Learn English Through Football

Football Language: Cruise to victory

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Cruise to victory

If a team wins a game and they win three points we can say that they have claimed a victory; they are the victorious team. Sometimes, though, they have to work hard to win the game and we can say that they have laboured to victory – which suggests that although the team has won they may not have won convincingly. On the other hand, if a team easily wins a game then we can use the phrase ‘ to cruise to victory ‘. The verb to cruise when used to describe travel suggests that a trip is very smooth – there have been no problems at all. In football if a team cruises to victory then they have had hardly any trouble or difficulty at all – it has been easy for them to win the game. On Tuesday evening, the champions Manchester City travelled to in-form Burnley which on paper could have been a tricky game. However, they never looked like losing and easily ran out 4-1 winners ; with the home side only scoring a late consolation goal .  To cruise to victory .

Example: Slick City cruise to victory ( Sky Sports, December 4th 2019 )

Example : Liverpool cruise to victory over Porto after Naby Keïta’s flying start ( Guardian, April 9th 2019 )

Related Phrases

  • Comprehensive victory
  • Labour to a victory
  • To run out winners

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The 8 classes of Carnival Cruise Line ships, explained

Gene Sloan

Thinking about a cruise on a Carnival Cruise Line ship? You have a lot of options.

By the summer of 2024, Carnival will have 27 vessels in service — all currently available to book. That's more ships than any other major cruise line except Royal Caribbean , which will have 28 vessels in service by the summer of 2024.

In general, Carnival ships are large but, aside from two exceptions, they're not giants by today's standards. Over the past two years, Carnival has begun operating its first two truly giant ships in years — the 181,808-ton, 5,282-passenger Mardi Gras and the 183,521-ton Carnival Celebration .

Other than these two ships, Carnival's biggest vessel is the 4,090-passenger Carnival Venezia , which measures just 135,225 tons. That's about 40% smaller than the biggest ships operated by Royal Caribbean .

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Six of the 27 vessels Carnival will operate by the summer of 2024 measure less than 100,000 tons, which makes them almost mid-size by today's cruise ship standards.

This is a notable change for the brand from just a couple of decades ago. There was a time when Carnival operated some of the biggest cruise ships in the world. However, for many years, it has held back from following rivals such as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises in building ever-bigger ships. Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration are now the only Carnival ships on the list of the world's 50 biggest cruise vessels.

The arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration has marked a major turning point for the line. The two vessels rank 15th and 13th, respectively, on the list of the world's largest cruise ships — the first Carnival ships to crack the Top 20 in quite a few years. They are 35% bigger than the line's next-biggest ship. One more ship in the series — Carnival Jubilee — will arrive in late 2023.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

cruise victory meaning

The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options within the Carnival fleet is that the line's ships can easily be bunched into just eight groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

Each of these groups — known as "classes" in cruise industry lingo — is made up of ships that were constructed around the same time with the same basic design.

An introduction to Carnival Cruise Line ships

As mentioned above, Carnival's ships can be broken down into eight distinct groups or classes. A key detail about Carnival ships is that there are a lot of similarities from class to class within the Carnival fleet.

Unlike Royal Caribbean and some other cruise lines, Carnival doesn't always drastically change the design of its ships from class to class.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line

Instead, Carnival usually takes an incremental approach to design changes for its new classes of ships. You'll find a lot in common between the Vista class and Dream class, for instance. These two classes aren't all that different in feel from the earlier Splendor and Conquest classes of ships, though they are a bit bigger.

cruise victory meaning

That said, Carnival is in the midst of a major change in its philosophy on ship design. Its new Excel-class vessels — which first debuted in 2021 with the arrival of Mardi Gras — are far bigger than its earlier ships. These ships also have a lot of new features and amenities (including the first-ever roller coaster on a cruise ship — and, no, we're not making that up).

Related: The 4 new giants of the cruise world — and how to book them

For many years, Carnival steered clear of the big ship trends in the industry. Executives thought the ever-bigger vessels being deployed by such lines as Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises were too big to make for an enjoyable cruise experience.

Now, Carnival is switching gears — no doubt because the giant ships unveiled by some other lines have been enormously popular with cruisers.

