Carnival Adding Balconies to Three Ships
For a number of passengers sailing on Carnival cruises, the view is improving dramatically. The line is in the midst of a dry-dock program that includes the addition of 48 balconies in total to Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Liberty.

So what's the deal?

Carnival Destiny recently emerged from a September dry-dock with 16 new balcony cabins. In addition to the verandas, the ship was also retrofitted with Carnival's Seaside Theater, the popular poolside movie screen introduced in 2005 on Carnival Freedom.

Carnival Triumph is currently in dry-dock, and is scheduled to return to service this Sunday, October 5, with 14 new balconies plus the Seaside Theater.

Carnival Liberty will enter a two-week dry dock this Sunday, and balconies will be added to 18 of its cabins. For the up-market Fun Ship crowd, Carnival Liberty's getting two huge new Penthouse Suites. Each will accommodate five people and feature a living area with a sofa bed, a separate bedroom, a balcony and two full bathrooms -- including one with a tub. At 750 square ft., Liberty's Penthouse Suites will become by far the largest cabins in the fleet. The current largest are the 430-square-ft. Penthouse Suites found on several ships. The new suites will be located on Deck 9, forward; at this point, cruise line spokespersons are unable to tell us what exactly they're replacing.

For all three ships, the balconies are being added to cabins that currently feature floor-to-ceiling windows; cabins will be 230 square ft. (including balcony). Carnival's standard cabins are already some of the most spacious in the industry.

Add more balconies to the Fantasy-class ships? Or;

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Originally posted by Rex:
Why didn't they:

Add more balconies to the Fantasy-class ships? Or;

Make larger suites on the Destiny and Spirit-class ships? Their premium suites are still amongst the smallest in the industry. I think only MSC has smaller.

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I think a basic problem with the FANTASY Class is that their lifeboats are mounted on top of the vessels, above all the accommodations decks. Balconies therefore cannot be clipped onto existing cabins, and the only alternative would be to create balconies within the shell of the ship, but then the cabins would be tiny.

Best,

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Originally posted by r.fiebig:
Carnival has just announced that "Carnival Sensation" will gain 98 balconies next January. Apparently, these will be added in section of the ship where there are no lifeboats situated above.

Best,

Raoul

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Here's the detail on the Sensation balconies:

Carnival Cruise Lines will add balconies to 98 existing staterooms aboard the 2,052-passenger Carnival Sensation during a 35-day scheduled dry dock taking place in January 2009.

Ocean view staterooms will be retrofitted with new balconies that will extend from the ship and measure approximately 230 square feet. Twenty-four of the new balcony staterooms will be located mid-ship on both the port and starboard sides and 12 will be located near the stern, while the other 62 will be located within the aft section of the ship, with several of these cabins featuring extended balconies.

Additionally, a number of the Carnival Sensation’s suites will be modified to feature larger, extended balconies to create a more spacious area from which to enjoy panoramic sea views.

The stateroom modifications are just one aspect of the ship’s extensive multi-million-dollar renovation, all part of the line’s wide-ranging “Evolutions of Fun” product enhancement initiative. Carnival Sensation’s “extreme makeover” will also include a previously announced Carnival WaterWorks aqua park, Serenity adults-only area, and a redesigned tropical-themed main pool area.

Additionally, all staterooms will be completely refurbished, as well as virtually all dining, dancing and entertainment venues. Guest corridors will be renovated and a new “Circle C” facility catering to 12- to 14-year olds will be added, as well.

“These new stateroom modifications represent a significant investment in our product and, when combined with the many other ‘Evolutions of Fun’ amenities, add exciting new features and choices to an already spectacular ‘Fun Ship,’” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience.

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Originally posted by r.fiebig:
Carnival has just announced that "Carnival Sensation" will gain 98 balconies next January. Apparently, these will be added in section of the ship where there are no lifeboats situated above.

Best,

Raoul

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I just looked up a pic of the Sensation and the 24 amidship cabins w/new balconies will be directly under the overhang (between the lifeboats). There are 12 cabins (on each side) under the over hang=24 midship cabins. The remaining balconies will be aft. This class of ship is seriously challenged in the looks department will be even more so w/these new balconies.

As has been said, they are not particularly attractive ships, being tall and slab sided. I don't know how the balconies will affect the looks but it is arguable they can't get much worse and the balconies may add some much need texture and visual interest to the slab sides.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

I think a basic problem with the FANTASY Class is that their lifeboats are mounted on top of the vessels, above all the accommodations decks. Balconies therefore cannot be clipped onto existing cabins, and the only alternative would be to create balconies within the shell of the ship, but then the cabins would be tiny.

Rich

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[ 10-22-2008: Message edited by: Rex ]

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Originally posted by Rex:
But now they are adding almost 100 balconies to Sensation - how come?

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More revenue--it has nothing to do with aesthetics of the vessel.

Those old ships look like milk cartons at sea. The only thing missing is a giant paint face of a missing child on the side.