Why only one "Splendor Class" ship?

[TrustNoOneKMC]

I was just wondering why the Splendor is the only one of it's type. What changes did they make between the Splendor and the Dream? Conquest Class has 5 different ships.

[falkcor]

there's only one of the class because 1st, it's the first ship of said class... they name the 'class' after the first ship of that type...

 

but moreover, there's only one and no plans for a second, at this point in time, because of the fact that the ship was originally destined for costa cruises, also owned and operated by carnival corporation. for costa - this class is considered the 'concordia class'.

 

dream was under development, and the dream and magic were on order i believe, before splendor ended up in the carnival fleet.

 

additionally, splendor, dream and magic were on order before the economy went south - and given that fact and rising costs in the build of new ships, carnival has temporarily halted orders for additional ships.

 

time will tell if carnival orders additional splendor / concordia class vessels, and i'm sure how dream debuts will have something to do with that.

[jessemon]

there's only one of the class because 1st, it's the first ship of said class... they name the 'class' after the first ship of that type...

 

but moreover, there's only one and no plans for a second, at this point in time, because of the fact that the ship was originally destined for costa cruises, also owned and operated by carnival corporation. for costa - this class is considered the 'concordia class'.

 

dream was under development, and the dream and magic were on order i believe, before splendor ended up in the carnival fleet.

 

additionally, splendor, dream and magic were on order before the economy went south - and given that fact and rising costs in the build of new ships, carnival has temporarily halted orders for additional ships.

 

time will tell if carnival orders additional splendor / concordia class vessels, and i'm sure how dream debuts will have something to do with that.

Yep....There are now two classes of ships that are destined to be one of a kind for Carnival....."Splendor and "Destiny"......Though all ships after "Destiny" except for the new "Dream" mimic her in the larger classes of Triumph, Conquest and Splendor......;)

[falkcor]

Yep....

 

largely agreed.

 

There are now two classes of ships that are destined to be one of a kind for Carnival....."Splendor and "Destiny"......

 

however, in about every regard except the carnival marketing, triumph and victory are considered to be of the destiny class...

 

the only primary variable is the addition of an extra (small) passenger deck which does not affect the general infrastructure of the ship on a material basis.

 

almost everything else is identical, including length (893'), beam (116'), and even GRT is roughly comparable (101509 triumph / victory, 101353 destiny) - as per http://www.nauticalcities.com/cruiseships.php?page=8

 

i consider triumph / victory part of the destiny class...

 

Though all ships after "Destiny" except for the new "Dream" mimic her in the larger classes of Triumph, Conquest and Splendor......;)

 

what about spirit class? ;)

 

i agree on principal - destiny / (triumph) / conquest / splendor classes are effectively the same - lengthened, a deck added here or there - a supper club, etc. - but they share the same general infrastructure.

 

and so does dream, for the most part. granted, it has more variation than the other common derivatives, but for the most part - still based on the same infrastructure. cabin decks / dining / lounge / lido areas / etc. - mostly the same - just with more new additions.

 

the spirit class are the only ones that are materially and infrastructurally different, among the contemporary 'new ships'.

[falkcor]

What changes did they make between the Splendor and the Dream?

 

and, on this point.. here's the primary differences between dream and the rest of the fleet...

 

let's start with what dream will 'inherit' from the splendor design (differing from other carnival ships to date):

- larger spa with more robust options - this is where you can see a euro influence in splendor, though retained for dream

- the burrito bar, which debuted on the splendor, will be retained on dream

- a larger amount of 'glassed in' areas... boo...

- the carnival 'splash park' area for the kids

- spa cabins - non smoking cabins with spa perks

 

and some new features:

- a around-the-ship open promenade / lanai area

- which will also feature cantilevered whirlpool / hottubs

- an adjacent 'ocean plaza', a new feature

- which is supposed to emulate a european palazzo, including for-fee gelato shop

- made-to-order pasta station on lido deck

- the carnival waterworks slides

- a modified atrium design with suspended bandstand

- deluxe oceanview staterooms - OV staterooms for 5 w/ 2 bathrooms

- cove balcony rooms - set just above the waves, the closest ever

- ship exterior design for the first time debarks from the angular carnival lines, to a more rounded appearance

- anytime dining will debut, from the beginning on this ship...

