Farewell to Carnival's Signature Decor??

Say it's not so!

According to this article (see link below) from USA Today, Carnival will not be using long time architect Joe Farcus to design the new CARNIVAL BREEZE. This is such a shocker to me, because Joe Farcus has been designing Carnival ships ever since the CARNIVALE in the late 70's. Love or hate Carnival's decor, "Farcitecture", or "entertainment architecture" has become a signature trademark on every Carnival ship. It's one of those things that really sets Carnival apart from other mass-market cruise lines. You walk onboard and go "WOW"!!

CARNIVAL DREAM was the first Carnival ship that seemed really toned down to me, and I imagine the trend will continue with CARNIVAL MAGIC and finally no Farcus at all with CARNIVAL BREEZE. I hope the decor doesn't become boring.

It's interesting how many changes have happened at Carnival ever since Gerry Cahill took over. Most of the long term executives have left the company. I'm sure Mr. Cahill is a very capable man, but I just don't know about some of the changes. He certainly will be leaving his mark on the company.

FYI Joe Farcus will continue to design Costa ships, and my understanding is the same German firm that designs the ships for AIDA Cruises will design CARNIVAL BREEZE.

Ernie

http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/post/2010/09/will-carnival-tone-down-its-flashy-decor-for-future-ships/111825/1#uslPageReturn

I don't think it's such a bad thing. Taken individually, there are areas on all three of the Carnival ships we've been on that I thought were terrific; thrown all together on a single ship, not so much! I like design continuity which, let's face it, those ships are not known for!

I think it'll be fun to see what they come up with for the Carnival Breeze!

I wish they would change the decor in each ships cabins. If you see one you see them all. I am so bored having the same ole same ole in the cabins. :rolleyes:

Okay maybe not change the whole lay-out just change the bedspreads and pictures etc.

The Carnival Dream did feel different compared to many other Carnival ships. Still Carnival, but sedated. Love it or hate it- Farcus got people talking. Artist renderings of the Magic look fantastic- I can't wait to see her and see what they come up with for the Breeze.

It is about time.....

Why having the same garish designs for decades, could ever be considered a good idea?

They should parcel out the various venues to different designers, like they say they are doing on the Breeze.

Bill

About time CCL gets out of the 70s with the decor and hopefully comes close to the decor of modern RCL ships.

It's about time they got rid of him.

I really like sailing on Carnival, but most areas of every ship I've sailed with them have been a bit over the top in mismatched colors and furniture fabrics.

Not even close to the WOW factor IMO.

This made my day! I have been waiting for Carnival to move out of the dark ages... :D I am in agreement with the other poster about the ugly bedspreads...

About time..........

I guess that we have now proven what we have all thought all along...Carnival does read these boards!!!!! And they have even agreed with me!!!:D

Say it's not so!

 

According to this article (see link below) from USA Today, Carnival will not be using long time architect Joe Farcus to design the new CARNIVAL BREEZE.

WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Halle-freakin-LUIA!!!!!!!

That's GREAT news!!!! Especially for the Carnival cabins, which are soooo butt-ugly. But the rest of the areas in the ships, too. I was on the Glory and have seen photos of my next ship, Victory, and they're both really ugly.

I've read some of John Heald's Blog in the past and isn't AIDA the line he has praised several times for having the best cruise ships? He posted photos and I thought they looked wonderful! Despite not knowing a single word of German, I thought that I wouldn't mind sailing on one of those ships.

Carnival made a recent wise change - shocker!! ;)

It's about time they got rid of him.

I really like sailing on Carnival, but most areas of every ship I've sailed with them have been a bit over the top in mismatched colors and furniture fabrics.

Not even close to the WOW factor IMO.

LOL! Yeah, for me, it's been more like a OMG! factor, lol.

Sailing out on Fantasy tomorrow for the second time, and regardless who did the decor, IMHO, this is the best ship in the fleet. Nothing was so overdone on this vessel made me say "OMG, what kind of drugs were they on?!?!" lol.

Can't say that about any of the others that we've sailed on.

John Heald has this on his blog today:

I remember the first time I walked on a Carnival ship as a crew member back in 1987 and amongst all the emotions of being far away from home and not truly understanding what I was doing, one of the emotions I had was the same one everyone of you had when you walked on a Carnival ship….that emotion is best described as “WOW.” And much of that “WOW” came thanks to one man who has given every Carnival ship an identity of fun, laughter and gave us a total escape from our everyday lives. Of course I am talking about the incomparable Mr. Joe Farcus.

Joe has been responsible for the interior design of every one of the ships that you have taken a cruise on. His head-turning designs and bold use of colours gave us all so much to talk about and more than anything made us all truly feel like we were on vacation. His public areas were truly entertaining…….he was and is an entertainment architect.

