on her maiden voyage this June, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Breeze will join her sisters Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic in what is quickly becoming one of the line’s most highly successful ship designs to date. But Carnival Breeze won’t simply be a carbon-copy clone; instead, she boasts her own unique interior design and style, ensuring past Carnival guests are treated to a new cruising experience.

At 130,000 GRT, Carnival Breeze measures 1,004 feet in length and will be able to carry 3,690 guests based on double occupancy. She has 1,845 staterooms including ten spectacular Grand Suites, 851 balcony staterooms, 221 ocean view rooms, and 690 interior staterooms – a perfect fit for the budget conscious cruiser.

The spectacular Atrium aboard Carnival Breeze reflects the new color palette chosen for this innovative ship. Rendering courtesy of Carnival.

There’s one thing you can say with certainty about Carnival, and that is that the line has never made an unsuccessful ship. This is true of Carnival Breeze and her sisters. This entirely new class of ship clearly resonated with past Carnival guests, but also with guests who’d never considered the line before. The sweeping, even graceful design of the ship’s forward and aft decks replaces the more angular design found on the line’s past vessels, and interior décor was more subdued than bright and glitzy. Make no mistake about it – these are still Carnival ships, widely known for their sometimes esoteric interior design. But the effect is more complimentary here.

Carnival also struck gold by expanding on an innovation that Crystal Cruises first tried aboard their Crystal Serenity: they removed the lifeboats from their traditional perch overhanging the promenade deck and placed them beneath the promenade deck. Unlike Crystal, however, Carnival realized this unique arrangement allowed for both unobstructed views of the ocean and represented a chance to add some cool new features, like hot tubs along the promenade and a new outdoor venue called Lanai. It’s a great idea that makes you wonder why no one thought of it earlier.

Kick back and relax in the inviting Ocean Plaza aboard Carnival Breeze. Rendering courtesy of Carnival.

But Carnival Breeze will also boast Carnival’s new Fun Ship 2.0 enhancements like the Punchliner Comedy Club, the Red Frog Rum Bar, and the new Thrill 5D Theatre, an experience that takes traditional 3D movies and gives them additional dimensions and effects to make you feel like you’re really part of the experience. Here, you could watch movies like Happy Feet, Speed Racer, or The Polar Express during the Holiday seasons.

Of course, all those dimensions cane make one work up a thirst, which is where the BlueIguana Tequila Bar aboard the Carnival Breeze comes into play. First introduced aboard the Carnival Liberty during her recent refit, the BlueIguana Tequila Bar features ice-cold, Mexican-inspired drinks that are the perfect companion to the ship’s winter Caribbean itineraries from Miami. While the idea of having a Mexican drink might seem out of place during Carnival Breeze’s maiden European season, we’re betting the Mediterranean sun will quickly change that opinion.

Carnival Breeze will start her maiden season in the Spanish city of Barcelona, where she’ll offer cruises to some of the most fascinating ports of the Mediterranean. But if you’re really after a good deal, hitch a ride on Carnival Breeze’s Westbound Transatlantic crossing, sailing on November 6 from Barcelona to Miami. With fifteen glorious days at a fantastic price point, it’s bound to be a vacation that you’ll remember forever.

Don’t have a lot of time, but still want to experience Carnival’s latest and greatest? You’ll want to get in on the quick two-day jaunt from Miami to the Bahamas that departs on Thursday, November 22, 2012.

But to really appreciate this ship, it will undoubtedly be best to book a voyage that’s a little longer. In the winter months, Carnival Breeze sails from Miami, Florida on a series of six and eight day voyages to the warm, sandy shores of the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.

More information about the forthcoming Carnival Breeze can be found by paying a visit to the Carnival Cruise Lines website.