 

looks pretty great to me :cool:

[jessemon]

largely agreed.

 

 

 

however, in about every regard except the carnival marketing, triumph and victory are considered to be of the destiny class...

But Carnival does not list them that way in their brochure...do they....;)

 

the only primary variable is the addition of an extra (small) passenger deck which does not affect the general infrastructure of the ship on a material basis.

 

almost everything else is identical, including length (893'), beam (116'), and even GRT is roughly comparable (101509 triumph / victory, 101353 destiny) - as per http://www.nauticalcities.com/cruiseships.php?page=8

 

i consider triumph / victory part of the destiny class...

But then again Carnival does not....

 

 

 

what about spirit class? ;)

 

i agree on principal - destiny / (triumph) / conquest / splendor classes are effectively the same - lengthened, a deck added here or there - a supper club, etc. - but they share the same general infrastructure.

 

and so does dream, for the most part. granted, it has more variation than the other common derivatives, but for the most part - still based on the same infrastructure. cabin decks / dining / lounge / lido areas / etc. - mostly the same - just with more new additions.

 

the spirit class are the only ones that are materially and infrastructurally different, among the contemporary 'new ships'.

The Spirit Class changed design by going to one large dining room aft which was a real departure even since the Fantasy Class. Carnival design interior wise has changed very little since the Fantasy really.....;)

I was noticing tonight also that the "Dream" now has no dedicated wine/martini bar. Also there is now no dedicated sports bar. They are using the casino bar for that which probably means there will be video gaming machines at every stool....grrrr....I like to watch sports.

I am also wondering how many people are going to be upset about being funneled from the third level of the main show lounge through that pesky smoke filled casino to get to the rest of the entertainment on the Promanade deck....LOL.....:eek:

[falkcor]

i somehow knew i'd have a fight in you, but i did it anyway... :rolleyes:

 

my previous comments in italics

 

however, in about every regard except the carnival marketing, triumph and victory are considered to be of the destiny class...

 

But Carnival does not list them that way in their brochure...do they....

 

no, they don't. i even mentioned that. but i've noted that even carnival staff, and correspondence, refer to them all as destiny class... and with good reason, imo...

 

the only primary variable is the addition of an extra (small) passenger deck which does not affect the general infrastructure of the ship on a material basis.

 

almost everything else is identical, including length (893'), beam (116'), and even GRT is roughly comparable (101509 triumph / victory, 101353 destiny) - as per http://www.nauticalcities.com/cruiseships.php?page=8

 

i consider triumph / victory part of the destiny class...

 

But then again Carnival does not....

 

again, i consider it strictly a marketing thing... i mean seriously... look at the specs?

 

what about spirit class?

 

i agree on principal - destiny / (triumph) / conquest / splendor classes are effectively the same - lengthened, a deck added here or there - a supper club, etc. - but they share the same general infrastructure.

 

and so does dream, for the most part. granted, it has more variation than the other common derivatives, but for the most part - still based on the same infrastructure. cabin decks / dining / lounge / lido areas / etc. - mostly the same - just with more new additions.

 

the spirit class are the only ones that are materially and infrastructurally different, among the contemporary 'new ships'.

 

The Spirit Class changed design by going to one large dining room aft which was a real departure even since the Fantasy Class. Carnival design interior wise has changed very little since the Fantasy really.....

 

spirit class changed the length to beam ratio. which resulted in a substantially different looking ship - with notable differences. spirit class ships were designed as non-panamax vessels, capable of navigating the canal. carnival hasn't cared to do as much (with good reason) for any subsequent classes)... that's notable i think.

