Carnival Tropicale, 1980's!

[klfhngr]

My very first cruise in 1984! Anyone else cruise on her? I thought she was HUGE!!!!!! And so cool looking!!! The lounges, club, casino... Midnight buffets, chocolate, fancy parties! I fell in love!! Miss those days when cruises were more elegant! We sailed the Mexican Riviera... 

[zdcatc12]

Yes, my first "real" cruise (had a SeaEscape one before that) was on her in 1990. I still remember that Malcolm Kennedy was the CD. Also, the movie theater and indoor pool. And the same table/waiters for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!!

[COMBOY]

Yes, I do.  I sailed on her Jan 1986.  I was on winter break from college and I sailed solo...I was 23 years old and had the cruise bug from watching all those episodes of The Love Boat in the 70/80's.   I saved all my money working part time job on top of attending CSULB.  The Carnival Tropicale was a new build for Carnival and since it sailed out of Los Angeles (San Pedro) my parent could drive me down to the ship.  Now....this was a time when you could have guest on board and I invited a bunch of my gal pals from college to see me off.  Boy...did we all have a fun time and my cabin neighbors thought I was such a stud with all those girls in my cabin...ha ha.   Those days are long gone when you could have guest onboard;  but still great memories.  I still have all my pictures.  The cruise itself was great.  I tad cool the few days in/out of LA but Mexico was warm.  I sat at the large dining table and had some fun table mates.  I remember going to Senior Frogs (me in red polo shirt below) with them in Mazatlan and have a lot of Margaritas and coming back to the ship totally ripped. I still like to cruise and have been on many cruises since...although I not a big fan of Carnival.  I like Princess and Celebrity and RCI.  

Edited May 23, 2019 by COMBOY

[Scandinavian World]

Tropicale was the prototype for the following 3 near sisters Holiday, Jubilee and Celebration.

Carnival until there used second hand - ex liner tonnage - a lot of old fashioned liner facilities was found on Tropicale

like a classic glass enclosed Promenade Deck or the Dining Room down on the waterline to make the difference layout to Mardi Gras, Carnivale and Festivale not so serious.

Traveled on her 1994 as Costa Tropicale - she will remember me as a wonderfull "new classic" ship.

Minimum cabin size 17m2 - every cabin with TV set - and all outside cabins had big windows.

Sad she is not more on the western market travelling since years for peaceboat org

[rafinmd]

Peace Boat (Actually Ocean Dream today) was in New York Friday and Saturday and is headed for Jamaica.

 

 

Roy

[jewopaho]

I remember the Tropicale as the laughing stock of cruise ships. Sailing from Tampa, media crews anxiously awaited its arrival to interview passengers, finding out what went wrong each time ... overflowing toilets, no a/c, closed facilities, etc. Carnival always responded by slapping a couple of band-aids on the problem and sending it out again, finally moving the ship to its Costa affiliate. It has had several iterations since then, currently the Ocean Dream ... remember it more as a nightmare. Surprised the thing is still afloat.     

[grandpacobra]

we sailed on her 3 times,once from San Juan down to Caracas. we had a blast as we had not been to these places before. I thought they cut it up for scrap metal.Still she was bigger than anything i have in the driveway.

we were used to the Commodore Lines small ships where you have dinner every night with the captain and he sits in the shows with you. it was a step up.
190 days til cruising CCL again.

bon voyage