Carnival Destiny is a cruise ship that is owned and operated by Carnival Cruise Lines. When she entered service in 1996, she was the largest passenger ship ever built as measured by gross tonnage, and the first passenger ship larger than the 1940-built RMS Queen Elizabeth. Given a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2005, Carnival Destiny features three pools, a variety of dining options, lounges, nightclubs, a casino, duty-free shopping and Spa Carnival. The Destiny spends her time plying the waters of the Caribbean. She is the lead ship of the Destiny Class and has four similar sister ships, the Carnival Triumph, and the Carnival Victory sailing for Carnival Cruises and the Costa Fortuna and Costa Magica sailing for Costa Cruises. The Carnival ships differ from her by the addition of extra balcony cabins on their Lido decks and various changes to placements and shapes of their public areas; the Costa ships have more dancing space and a smaller casino, as well as changes in locations of her public spaces. The term "Destiny class" appears to refer only to the Carnival ships. [3][4]
[edit] Itinerary changes
Currently Carnival Destiny offers 7-day Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ship removed Aruba from its itinerary in January 2007, due to rising fuel costs. Carnival said that Aruba is located too far from the Eastern Caribbean islands to be practical. Carnival decided to go to St. Lucia instead of Aruba and it could also visit a second island (i.e., Antigua in the 7-day cruise). But only a year after launching that itinerary Carnival Destiny changed its itinerary yet again. In January 2008, it did not visit St. Lucia or Antigua, but visit St. Kitts and spend an entire night in La Romana, Dominican Republic, but the Cruise Lines has reversed this change, and from April 2008 the ship returned to St. Lucia and Antigua keeping. After cruising the Southern Caribbean for seven years, Carnival Destiny has been transferred to Miami in September 2008 where it does 4 and 5 night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Its sister ship, Carnival Victory, will replace the Carnival Destiny in San Juan.[5]
[edit] Public rooms
- Palladium Lounge
- Flagship Bar
- Galaxy Dining Room
- Universe Dining Room
- Onyx Room
- Millionaire's Club Casino
- Point After Dance Club
- Downbeat Club
- Cheers Wine Bar
- Apollo Bar
- The Criterion Lounge
- Sun & Sea Restaurant
[edit] Meeting facilities
- Palladium lounge: 1,400 maximum guests fixed theater, 500 maximum guests reception, 300 maximum guests modified classroom
- The Criterion Lounge: 400 maximum guests fixed theater, 425 maximum guests reception, 200 maximum guests modified classroom
- Grand Lounge: 30 maximum guests fixed theater, 147 maximum guests reception, 30 maximum guests modified classroom
- Dance Club: 50 maximum guests fixed theater, 211 maximum guests reception, 30 maximum guests modified classroom
- Jazz Club: 40 maximum guests fixed theater, 81 maximum guests reception, 20 maximum guests modified classroom
- Piano Lounge: 20 maximum guests fixed theater, 100 maximum guests reception, 15 maximum guests modified classroom
- Card Room: 15 maximum guests fixed theater, 10 maximum guests modified classroom, 8 maximum guests board room
- Library: 15 maximum guests fixed theater, 10 maximum guests modified classroom, 8 maximum guests board room