 

granted, some of the alternate aspects are present in fantasy class, and on the whole, again, i agree with you... most carnival ships are approximately the same. on purpose.

 

I was noticing tonight also that the "Dream" now has no dedicated wine/martini bar. Also there is now no dedicated sports bar. They are using the casino bar for that which probably means there will be video gaming machines at every stool....grrrr....I like to watch sports.

 

i'd bet they ditched the wine bar because it was sparsely attended. it just can't keep up with the other high-powered venues that directly surround it... where you can also get wine or martinis...

 

and the sports bar... maybe because they don't actually have live feeds and crappy broadcasts, which have ennumerated numerous complaints. maybe they wised up and stopped offering a poor product under the auspices of false advertisement :D

 

I am also wondering how many people are going to be upset about being funneled from the third level of the main show lounge through that pesky smoke filled casino to get to the rest of the entertainment on the Promanade deck....LOL.....

 

now, there, i can see your point entirely... no more isolated (although it never really was) hallway of sorts... maybe they expect them to take advantage of the promenade they cantilevered from the ship, and walk outside? good point.

[jessemon]

i somehow knew i'd have a fight in you, but i did it anyway... :rolleyes:

 

my previous comments in italics

 

however, in about every regard except the carnival marketing, triumph and victory are considered to be of the destiny class...

 

 

 

no, they don't. i even mentioned that. but i've noted that even carnival staff, and correspondence, refer to them all as destiny class... and with good reason, imo...

 

the only primary variable is the addition of an extra (small) passenger deck which does not affect the general infrastructure of the ship on a material basis.

 

almost everything else is identical, including length (893'), beam (116'), and even GRT is roughly comparable (101509 triumph / victory, 101353 destiny) - as per http://www.nauticalcities.com/cruiseships.php?page=8

 

i consider triumph / victory part of the destiny class...

 

 

 

again, i consider it strictly a marketing thing... i mean seriously... look at the specs?

 

what about spirit class?

 

i agree on principal - destiny / (triumph) / conquest / splendor classes are effectively the same - lengthened, a deck added here or there - a supper club, etc. - but they share the same general infrastructure.

 

and so does dream, for the most part. granted, it has more variation than the other common derivatives, but for the most part - still based on the same infrastructure. cabin decks / dining / lounge / lido areas / etc. - mostly the same - just with more new additions.

 

the spirit class are the only ones that are materially and infrastructurally different, among the contemporary 'new ships'.

 

 

 

spirit class changed the length to beam ratio. which resulted in a substantially different looking ship - with notable differences. spirit class ships were designed as non-panamax vessels, capable of navigating the canal. carnival hasn't cared to do as much (with good reason) for any subsequent classes)... that's notable i think.

 

granted, some of the alternate aspects are present in fantasy class, and on the whole, again, i agree with you... most carnival ships are approximately the same. on purpose.

 

 

 

i'd bet they ditched the wine bar because it was sparsely attended. it just can't keep up with the other high-powered venues that directly surround it... where you can also get wine or martinis...

 

and the sports bar... maybe because they don't actually have live feeds and crappy broadcasts, which have ennumerated numerous complaints. maybe they wised up and stopped offering a poor product under the auspices of false advertisement :D

 

 

 

now, there, i can see your point entirely... no more isolated (although it never really was) hallway of sorts... maybe they expect them to take advantage of the promenade they cantilevered from the ship, and walk outside? good point.

No fight here...Just my observations.....;)

Many lines I have cruised over the years have changed the normal interior designs very little. People become comfortable in getting on a ship even if it is larger and knowing where they are basically going.

 

By the way...Look at the dack plan for the "Dream"....Notice there is no wall between the piano bar and the Promanade....hmmmmmm......

[falkcor]

No fight here...Just my observations.....;)

very well then - and the same is true of my own comments. :)

Many lines I have cruised over the years have changed the normal interior designs very little. People become comfortable in getting on a ship even if it is larger and knowing where they are basically going.

 

and understood. and that's why i agreed with the fact that a lot hasn't changed between fantasy class and now... on purpose...