At Carnival, as at other lines, the biggest ships in the fleet have the most amenities, eateries, lounges, bars and deck-top attractions than the smaller ships. This can be a huge plus for travelers who like to have a lot of options when vacationing.

However, Carnival's biggest ships also sail with more passengers, which can be a turnoff if you're the kind of traveler who likes a more intimate experience.

cruise victory meaning

In general, Carnival's biggest and most amenity-packed ships are its newest ships. If you're looking for a cruise experience with the most possible onboard activities and venues, you'll want to steer toward the vessels in Carnival's new Excel class and its relatively young Vista and Dream classes.

If cruising in a more intimate environment is your preference, you'll want to look at some of Carnival's older classes of ships including the Spirit and Fantasy classes.

The Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered a third Excel-class ship (Carnival Jubilee) that will be ready to sail in December 2023.

In addition, the line will begin operating a ship currently in the fleet of its sister line Costa Cruises — Costa Firenze — in May 2024. It'll be renamed Carnival Firenze and sail from Los Angeles.

Excel class

Ships in class: Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022) and Carnival Jubilee (coming December 2023).

Size: 181,808 to 183,521 tons.

cruise victory meaning

If you're in the "bigger is better" camp when it comes to cruise ships, this is the Carnival class for you.

At a bit over 180,000 tons, Carnival's three new Excel-class vessels — one of which, Carnival Jubilee, is still under construction — are 35% bigger than the line's next-biggest ships and offer more eateries, lounges, bars and deck-top attractions than any other ships in the Carnival fleet by far.

Designed to take Carnival's "fun ship" shtick to a new level, the ships are so big that, as noted above, they have room for roller coasters on their top decks — a cruise industry first. They also have a far broader array of suites than earlier Carnival vessels.

Among the new dining venues on the ships are the first Emeril Lagasse restaurant at sea, as well as the first Big Chicken eatery at sea. (Big Chicken is a chain created by basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal, who also serves as a Carnival spokesperson.)

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Carnival cruise

In addition to featuring a roller coaster, Mardi Gras was the first ship from a North America-based line designed to operate on liquefied natural gas. The fuel is touted as being cleaner than traditional ship fuel.

One caveat to keep in mind if you're thinking of booking an Excel-class ship: They sail with a very large number of people. If being around crowds bothers you, these may not be the ships for you. The vessels are designed to hold a whopping 5,282 passengers at double occupancy. With every pullout sofa and pull-down bunk filled, they can hold up to 6,630 passengers.

Vista/Venezia class

Ships in class: Carnival Panorama (2019), Carnival Horizon (2018), Carnival Vista (2016), Carnival Venezia (2023) and Carnival Firenze (coming in 2024).

Size: 133,596 to 135,225 tons.

cruise victory meaning

With the arrival of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, the Vista-class and Venezia-class ships (so similar that we have combined them into one entry) are no longer the biggest and most amenity-packed ships in the Carnival fleet. Still, they offer a lot of options when it comes to eateries, bars, lounges and deck-top attractions — more than you'll find on most other Carnival vessels.

All four vessels in the Vista and Venezia classes have water parks with waterslides on their top decks, as well as miniature golf courses, ropes courses and multiple pool areas. They're also known for their pedal-powered, suspended-in-the-air SkyRide attractions.

Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, which officially are Vista-class ships, also have Imax theaters — the first in the cruise industry. Carnival Panorama, also a Vista-class ship, instead has the first trampoline park ever put on a cruise ship , in a partnership with Sky Zone.

cruise victory meaning

There's also a smorgasbord of restaurants, bars and lounges on all of the vessels. Among the many offerings on these ships are Carnival's first breweries at sea (on all the vessels except Carnival Venezia, which is officially known as a Venezia-class ship and has a few notable differences).

On Carnival Panorama and Carnival Horizon, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse offers beer brewed on-site along with barbecue dishes designed by the Food Network's Guy Fieri. On Carnival Vista, there's a stand-alone brewery and a separate barbecue venue.

