Norwegian Cruise Line-Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Spirit, inaugurated in 1998 (with a major refit in 2008), is 879 feet long and accommodates 1,996 passengers. Norwegian's signature feature is "Freestyle Dining," where passengers can choose when and with whom they dine for breakfast, lunch and dinner surrounded by an Asian decor in the two main dining rooms. Among the most notable updates in 2008 was the remodeling of the disco for teens and the kid's center. A wooden promenade encircles the ship for a distinctive touch.
The Spirit makes a seven-day round trip to Cozumel, with stops in Costa Maya, Santo Tomas de Castilla and Belize City.
NCL Corporation Ltd.
7665 Corporate Center Drive
Miami, FL 33126
305-436-4000
ncl.com/nclweb/home.html
Carnival Cruise Line-Carnival Triumph
Carnival Triumph, inaugurated in 1999, is 893 feet long and accommodates 2,758 passengers. Triumph has a "Seaside Theatre" on deck, where you view shows on a screen 12 feet by 22 feet. The Rome Lounge is the center of attention for Broadway-like shows. The Triumph was among the first ships to incorporate seagoing cellular systems, allowing passengers to make phone calls from their personal cell phones on the ship.
Carnival Triumph's seven-day eastern Caribbean round trip from New Orleans travels to Key West, Freeport, Bahamas and Nassau, Bahamas, with three days at sea.
Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Ave.
Miami, FL 33178
305-599-2600
carnival.com
Carnival Cruise Line-Carnival Triumph
Carnival Triumph, described for adults above, has programs to involve kids and teenagers on board. Club O2 on the Triumph caters to teenagers with music, food, video games and friends of the same age group. The Universal Pool area, on the Panorama Deck, has a Twister Waterslide that is three decks high. Teenagers also enjoy the Triumph's nine-hole miniature golf course.
Pre-teens can participate in "Camp Carnival." An experienced team of Carnival staff supervise kids involved in a wide variety of activities. "Circle C" is for kids 12-14 years old with video games, dances, movies and games.
The Carnival Triumph travels round trip on a western Caribbean route from New Orleans to Belize, Isla Roatan and Cozumel on a seven-day itinerary, with three days at sea. Four- and five-day cruises are also available.
Carnival Cruise Lines
3655 NW 87th Ave.
Miami, FL 33178
305-599-2600
carnival.com