 

By the way...Look at the dack plan for the "Dream"....Notice there is no wall between the piano bar and the Promanade....hmmmmmm......

 

i did look at the dream plan - and what i'm lookin at - yes - there are obvious 'openings':

 

 

 

i remember john heald referring to this in his blog...

 

maybe it's their way of appealing to non smokers? :confused:

 

i really think they should make the piano bars... MUCH larger. ;)

[*Mach*]

One point in this discussion that's been missed was that the Splendor was built as a stop gap measure.

Carnival originally had plans to build a mega ship much like the RCCL Oasis of the Seas.

When they elected to ditch that concept (thank God!!!) they needed a vessel to maintain passenger capacity until the next class of ship came along. That's the reason Carnival commandeered the Concordia hull from Costa to build the Splendor. Her Costa heritage is obvious all over the vessel.

I love the ship and would be thrilled to see at least one more enter the fleet but that's just not in the cards...

:)

[Cindy]

That's the reason Carnival commandeered the Concordia hull from Costa to build the Splendor. Her Costa heritage is obvious all over the vessel.

 

:)

 

Hmm...that's interesting. I didn't know the Splendor was originally intended for Costa. I've never been on a Costa ship, so I don't know what the similarities are to that line, but I could definitely see the Fincantieri heritage in certain design elements of the Splendor.

So if Splendor is her own class, which ships in the Carnival fleet does she most closely resemble? Conquest?

[MrPete]

largely agreed.

 

 

 

however, in about every regard except the carnival marketing, triumph and victory are considered to be of the destiny class...

But Carnival does not list them that way in their brochure...do they....;)

 

Actually, they USED to. I have some old brochures that list the two newer ships as Destiny class, but there were differences. Some that come to mind are an extra half deck, the elimination of the night owl rooms and the swim up bar, tweaks to the middle pool area like stairs and stuff.

 

After sailing on all three, I could see why the changes were made. The Destiny was the least of my favorites, as well as that class being the least of my favorites. That's the reason I never tried the Conquest class.

 

BTW, the Holiday was also different in some areas to the Jubilee and Celebration. The latter two were identical to each other.

[*Mach*]

Hmm...that's interesting. I didn't know the Splendor was originally intended for Costa. I've never been on a Costa ship, so I don't know what the similarities are to that line, but I could definitely see the Fincantieri heritage in certain design elements of the Splendor.

 

So if Splendor is her own class, which ships in the Carnival fleet does she most closely resemble? Conquest?

 

Yes... the hull is the same length as a Conquest class as is the beam.

As you well know, the Splendor has a sliding roof over the midships Lido Deck pool. The Conquest class has a sliding roof over the aft pool area on the Lido Deck.

The spa on the Splendor is HUGE... very Costa... not so much on the Conquest class.

The physical layout is much the same so you'll find the same pluses and minuses that you found on the Splendor. The same up down and over kinda thing is involved getting around the lower decks. Carnival has fixed this with the Dream Class...

:)

[UpstateCruizer]

Hmm...that's interesting. I didn't know the Splendor was originally intended for Costa. I've never been on a Costa ship, so I don't know what the similarities are to that line, but I could definitely see the Fincantieri heritage in certain design elements of the Splendor.

 

So if Splendor is her own class, which ships in the Carnival fleet does she most closely resemble? Conquest?

 

Yes, the closest ship to the Splendor in Carnival's fleet is the Conquest ships. I've sailed the Liberty, Valor and most recently the Splendor. I love the layout of the lido deck on the Splendor. Beyond the lido deck I would not have realized I was on a different class in my opinion.

[Cindy]

Yes... the hull is the same length as a Conquest class as is the beam.

 

As you well know, the Splendor has a sliding roof over the midships Lido Deck pool. The Conquest class has a sliding roof over the aft pool area on the Lido Deck.

 

The spa on the Splendor is HUGE... very Costa... not so much on the Conquest class.