Other eateries on the ships include casual, Guy Fieri-designed Guy's Burger Joint, Chipotle-like burrito spot BlueIguana Cantina (on Carnival Venezia, this is called Tomodoro and also serves a few Italian items), sushi outlets and steakhouses. Carnival Vista, Carnival Horizon and Carnival Panorama also feature Italian eatery Cucina Del Capitano, as well as JiJi Asian Kitchen, while Carnival Venezia has an Italian restaurant called Il Viaggio.

Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Venezia also have teppanyaki restaurants, and all four ships have dedicated chef's tables located within their galleys.

Related: Everything to know about Carnival cabins and suites

cruise victory meaning

Both the Vista-class and Venezia-class ships were built on the same basic design platform and are roughly the same size with similar layouts. But Carnival Venezia originally was built for Carnival's Italy-based sister brand, Costa Cruises. As a result, it has a much stronger Italy theme and a few design differences. Still, enough is the same that for all practical purposes, it is a Vista-class ship in all but name. Hence our combining the two classes into one listing.

Related: Our thoughts after sailing on Carnival Venezia

The Vista-class ships were, notably, the first ships in the Carnival fleet to boast exclusive, keycard-restricted cabin areas — a trend that has been growing at many mass-market lines. There are two such areas on the three Vista-class ships: Havana Cabanas and Family Harbor, the latter of which is specifically geared toward families. Carnival Venezia has a keycard-restricted area called Terrazza Carnevale.

The water park area on Carnival Horizon is particularly alluring if you're a Dr. Seuss fan. Unique among the water parks in the Carnival fleet, it has a Dr. Seuss theme. The water park area on Carnival Venezia also is notable as it has one more water slide than the water parks on the Vista-class ships.

All of these ships hold about 4,000 passengers each, based on double occupancy.

Note that one more Costa Cruises ship that is similar to Carnival Venezia (Costa Firenze) will be joining the Carnival fleet in 2024. It'll be renamed Carnival Firenze.

Dream class

Ships in class: Carnival Breeze (2012), Carnival Magic (2011) and Carnival Dream (2009).

Size: 130,000 tons.

cruise victory meaning

Carnival's Dream-class ships are roughly the same size as its Vista-class ships, and the two classes have a lot in common. Still, there are a few key differences.

For starters, the Dream-class ships don't have Imax theaters or trampoline parks. Both were innovations that debuted with the Vista-class ships. They also lack exclusive, keycard-restricted cabin areas and some of the eateries found on Vista-class ships.

Still, for the most part, if you've been on a Vista-class ship, you'll immediately feel at home on a Dream-class ship.

Related: The ultimate guide to Carnival's VIFP Club loyalty program

Dream-class ships share some of the same amenities as Vista-class ships. For instance, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic both feature ropes courses on their top decks while Carnival Breeze has a 4D "thrill theater." These innovations first debuted on Dream-class ships.

Dream-class ships also offer water parks with waterslides on their top decks, miniature golf courses, sports courts for basketball and volleyball, and multiple pools.

Interior venues on Dream-class ships include Punchliner comedy clubs, piano bars, casinos and showrooms for big production shows. The dining options are similar to what you'll find on Vista-class ships; Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, steakhouses and the Italian eatery Cucina Del Capitano are included on all three vessels.

Two of the three ships — Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream — also have sushi eateries, while Carnival Breeze and Carnival Magic have Carnival's Caribbean-inspired watering hole, RedFrog Pub.

The ships in this class hold 3,646 to 3,690 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Splendor class

Ships in class: Carnival Splendor (2008).

Size: 113,300 tons.

cruise victory meaning

Carnival Splendor is an outlier in the Carnival fleet — a ship that makes up a class all its own. That said, it has a lot in common with the ships of Carnival's Conquest-class ships (see below).

Originally designed and ordered for Italy-based Costa Cruises — a sister brand to Carnival — the ship is actually a sister vessel to Costa's four Concordia-class ships. It will be familiar to anyone who knows Carnival ships because the design of Costa's Concordia class was based upon the design of Carnival's Conquest class, and the two classes are very similar.

The main difference between Carnival Splendor and its Conquest-class cousins is that the former has an enlarged and redesigned top deck area. The structure around the main pool of the ship is noticeably different, with a retractable, sliding glass roof that you won't find on the Conquest-class ships, as well as a water play area for kids. The ship also has a bigger spa area.

