I had the pleasure of welcoming the Carnival Splendor to Sydney on 10th December.
She is the biggest and most modern ship Carnival have ever sent to Australia, and I welcomed her to her new homeport of Sydney with one night onboard to sample all this ship has to offer.
Carnival, in it’s time in Australia, has cemented its reputation as the fun ship and ideal for those cruisers who want a fun-packed journey with lots of inclusions. What becomes evident when you step onboard Carnival Splendor is that the fun is now amplified and turned up another notch with even more facilities, activities and casual dining options included in your cruise.
At full capacity of 3700 passengers, this ship is for those that love the feel of a big ship with a party atmosphere at night and relaxed, easy-going days.
You have the option to pack your days full of action and entertainment if you wish or to simply relax. I loved the super-sized adults only serenity retreat which is by far the biggest adult only area I have seen on any ship.
Aside from Serenity, the standout area of the ship for me is the Cloud 9 spa and associated facilities. This mega sized two level area will be very popular with those that want to de-stress and unwind. It offers an amazing thalassotherapy pool which I had the pleasure of trying (pure bliss) as well as a range of steam rooms, heated loungers, relaxation sanctuary and state of the art gym. All these options are included should you book a Cloud 9 stateroom – from Inside to Suites.
As someone who normally doesn’t just stick to three meals a day, the dining onboard Splendor really is a great match for me.
There are two main a la carte restaurants onboard - the Gold and Black Pearls, along with the Lido Splendido buffet. The new additions are Guy’s Burger Joint and Masala Tiger (amazing traditional Indian fare), Mongolian Wok which cooks fresh stir fries to made to order and the always popular 24 hour pizza – all of these amazing options and all are included in your fare, are great value and there is always something new to try...
I cruised in a Balcony cabin and found it to be spacious throughout including the bathroom. The bed was super soft and comfortable with lots of light coming in and bright furnishings.
For the kids (and of course the young at heart) you may have heard of the Green Thunder, but now you can experience The Green Lightning onboard Splendor, and the Twister – both bigger and faster than any onboard water slide you have ever tried from Sydney.
I believe this ship will be very popular with fun loving cruisers, as it offers good value and, being the largest ship that will be home ported in Sydney, it is packed full of things to enjoy onboard.
