Difference between Classes

[inurdreams2379]

This may be a silly question, but what are the differences between the different classes of ships? I have been on Fantasy class twice and soon the be sailing Conquest. Just curious on what to expect between the two, and the other classes I guess. :)

[brnsnbrws]

I have wondered that too. From reading the boards I think it has to do with the size, type of staterooms and just general layout of the ship.

[C&THollings]

The class of ship change with the size. When you are on Carnival's web site, you can see the tonnage and how many passengers a ship can hold, or just google it :)

 

The Fantasy was my first ship, the Liberty my second. What a vast difference. The Liberty is huge in comparison. The new Dream is even bigger.

[falkcor]

i'm gonna copy and paste (with a few edits) my response from a similar thread a while ago:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1327401

 

fantasy class ships are the oldest (to be introduced) and smallest currently serving in the fleet. they are being updated though, through the 'evolutions of fun', with upgrades being implemented, not in an entirely uniform manner as per drydock additions - but including new balcony cabins being added (ecstasy, fascination and sensation have them), the carnival water works, serenity deck areas, and a lot of other upgrades. this is to extend their life span. they're about 70K GRT. these ships don't have a steakhouse, and do not have seaside theatre bigscreen. water parks / water works being added (elation and paradise don't have it yet).

 

destiny was the first 'mega ship', coming out while fantasy class ships were still being produced. this class of ship features a MUCH higher concentration of balcony cabins, and more 'unique' cabins like the aft wraps, etc. destiny carries more passengers, and has more venues, bars, lounges, etc. they're about 101K GRT, and served as the template for subsequent very similar ship 'platforms', in the 'triumph', conquest, splendor and dream classes. these ships don't have a steakhouse, but do have seaside theatre bigscreen and standard waterslide.

 

'triumph' class ships are the same general hull as destiny, and are often referred (except in marketing materials) as destiny class ships. they have approximately the same hull, and the only real difference is the extra small 1/3 size passenger deck up top. they're about 103K GRT, i believe, without referencing. this class includes triumph and victory.these ships don't have a steakhouse, but do have seaside theatre bigscreen and standard waterslide.

 

conquest class ships were the next iteration of that platform. they're stretched to be a bit longer than destiny / triumph class, and have a few additional venues, such as the fish and chips station, and the for-fee supper clubs. overal ship architecture is still very similar. this class includes conquest, valor, freedom, liberty, glory. they're about 110K GRT. these ships do have both steakhouse and seaside theatre. standard waterslide. serenity decks also being added in dry dock.

 

splendor was the next class built on roughly the same platform. however, this modification was designed largely for the carnival corp subsidiary, costa cruises as the concordia class (though still roughly similar to conquest). it has a different lido deck area, a larger spa, introduced the 'spa cabins' and a few other quirks. still largely similar though, and some costa-specific features were altered as a carnival build. it's about 113K GRT. this ship has the steakhouse, and seaside theatre, but different lido with no theatre type seating. standard waterslide. considered the most anti-smoking ship by many. serenity areas available.

 

dream class ships are the most tweaked of the same destiny platform, and have quite a few differences to others in the conquest lineage. again, stretched, and taller, than the earlier classes - the lido deck is more similar to that of the splendor class, and has unique venues such as the wrap around promenade deck, ocean plaza, pasta bar, laser show. ship architecture similarly tweaked, with different promenade area (lower dream street), different type of piano bar (open) and more restrictive smoking in casino, and does also feature the spa balcony cabins. these ships are about 130K GRT. dream is in service, carnival magic coming in 2011, and carnival breeze in 2012. these ships have steakhouse, big screen, and water works. carnival is also showing more willingness to tweak these new ships, with magic featuring a for-fee italian place (for dinners), a caribbean type pub, a ropes course and altered sports area, different serenity deck layout, and more. ship decor also starting to trend less garish and more classy, IMO.

 

spirit class ships are, except the fantasy class aging fleet, the oddballs. there's only 4 - pride, miracle, legend and spirit, and these ships are about 88.5K GRT, but with a higher space : passenger capacity. these ships also feature a disproportionately high amount of balcony cabins. given the higher space : passenger ratio, many report that these ships feel far less crowded, more roomy, etc. the layout of these ships is also very different than the other classses, notably in comparison to the ultimately similar destiny, 'triumph', conquest, splendor, and dream platform. decor also is a bit more classy than the 'vegas' style of the fantasy class, or even similarly aged of the other classes. while they have fewer venues than the D/T/C/S/D ships, the passenger load is much lower, proportionally. aft wrap suites are particularly prime. these ships feature an open air lido aft deck, a different mid ship pool area, without the stadium type seating of D/T/C classes, they do NOT have a seaside theatre, but they do have a steakhouse. they have started added serenity deck areas to this class, with the recent pride and legend drydock. standard waterslide. these ships are a perennial favorite among seasoned cruisers and cruise critic members alike.