Other than that, though, Carnival Splendor is basically a variation of the Conquest-class ships. Size-wise, it's just a few thousand tons bigger. It holds 3,012 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Conquest class

Ships in class: Carnival Freedom (2007), Carnival Liberty (2005), Carnival Valor (2004), Carnival Glory (2003) and Carnival Conquest (2002).

Size: 110,000 tons.

cruise victory meaning

At 111,000 tons, the Conquest-class ships (and Carnival Splendor, noted above) are about 20% smaller than the newer Vista-class and Dream-class ships. As a result, they have somewhat fewer amenities.

Still, you'll find a lot of the classic Carnival "fun ship" attractions on these vessels including water play areas with waterslides, miniature golf courses and adults-only Serenity deck-top retreat areas.

You'll also find a solid array of eateries on each of the ships including a Guy's Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina burrito outlets and steakhouses.

In addition to being smaller than Vista-class and Dream-class ships, Conquest-class ships also sail with fewer passengers. All of the Conquest-class vessels hold just shy of 3,000 passengers at double occupancy — about 1,000 fewer passengers than the Vista-class ships.

That's a noticeable difference if you're the kind of vacationer who doesn't like to be around giant crowds. For some Carnival fans, the smaller size of the Conquest class and Splendor class makes these ships appealing. Others prefer the added amenities that come with the bigger ships.

Spirit class

Ships in class: Carnival Miracle (2004), Carnival Legend (2002), Carnival Pride (2002), Carnival Spirit (2001) and Carnival Luminosa (2009).

Size: 88,500 tons.

cruise victory meaning

Carnival Spirit-class ships are the adventurers of the Carnival fleet.

The vessels are built for "all-weather" cruising, with pools that can be covered by retractable domes when it's cold and stormy. These are the ships that sail in places such as Alaska, where even in the summer it can be too chilly for sunning on an open pool deck.

These are also the ships that Carnival uses for winter sailings to the Caribbean from Baltimore, which can involve a day or two of cold and stormy sailing in the Atlantic.

In some recent years, Carnival has also deployed one of its Spirit-class ships across the Pacific to Australia — the most far-flung destination that it offers on its schedule.

In addition to having a weather-proof main pool area, the Spirit-class ships are great for far-flung destinations because of their relatively small size, which allows them to access smaller ports. At just 88,500 tons, they're among the smallest ships in the Carnival fleet — less than half the size of Carnival's new Excel-class vessels.

The Spirit-class ships are notably lower and sleeker than most other vessels in the Carnival fleet. Passing under relatively small bridges is not a problem for them. Unlike a lot of recently built cruise vessels, they also are thin enough in the middle that they can squeeze through the old locks of the Panama Canal.

The Spirit-class vessels also boast the largest percentage of balcony cabins and oceanview cabins in the Carnival fleet, which makes them perfect for a destination such as Alaska where being able to watch the scenery from your cabin is a big plus.

They're also relatively intimate ships, holding just 2,124 passengers at double occupancy. By modern-day cruise ship standards, that makes them "mid-size" vessels.

Still, you can expect to find many of the same fun-focused features on Spirit-class ships that you'll find on the line's bigger vessels, including water parks with waterslides and miniature golf courses.

Spirit-class ships also have one of the most unique features in all of the cruising industry — special date-night restaurants that are incorporated into their funnels and feature translucent glass-dome ceilings.

Note that one of the Spirit-class ships, Carnival Luminosa, was originally built for Costa Cruises, a sister line to Carnival (it originally sailed under the name Costa Luminosa). The vessel was built to the same basic specifications as the four Spirit-class vessels built for Carnival in this class, although it is a tad bigger and can hold a few more passengers. It dates to 2009.

Sunshine class

Ships in class: Carnival Radiance (2000/2021), Carnival Sunrise (1999/2019) and Carnival Sunshine (1996/2013).

Size: 102,000 tons.

cruise victory meaning

The Sunshine class (once known as the Destiny class) may be the most unusual class of ships in the Carnival fleet. On paper, the ships in this class are among the oldest vessels that Carnival operates. However, you also can make an argument that they are among the newest vessels in the line.

This is because each of the ships in this series has been almost completely gutted and rebuilt from the waterline up.

