Nightclubs and Lounges
Poseidon's Bar
Poseidon's Bar is located in the rear of the ship on the Lido deck (deck 9).
The bar is just in front of the Poseidon pool. This is the largest bar around
any of the pools. Along with having many bar stools, there are plenty of tables
positioned between the bar and the pool. The tables in front of the bar are
also under a canopy. The canopy is there to stop any water from the slide
(which is above the bar) from splashing down onto the guests and provide a
nice shady spot to sit and relax. The Poseidon's Bar is open until 2:00am
each night. This bar is open later than any other bar (except for the nights
when the disco is busy).
Venus Bar
Venus Bar is located in the middle of the ship on the Lido deck (deck 9).
The bar is just in front of the Venus pool and just behind the Apollo pool.
The bar is divided into 4 sections. There are two sections on the port side
and two on starboard. The sections on the port side are non-smoking bars.
Each bar section has about 8-10 barstools. There are many tables lining both
sides of the Lido deck and this bar services these tables. The Venus bar
opens around 8:00am for people who like their morning Bloody Mary or Screwdriver.
The bar closes around 8:00pm along with the pools.
Ivory Piano Bar
The Ivory Piano Bar is just that. A piano bar with a lot of ivory inlaid into
the d�cor. The bar is sort of �S� shaped. The top of the �S� is flattened and
the bottom is enlarged. The bottom part of the �S� is where the piano is located.
The bar wraps around the piano, which allows guest to participate in the
sing-a-longs that happen each night. The piano is on a turntable and slowly
spins around. The piano player conveniently placed a large glass bowl for
tips at the end of the piano. As the piano revolved around, so do the tip
bowl. Around the outer area of the lounge were several tables and chairs for
the guest who could not find space around the piano. One night the piano
player asked the bartender to sing. She was Spanish (I think) and sung a Spanish
song. She had such a great voice; I could have married her on the spot.
Perfect Game Bar
This is the ship�s sports bar. The bar is decorated with sports memorabilia.
The bar itself has a few video poker machines set into it. There are a few
TVs located behind the bar though they do not have many sports programs
available via their satellite connection. It�s a small lounge with a small
bar. There is enough space for the hardcore sports fan, however it can get
quite crowed if there is a major sports event happening that night.
Raphael Lounge
The Raphael Lounge is the cigar bar. They sell several different types of cigars.
There is a bar, several tables with plush chairs, and a piano towards the center
of the area. Other than the open decks, this is the only place on the ship that
allows the smoking of cigars.
Starry Night Lounge
The Starry Night Lounge is one of the largest entertainment lounges on the
ship. There were many tables and chairs place halfway around a dance floor.
On the other side of the dance floor is where the stage is located. Each
night they would have different themes of entertainment. They play a variety
of party and dance music each night. One day they had a �Classic Rock-n-Roll�
night. Another night was Karaoke.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a theater type lounge. It is 3 deck high and is where they
have all the major shows. There are two �Vegas� style shows and several high
quality shows offered during the week. �Vrooom� and �Wonderful World� where
they�re two biggest shows. The Taj Mahal is also were they hold the �Welcome
Aboard Show� and (on the last day) the Debarkation Talk�. The lounge has white
walls made of small panels. Within each panel is a simulated gem stone lit
from behind. There are marble floors and brass columns. The lounge is full
of comfortable chairs that can be accessed from decks 2, 3 and 4, and from
staircases in the front and rear of the lounge. Glass panels below the banisters
to provide a clear view to the stage.
Beauties Dance Club
Beauties Dance Club a.k.a. The Disco. The disco can be hard to find. It is located
just in front of the main dining hall (Normandie Restaurant) on deck 2. To get into
the disco you need to pass through a revolving door (there is a wheelchair entrance).
You enter the disco on deck 2 and can proceed down a spiral staircase to the dance
floor. There is seating on the 1st floor next to the dance floor and the DJ. The
bar is on the 2nd floor. Around the opening in the second floor there are barstools
and a counter you can sit at to look down onto the dance floor. The barstools in the
disco are made to look like the torso�s of men and women. On one wall of the dance
floor there are several video monitor placed in a grid. The DJ can control what is
being displayed and in what configuration. Most of the time they had a computer
generated, transforming, psychedelic pattern being displayed. It could become quite
hypnotic to watch. The disco would start to get active around 11:00pm and stay open
until anywhere between 1:00am and 4:00am depending on how many people were in the
disco. Most nights it was pretty dead in there. On the formal dining nights, the
disco would be much more active. The crew would make those nights their nights to
party. Between the guests and the crew, the disco would be hop�in until wee hours
of the night.
