A New Horizon

Carnival’s latest ship represents a broadened experience for anyone who thinks they know Carnival.

- Aaron Saunders

I stepped aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship in the Port of Barcelona on its second-ever voyage, expecting t he 3, 9 6 0-passenger Car nival Horizon to look and feel much like her predecessor, 2016’s Carnival Vista. I figured I knew exactly what to expect. I was wrong.

The 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon is anything but a carbon copy of her sister. Stepping into the three-story atrium, with its Dreamscape funnel sculpture made up of more than 2,000 flexible LED tiles lighting up the room with digital artwork, it was clear that improvements both big and small had been made to every corner of the ship.

Where Carnival Vista employed a largely whitewashed atrium, walls aboard Carnival Horizon now have subtle textures and patterns that bounce attractively offthe room’s lighting. Blonde wood-grain textures adorn walls and ceiling panels. The whole ship feels a little more, well, upscale.

Even the elevators were the subject of much discussion. With the press of a button on the iPad-like touch screens in the elevator lobbies, you are directed to an elevator car going (usually) express to your selected deck. It’s called a “destination-based elevator,” and it’s a first at sea. Representatives from Schindler, the manufacturer, even came on board for an elevator photo shoot.

After 30 minutes on board, one thing was clear: this was no ordinary Fun Ship.

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN CARNIVAL ONLY OFFERED a few basic types of accommodations. Out of 1,980 total suites and staterooms, 864 are oceanview balcony staterooms, while just 254 are fixed-window oceanviews and 752 are economical inside staterooms.