Joe has though decided to concentrate on more personal time, although he continues to be the lead architect on your Carnival Magic. Carnival is still proud to be working with Joe but at age 66, he has advised us of his desire to scale back some of his professional commitments at this juncture in his career.

As for your Carnival Breeze, well Joe will work closely with a company in Hamburg, Germany called Partnership Design who will be the lead designers for your Carnival Breeze. Joe will still leave his mark on this ship, however, as both the theater and the casino will bear his legendary and colorful design.

It is often forgotten that Joe has done and will continue to design the interiors of the Costa ships as well. I have seen many of these and it is quite extraordinary that this man can go from designing something that screams fun and excitement to designing an interior that as soon as you board you feel like you are about to live La Dolce Vita which of course means “the good life” ….. Italian style.

http://johnhealdsblog.com/2010/09/10/not-your-average-joe/

About time CCL gets out of the 70s with the decor and hopefully comes close to the decor of modern RCL ships.

Carnival NET profit last 12 months $1.7 BILLION. RCL net profit last 12 months $380 million. And they sold off $900 million of equipment, meaning cruise operations LOST money.

Choice 1. Garish profitable ships,

OR

Choice 2. pretty, unprofitable ships?

Carnival NET profit last 12 months $1.7 BILLION. RCL net profit last 12 months $380 million. And they sold off $900 million of equipment, meaning cruise operations LOST money.

Choice 1. Garish profitable ships,

 

OR

 

Choice 2. pretty, unprofitable ships?

Are you talking about Carnival Cruise Line OR Carnival Corporation?? If it's Carnival Corporation you are talking about about a company MUCH bigger then Royal Caribbean International! Apples with apples and oranges with oranges!

Carnival NET profit last 12 months $1.7 BILLION. RCL net profit last 12 months $380 million. And they sold off $900 million of equipment, meaning cruise operations LOST money.

Choice 1. Garish profitable ships,

 

OR

 

Choice 2. pretty, unprofitable ships?

That's because Carnival is the "party" ship.....it doesn't matter how butt ugly the decor is when you're hammered:D

About time..........

No about time would have been ten years ago. It will be interesting to see what someone else can do with a Carnival ship.

 

It is often forgotten that Joe has done and will continue to design the interiors of the Costa ships as well.

Interesting though he is staying on with Costa and not Carnival. That tells me it's more about a change of pace for Carnival than just Mr. Farcus wanting to retire.

I would say this is a change of direction initiated by Carnival.

Ernie

Not a Big fan of Farcus. I'm glad he is gone. The Carnival decor could use a change.

I'm really surprised how happy everyone seems to be about this news. I would have expected Carnival loyalists to have a better appreciation of the unique Carnival decor that has been a huge part of this line for 35 years. Frankly the decor of Joe Farcus helped put Carnival on the map. I'm not so quick to dismiss it and embrace a change. It was wacky and love it or hate it, people talked about it. How often do you hear people talk about the decor on Princess Cruises? Not very often because there is not much to talk about. It's designed in a way to not offend anyone, and once you have been on one Princess ship you have been on them all.

One thing I have always admired about Carnival and Farcus is that no two ships are alike. Each had their own theme, but even with those individual themes you could walk onboard and instantly know you were on a Carnival ship.

Personally, my history with Carnival goes back to the days of MARDI GRAS, CARNIVALE, and FESTIVALE. While I have often thought the decor of Carnival was bizarre and even tacky, I understood what Farcus was trying to do and could appreciate it ... and I think many of the millions that have enjoyed Carnival have as well. Simply put, that decor was a major aspect of what made the "Fun Ships", fun!

I just hope Carnival doesn't lose it's distinction with this change of direction. The decor is not entirely what Carnival is about, but it's been a trademark of the line for many years.

Ernie

I honestly couldn't tell you much about the decor of any of the CCL ships we've been on. And I really don't drink much!

It's just never occurred to me to walk around the ship and take inventory of the design schemes.

The only thing that sticks in my mind are the purple worms on the Lido Deck ceiling on Inspiration.

The article mentioned, but no one else did, that Joe Farcus is still doing the Breezes casino and theater. He will still have his touch on the Breeze.

I'll be interested in seeing what the cabins will look like.

Change is good. :D

 

I'll be interested in seeing what the cabins will look like.

While I personally have mixed feelings about Farcus leaving Carnival, the one positive change might be the cabins. They are comfortable and large, but I'm so sick of the red carpet and peach walls, bedspreads, and fake leather sofa. They are past due for a major design make over.

Ernie