Butterflies Lounge
Butterflies� is located in the front of the ship under the Taj Mahal. You need to
go to the entrance of the Taj Mahal and proceed down the spiral stairs to the
lounge. Wheelchairs can access the lounge from deck 1 on the port side. Butterflies�
is a non-smoking lounge. It usually opens around 8 or 9pm. The same band would play
each night and halfway through, they would switch to something different. Usually
this was Karaoke. This is also the lounge where they have the adult comedy shows
each night at midnight. There are butterflies on the ceiling that light up around
their edges with different colored lights. The walls of the lounge a sort of a
stained glass with lights behind them to give the illusion of depth. Even with
these lights, the lounge is dark.
The Piazza Cafe
The Piazza Caf� is located on deck 2 in front of the Starry Night lounge. The caf�
has table and chairs along the other edge of the ship. Within the caf� area is the
service area. From this counter, you can get a piece of cake or a chocolate delight.
The caf� also serves specialty coffees. Try the carrot cake and a cappachino, there
both suppose to be very good.
Renaissance Lobby
The Renaissance Lobby contains the Atrium, the first thing you see when your board
the ship. The Atrium soars upward 10 decks to David�s Supper Club. The lobby itself
has a bar that becomes very crowded just before each dining time. The lobby has
seating along one side on the ship and both the purser�s desk and the Shore
Tour�s deck are on the other side.
Florentine Lobby
The Florentine Lobby is located on deck 2 in front of the Normandie Restaurant. The
lounge is normally void of people until about 45 min before each dinner where it
would become very crowed with people waiting for dinner. Many people would gather
for a pre-dinner cocktail or a cigarette. This lobby also has seating along one
side on the ship and a small stage on the other side where a classical trio would
normally play.
Restaurants
Normandie Restaurant
The Normandie Restaurant is the main dining area on the ship. The restaurant is
split across two deck (decks 2 & 3). Each night close to the end of the dinner,
the wait staff would perform some sort of skit to entertain the guests. The upper
level is open in the center allowing guest the ability to look down onto the
lower level during the entertainment. Off to the side of the lower dining room
is the Captains Club. The captains club is a small area with a handful of tables
and its own wait staff. This is where I was assigned each of my two weeks on the
ship. I thought it was very nice. The table has placed next to a large porthole
and provided a wonderful view while eating. The only disadvantage was the inability
to see the entertainment on some of the night. Our wait staff provided their own
entertainment, which I found quite nice. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch,
and dinner. I only ate dinner in the Normandie Restaurant. Dinner is served in
two shifts. Early seating is at 5:45pm and last seating is at 8:15pm. Two of the
nights are formal nights. On formal nights, people dress mainly in suits. Some
people go all out and dress in tuxedos and evening gowns. The rest of the nights
are casual dress. Shorts are not permitted in the Normandie Restaurant. Each night
they have a different menu. Each menu is full of choices, including several
appetizers, garden or specialty salad, and 5 or 6 main courses. Don�t forget
desert. The menu has an assortment ranging from meat and fish, to vegetarian meals.
If you don�t like what�s on the menu, you can always order a steak. The tables are
numbered on printed on your Sail and Sign card will be your table number and seating
time. If you are unhappy with the assigned seating, you can speak to the Maitre D�
and have your arrangements changed.
David's Supper Club
For an extra $25 you can eat at David's Supper Club. David's Supper Club is a reservation
only restaurant. It is located on deck 10 at the top of the atrium. You can get to the
supper club using the elevators from deck 10 or take the stairs from deck 9. For a unique
experience, take the glass stairs from the Mermaids� Grille on deck 9. The glass stairs
extend out over the atrium with an unobstructed view nine floors down to the bottom of
the atrium. The supper club server excellent food in a more intimate environment. Give
yourself plenty of time to experience the supper club, as it will take 2 or more hours
to complete your meal. In the middle of the supper club, and looking out over the atrium,
is the statue of David. Along the walls are small windows reminiscent of the old sailing
ships of the past.