The makeovers of the ships, which began in 2013, were so thorough that Carnival has given each of the vessels a new name. Carnival Sunshine is what old-time Carnival fans will remember as Carnival Destiny. Carnival Sunrise is the former Carnival Triumph. Carnival Radiance is the ship that began life as Carnival Victory.

Carnival spent $200 million alone in 2019 overhauling Carnival Sunrise. In addition to sprucing up just about every space on the ship, the money was used to add classic Carnival attractions that the ship lacked. This included a full-blown water park, which replaced a single waterslide on one of its top decks.

Carnival Sunrise also received a SportSquare area on its top deck like the ones found on newer Carnival vessels. It has a ropes course, basketball court, miniature golf course, outdoor pool and ping-pong tables. Carnival didn't end the deck-top changes there. It also found space for another signature Carnival offering that had been lacking: an adults-only Serenity outdoor lounge area with padded loungers, daybeds, a hot tub and a full bar.

In addition, Carnival Sunrise now has half a dozen new food and beverage venues including a version of Carnival's signature steakhouse, Fahrenheit 555; Carnival's signature Italian eatery, Cucina Del Capitano; and a Bonsai Express sushi outlet.

Related: Our take on Carnival's revamped Carnival Sunrise

The overhaul of Carnival Sunshine, which took place in 2013, brought similar changes, as well as a complete renovation of the ship's pool area that incorporated a multideck waterfall.

Carnival Radiance, for its part, just emerged from its long-scheduled overhaul, which was delayed in late 2021 by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note that even after the makeovers, the ships still don't have all the bells and whistles of Carnival's truly new ships, such as Carnival Panorama. As noted above, Carnival's newest ships are bigger than its older ships, allowing for more attractions, restaurants and lounges.

At around 102,000 tons, the Sunshine-class ships are more than 20% smaller than Carnival Panorama and more than 40% smaller than Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.

The ships hold from 2,984 to 3,002 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Interestingly, these weren't always considered smaller vessels. In fact, when the line first unveiled Carnival Sunshine in 1996 (back when it was called Carnival Destiny), it was the biggest cruise ship in the world. It also was the first cruise ship to surpass 100,000 tons.

Now, it doesn't even crack the list of the 50 biggest cruise vessels.

Fantasy class

Ships in class: Carnival Paradise (1998) and Carnival Elation (1998).

Size: 70,000 tons.

cruise victory meaning

Built in the 1990s, the Fantasy-class ships are Carnival's oldest and smallest ships, and the line is in the process of phasing them out. Going into 2020, the line had eight of these vessels. It removed four of them from its fleet soon after the COVID-19 pandemic began, and this year it removed two more — Carnival Sensation and Carnival Ecstasy.

The two Fantasy-class ships that are left are mostly used in secondary ports — such as Jacksonville, Florida, and Mobile, Alabama — that might not be able to support bigger vessels.

Related: Why I'm sad to see Carnival retiree its smallest ship

While still much-beloved by Carnival fans, in part for their intimate size, these ships notably lack a large number of balcony cabins — the cabin type that everyone wants these days. Most of the cabins on these ships are ocean-view cabins that only offer a window or a porthole, or windowless inside cabins.

That said, the two remaining Fantasy-class ships have undergone renovations over the years to add more balcony cabins. Depending on the ship, there were between 98 and 150 new balconies added, including new suites.

The ships have relatively fewer amenities and venues than the newer and bigger Carnival ships. You won't find giant water parks on these vessels as you would on newer Carnival ships. You will find multiple slides and a spray park for the kids, though. The dining options are also limited.

Still, for a lot of Carnival fans, these are fun ships.

Two vessels each hold around 2,100 passengers, based on double occupancy.

Bottom line

Carnival has quite a few different classes of ships, but the differences between many of them aren't as big as the differences between classes at other lines.

You'll find a lot of consistency from ship to ship in the Carnival fleet in the type of venues that you find on board. In recent years, Carnival has spent $2 billion overhauling many of its ships to create that consistency in onboard venues and amenities.

Vacationers looking for a big resort experience with a lot of options should choose one of Carnival's newest ships, which are bigger and have more amenities. If you're looking for more intimacy on a cruise ship, some of the older classes of ships, such as those in the Spirit class, might be just right.

