Carnival Triumph Overview
Updated by Jodi Thompson, Cruise Critic Contributor, and Dan Askin, Senior Editor
(4.0)
With four swimming pools, seven whirlpools, tons of bars, a giant casino and a daily schedule of activities that will make your head spin, the 102,000-ton, 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph, which debuted in 1999, lives up to Carnival's "Fun Ships" motto with gusto. A passenger looking for a little peace and quiet could easily find themselves locked in their cabin ordering room service for the duration of the trip, but if you can (or care to) look past the crowded bars, loud music and long buffet lines, you can definitely relax on the Triumph. Head to the Oxford Lounge for your nightcap rather than the Hollywood Dance Club or sunbathe on the Spa Deck rather than on the crowded levels surrounding the main pool.
All that adult-friendly fervor is balanced by a large number of families attracted to the ship's (and the line's) excellent children's program. Camp Carnival's activities for kids are as diverse as the adults' and run from early morning until late at night. Children's World, the main play area, has sand art, educational computer games and plenty of space for jumping and tumbling.
You have to appreciate the attempt of the Carnival Triumph to take you on a trip around the world, even if you're really just on a four-night, one-port cruise. The ship's theme is the world's greatest vacation destinations, and with names like Club Monaco, The Big Easy and Hong Kong Noodle Co., there is real diversity on this ship -- in entertainment, in dining, among your fellow passengers and, of course, among the lovely crewmembers.
So when two of the Carnival dancers -- he from Moscow and she from Canada -- got engaged to be married in front of a crowd of Americans late one night in a New Orleans-themed piano bar and then were serenaded by a pianist from New Zealand among a lot of cheers and hugs from strangers, it's no surprise. That seems to be the idea on the Carnival Triumph -- to bring people together with good times and, at least in this case, love.
Carnival Triumph Fellow Passengers
Carnival attracts such a variety of people; it is hard to pinpoint exactly what you should expect. So, what you should expect is a lot of diversity in age, ethnic background and personalities. It's not uncommon to spy several large family groups onboard identified by their matching T-shirts celebrating everything from birthdays and anniversaries to reunions. There may also be a number of disabled passengers on any particular sailing, perhaps a testament to Carnival's ability to accommodate people regardless of physical limitations.
Carnival Triumph Dress Code
On the one formal night held per cruise (Carnival calls it "Cruise Elegant"), passengers wear everything from tuxedos and evening gowns to sport coats and cocktail dresses. If the men in your party pack a dark suit and the women a long dress or pantsuit, everyone will be comfortable. The rest of the time, the dress is casual -- mostly shorts, jeans and bathing suits.
Carnival Triumph Gratuity
Carnival automatically adds $11.50 per person, per day to shipboard accounts. The guidelines allocate $5.80 to dining room services, $3.70 to cabin services and $2 per day for alternative services, which include kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members. The amount can be adjusted in either direction at the guest services desk. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar bills. Tipping for room service at delivery is expected (and appreciated) by the service staff.
My DH and I were looking for a weekend trip to celebrate my birthday which was on Sunday, Feb 10. We considered Vegas and New Orleans but after realizing that the weekend we were looking at was right between Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, NOLA was ruled ... continue |
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February 2013 TxRegulator
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I had a GREAT time on my first cruise!! And yes...I was on the Triumph!! It was NOT THAT BAD!! It was akin to camping in one's own backyard as a kid. The crew was great, we were well treated, food was plentiful, water was restored quickly and the ... continue |
I read this headline on CNN after we returned from our ordeal and could not help but laugh. The plethora of drama queens and kings is astounding. Folks looking for their 15 seconds of fame, I guess...
Was it bad? Yes. As bad as depicted on ... continue |
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