Mermaids' Grille
Taking up almost half of the Lido deck is the Mermaids' Grille. The Mermaids' Grille opens
at 6:30am for Coffee & Danish and at 7:00am for breakfast. Breakfast is served buffet style.
They serve Toast, Cream-of-Wheat, Scrambled Eggs, French Toast, Bacon, Sausage, Ham, Hash
Brown Patties, Pancakes, and Omelets to order. Orange juice, fruit juice, iced tea, and
coffee are server out of machines and are available all day. Breakfast is served until 10:30am.
The Deli opens at 11:00am and stays open until 11:00pm. The Grille is open from 12:00pm until
6:00pm. Lunch is available from 11:30am until 3:30pm. Lunch is also served buffet style and
many different items are offered. The grille area is divided into four sections. One section
is the Deli, serving your typical deli style foods. Another section has American style foods
including wonderful teriyaki ribs. The third section serves Japanese food (something I ate a
lot of). Finally the fourth section is called �Taste of Nations� and serves food from a
different country each day. The grille, which server burger, hot dogs, fries, and salads,
is location outside the main grille area next to the Venus pool (port side).
Pizzeria
The Pizzeria is location in the rear of the Mermaids' Grille (starboard side). The Pizzeria
is open 24hrs a day. The Pizzeria serves about 8 different types of pizza including the
classical cheese or pepperoni pizza. Depending on the time of day and the amount of people
wanting pizza, you may have to wait a little while for the pizza to be made. I thought the
pizza itself was very good (at least for being served on a ship).
Facilities
Sunset Garden
The Sunset garden is in the front of the ship on deck 3 (both sides of the
Taj Mahal). You have to go through the sunset garden (a.k.a. Winter Garden)
to get to the Virtual Reality game room (deck 4). You can also get to the
Fun Club (kids play area) through the garden and up to deck 5. The Sunset
Garden has many tables lining the walls with 2 chairs at each table. Several
of the tables have porthole windows provide a nice view of the ocean. This is
a very quiet place. Most of the time there was not a single person in there.
If you have your on reading material and want a quiet place to relax, the
sunset garden is the place to go.
Jogging Track
The Jogging Track is on deck 11 in the front of the ship. The track is rectangular
shaped and is basically a non-slip carpet inlaid into the deck.
The Body Beautiful Spa
The Body Beautiful Spa is in the front of the ship on decks 9 and 10. The spa contains
several workout machines, a hot tub / whirlpool, and steam rooms. Behind the spa is the
Look Beauty Salon. In the beauty salon you can buy bath gels and other beauty items along
with services from makeovers to manicures.
The Fun Club
The Fun Club is where Camp Canaveral is based. Camp Canaveral is the service provided
for the kids. Carnival does a great job of entertaining the kids. I do not have kids
myself so I can�t give you my personal opinion. However, the whole two weeks I was on
the ship, I hardly ever saw any kids running around with nothing to do. Finding the
fun club can get tricky, you have to go through the Sunset Garden to get there.
Virtual Reality Arcade
The arcade has several video games and other arcade style items to entertain the older
kids. The machines use tokens that can be purchased through token machines located in
the arcade. The arcade is even accessible to wheelchairs using the stair lift on the
starboard side on the ship.
The Winners Club Casino
The casino is open to people 18 years or older. The casino opens around 10am and closes around 3am during the days at sea. On the days the ship is a it's ports, the casino opens about a half hour after the ship leaves the port and also remains open until about 3am. The casino has slot machines (nickel, quarter, and dollar), video poker machines, blackjack tables, a roulette table, and a craps table (not sure about poker but i think so). They also have blackjack and slot tournaments during certain days. There are booklets you can get that explain the games offered in the casino and how to best play them.
I will give my impressions of the following areas in the near future ( maybe not :) ).
Shops
Formalities
The Chapel
Nobel Library
Internet Cafe
Crystal Card Room
Photo Gallery
Shore Tours desk
Purser's desk
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Renaissance Atrium
Glass Stairs to David's
David's Supper Club
Ivory Piano Bar
Beauties Disco
Entrance to Butterflies
Taj Mahal stairs
Sunset Garden
Shops on Via Veneto
Venus Pool
Slide + Poseidon's Pool
My Friends
Nipa, Eulis and Sari
Szilvia and Ramon
Sudan
Special gift for my friends
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