 

hope that helps :)

[golfadj]

i'm gonna copy and paste (with a few edits) my response from a similar thread a while ago:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1327401

 

fantasy class ships are the oldest (to be introduced) and smallest currently serving in the fleet. they are being updated though, through the 'evolutions of fun', with upgrades being implemented, not in an entirely uniform manner as per drydock additions - but including new balcony cabins being added (ecstasy, fascination and sensation have them), the carnival water works, serenity deck areas, and a lot of other upgrades. this is to extend their life span. they're about 70K GRT. these ships don't have a steakhouse, and do not have seaside theatre bigscreen. water parks / water works being added (elation and paradise don't have it yet).

 

destiny was the first 'mega ship', coming out while fantasy class ships were still being produced. this class of ship features a MUCH higher concentration of balcony cabins, and more 'unique' cabins like the aft wraps, etc. destiny carries more passengers, and has more venues, bars, lounges, etc. they're about 101K GRT, and served as the template for subsequent very similar ship 'platforms', in the 'triumph', conquest, splendor and dream classes. these ships don't have a steakhouse, but do have seaside theatre bigscreen and standard waterslide.

 

'triumph' class ships are the same general hull as destiny, and are often referred (except in marketing materials) as destiny class ships. they have approximately the same hull, and the only real difference is the extra small 1/3 size passenger deck up top. they're about 103K GRT, i believe, without referencing. this class includes triumph and victory.these ships don't have a steakhouse, but do have seaside theatre bigscreen and standard waterslide.

 

conquest class ships were the next iteration of that platform. they're stretched to be a bit longer than destiny / triumph class, and have a few additional venues, such as the fish and chips station, and the for-fee supper clubs. overal ship architecture is still very similar. this class includes conquest, valor, freedom, liberty, glory. they're about 110K GRT. these ships do have both steakhouse and seaside theatre. standard waterslide. serenity decks also being added in dry dock.

 

splendor was the next class built on roughly the same platform. however, this modification was designed largely for the carnival corp subsidiary, costa cruises as the concordia class (though still roughly similar to conquest). it has a different lido deck area, a larger spa, introduced the 'spa cabins' and a few other quirks. still largely similar though, and some costa-specific features were altered as a carnival build. it's about 113K GRT. this ship has the steakhouse, and seaside theatre, but different lido with no theatre type seating. standard waterslide. considered the most anti-smoking ship by many. serenity areas available.

 

dream class ships are the most tweaked of the same destiny platform, and have quite a few differences to others in the conquest lineage. again, stretched, and taller, than the earlier classes - the lido deck is more similar to that of the splendor class, and has unique venues such as the wrap around promenade deck, ocean plaza, pasta bar, laser show. ship architecture similarly tweaked, with different promenade area (lower dream street), different type of piano bar (open) and more restrictive smoking in casino, and does also feature the spa balcony cabins. these ships are about 130K GRT. dream is in service, carnival magic coming in 2011, and carnival breeze in 2012. these ships have steakhouse, big screen, and water works. carnival is also showing more willingness to tweak these new ships, with magic featuring a for-fee italian place (for dinners), a caribbean type pub, a ropes course and altered sports area, different serenity deck layout, and more. ship decor also starting to trend less garish and more classy, IMO.

 

spirit class ships are, except the fantasy class aging fleet, the oddballs. there's only 4 - pride, miracle, legend and spirit, and these ships are about 88.5K GRT, but with a higher space : passenger capacity. these ships also feature a disproportionately high amount of balcony cabins. given the higher space : passenger ratio, many report that these ships feel far less crowded, more roomy, etc. the layout of these ships is also very different than the other classses, notably in comparison to the ultimately similar destiny, 'triumph', conquest, splendor, and dream platform. decor also is a bit more classy than the 'vegas' style of the fantasy class, or even similarly aged of the other classes. while they have fewer venues than the D/T/C/S/D ships, the passenger load is much lower, proportionally. aft wrap suites are particularly prime. these ships feature an open air lido aft deck, a different mid ship pool area, without the stadium type seating of D/T/C classes, they do NOT have a seaside theatre, but they do have a steakhouse. they have started added serenity deck areas to this class, with the recent pride and legend drydock. standard waterslide. these ships are a perennial favorite among seasoned cruisers and cruise critic members alike.

 

hope that helps :)

 

Excellent post.

[H82seaUgo]

yes, excellent post, although the entire thing didn't really need to be quoted.