 

The physical layout is much the same so you'll find the same pluses and minuses that you found on the Splendor. The same up down and over kinda thing is involved getting around the lower decks. Carnival has fixed this with the Dream Class...

 

:)

 

Well, I guess I'll just have to venture out armed with a compass and a deck plan!;)

[jas1178]

I have seen Triumph and Victory marketed as both Destiny class and Triumph class. (More recently the later)

 

While sitting in the pursers office on Glory this month, the large marketing poster behind her desk showed the classes, and labeled them all as Destiny (showing a pic of Triumph). At the bottom of the poster, it showed Splendor "class" with only Splendor.

At the very bottom it had Dream and Magic...which had me wondering if we were looking at the same situation. (but with so much different, that seems impossible)

[LHP]

I LOVED the Splendor.....which really surprised me because I am not a big fan of the Conquest class ships.

[*Mach*]

I LOVED the Splendor.....which really surprised me because I am not a big fan of the Conquest class ships.

 

 

Ya' know, Linda... What really impressed me was the Mediterranean flare of the ship, especially the midships Lido Deck. It reminded me so much of Rome!! I simply didn't want to leave...

:)

[uffdafla]

this beam width, heard when we were our tour through the panama canal, that industry standards are super pana and panamax. something about width that newly widing of the panama canal will fit thru. vs what max width is today.

[tiggerman101]

What a good "Sunday Morning Coffee thread"....

 

I love it when Falkcor gets going :D

[Jeans*Fanatic]

This was a very informative thread... Well, I guess it is safe to assume that Splendor will be the only one in its class...unfortunately.. She is a beautiful and wonderful ship.. even though I got completely lost especially trying to find the internet cafe... I couldn't find that place for the life of me.... Untill the 6th day...:(

And I probably won't be able to find it again, if I got back on her...

[big_duck]

and, on this point.. here's the primary differences between dream and the rest of the fleet...

 

let's start with what dream will 'inherit' from the splendor design (differing from other carnival ships to date):

- larger spa with more robust options - this is where you can see a euro influence in splendor, though retained for dream

- the burrito bar, which debuted on the splendor, will be retained on dream

- a larger amount of 'glassed in' areas... boo...

- the carnival 'splash park' area for the kids

- spa cabins - non smoking cabins with spa perks

 

and some new features:

- a around-the-ship open promenade / lanai area

- which will also feature cantilevered whirlpool / hottubs

- an adjacent 'ocean plaza', a new feature

- which is supposed to emulate a european palazzo, including for-fee gelato shop

- made-to-order pasta station on lido deck

- the carnival waterworks slides

- a modified atrium design with suspended bandstand

- deluxe oceanview staterooms - OV staterooms for 5 w/ 2 bathrooms

- cove balcony rooms - set just above the waves, the closest ever

- ship exterior design for the first time debarks from the angular carnival lines, to a more rounded appearance

- anytime dining will debut, from the beginning on this ship...

 

looks pretty great to me :cool:

 

You left out the Vista deck. One does wonder what the effect of another whole passenger deck will have on the open spaces on sea days.

[copvet]

I have to agree, this has been an interesting Thread. Falcor and others have done their research well leading to a well informed read. Thank you fellow cruisers.:)

Wayne

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

I was just asking my DH last night if he would rather go on the Spirit (our favorite ship) or try the Splendor. Thanks for an informative thread.

 

I like the Spirit in how you don't have to do that down & over and up again to get around. So many decks you walk from bow to stern on the Spirit class which is one of the reason I love her so much.

[*Mach*]

this beam width, heard when we were our tour through the panama canal, that industry standards are super pana and panamax. something about width that newly widing of the panama canal will fit thru. vs what max width is today.

 

 

Panamax ships are about 106 feet in beam (width...) leaving them a couple feet on each side of the ship in the canal.

The Splendor, and Triumph/Destiny and Conquest Class are 116 feet in beam. That's why the Splendor had to sail 'round the horn to get to her new homeport!!

:)