Carnival’s Giant Triumph Sports a Worldly Outlook

For Carnival Cruise Lines’ ship designer and architect Joe Farcus, the world is his oyster, especially aboard the line’s newest mega-ship, the Carnival Triumph.

The ship, which made its debut in New York in July, has an unusual piano bar called the Big Easy that salutes New Orleans, the hometown of Farcus’ wife and design partner, Jean Farcus. The overall effect is of a grotto lined with oyster shells--but not just any oyster shells. These are from oysters eaten by the patrons of the Acme Oyster Bar in New Orleans and were shipped from Louisiana to the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy to be applied to the walls. (“I didn’t realize how heavy oyster shells are,” Farcus confessed with a grin.)

“The world” is used as a central idea or unifying element throughout the $420-million ship, from a vast 3-D world map high above the lobby bar to Venetian glass murals of continents and tiny ornamental globes on each staircase rail.

At 102,000 tons and carrying as many as 3,473 passengers when every bed is full, the Carnival Triumph is Carnival’s biggest and the world’s second-biggest ship (after Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess), at least until the November debut of Royal Caribbean International’s gigantic Voyager of the Seas.

Despite its size, Carnival Triumph offers a lot of intimate spaces, such as the Olympic Sports Bar. Also on board are an Art Nouveau Vienna coffeehouse, a jazzy Rio nightclub, a Washington presidential library and a bookcase-lined English bar.

The world idea carries over into entertainment with a stylish production show called “Wonderful World.” The cast of 18 singers and dancers travels tunefully around the world, first in a balloon, then aboard the Orient Express train, with fog, fireworks and frequent changes of costume.

All-inclusive wedding packages and a big indoor and outdoor kids’ play area called Camp Carnival are also featured. A 15,000-square-foot health and fitness facility augments the swimming pool and three-deck water slide.

The self-service dining area has a New York-style deli and a Hong Kong noodle shop added to the popular 24-hour pizza and Caesar salad bar. And passengers who don’t want to dress up for dinner can opt for a simpler evening meal in the South Beach Club bistro.

Cabins range from fairly spacious insides (without windows) that offer the option of twin or queen-size beds to suites and penthouses with marble bathrooms, Jacuzzi tubs and private verandas. But don’t expect those bathrooms, even in the penthouses, to provide any toiletries other than a simple bar of soap.

Bring your own shampoo.

The ship sails from New York round trip to eastern Canada on four- and five-day itineraries through the sailing of Oct. 11, then repositions to its home port of Miami for alternating seven-day sailings to the eastern and western Caribbean. Ports of call on the western Caribbean itineraries are Playa del Carmen/Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios, beginning Oct. 23; eastern Caribbean itineraries are San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix, beginning Oct. 30.

Brochure fares range from $1,329 to $3,179 per person, double occupancy, for the Caribbean cruises. These fares include port charges but not air fare.

Members of the American Assn. of Retired Persons get discounts of $50 to $200 a cabin on most sailings. The line’s guarantee, which allows passengers who do not like their cruise to disembark at the first foreign port of call and get back a prorated refund for the unused part of their fare, continues through the end of 2001.

To get a free color brochure, call (800) CARNIVAL (227-6482).