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cruise victory meaning

Carnival Victory Cruise Review

A good option for short, inexpensive cruises, but those who want carnival's latest upgrades might wait until promised renovations are in place..

Anonymous Cruise Editor

Updated February 20, 2016

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

About Our Cruise

Cabin overview, our cabin: ocean view, other cabins, cabin amenities, dining overview, pacific & atlantic dining rooms, mediterranean restaurant, the chef’s table, in-room dining, drinks overview, coral sea café, ionian room, irish sea bar, black and red seas bar, club arctic dance club, caspian wine bar, spa & gym, decks & sun areas, shows & entertainment, other venues, kids programs, services, staff & ship policies, health and safety.

{{photo_gallery "Carnival Victory p1 g1"}}

We didn’t expect to be dazzled by our brush with Carnival Victory, but we found the overall operation to be a fairly smooth-running machine. Still, we encountered a few issues that convinced us that Victory was ready for a dalliance with Carnival’s Fun Ship 2.0 upgrade program—a renovation is not scheduled until 2014. Until then, Carnival Victory uses Miami as its homeport, for inexpensive four-and five-night forays into the Bahamas, the northern Caribbean and Cozumel.

Carnival Victory does shorter trips to the Caribbean out of its Miami homeport, year-round—perfect for long-weekend vacations, especially for those who live in Florida. The ship’s vivid interior design pays homage to the world’s oceans and seas, in bold strokes. It’s a big vessel, weighing in at 101,509 tons and carrying 2758 passengers (at double occupancy). Although we enjoyed our cruise, the overall experience was hit-and-miss in a few key areas.

Take the accommodations: Our Ocean View cabin offered luscious bedding—we could barely drag ourselves from it each morning—and, at 220 square feet, there was ample elbow-room for two guests. But we didn’t care for the unsightly carpet stains, purple splotches dappling the floor; our cabin steward said the stains are found in a number of cabins, a problem that originated during original installation, years earlier.

Carnival Cruise Line sells fun, not cerebral, and there were boisterous activities scheduled through the day and evening: From the hairy chest contest to a digital scavenger hunt, and from randy comedians in the Punchliner Comedy Club to cha cha dance lessons, we ample opportunity to let our hair down. But for anyone in search of restful escape, Carnival Victory may not be the ride for you. This was a noisy ship—and we’re not just talking about the partiers. The engines rattled and roared more than we like, ship announcements by the cruise director were loud enough to drown out the sound on a TV in cabins, and a generic pop music soundtrack seemed to play 24 hours in common areas, taking a breather only in the wee hours. Fortunately, we found a secret hideaway most other passengers overlooked.

Carnival Victory is not exactly rife with dining choices. Of particular note: There’s no steakhouse, a standard feature we’ve enjoyed on all of Carnival’s newer or recently renovated ships. This means meals were concentrated into just two areas, the main dining rooms (one designated for those signed on for traditional, assigned seating, the other for those on the Your Time Dining plan) and the very busy buffet option. Fortunately, our meals in the Pacific and Atlantic dining rooms were generally good—not spectacular, but varied and with a few tasty surprises. Although a couple entrées arrived lukewarm, servers were responsive and accommodating. Despite a pizza station and a Chinese counter, the Mediterranean buffet restaurant offered limited choices, and much of it was bland and/or over-salted.

The good news was that we signed up for the Chef’s Table, an option offered on all of Carnival’s ships, and it was a fine (if pricey) splurge. Given the shortage of meal choices on Carnival Victory, we recommend budgeting for this dinner and booking soon after you board—the experience is limited to just 12 guests per evening (and not necessarily conducted nightly).

Carnival’s modestly priced cruises often lead to good value, especially for those who can book months out or last-minute, when the best deals often appear. The Ocean View cabin we sailed in can usually be had for less than $100 a night, per person, and balcony cabins aren’t usually priced much higher. While we prefer a ship with more varied dining options, Victory made up for it to some degree with a plethora of drinking venues—each night the ship came alive with activities. In sum, for an inexpensive cruise of less than a week, Carnival Victory delivers the goods. But for those who prefer a ship with the latest bells and whistles, we recommend sailing on Carnival Victory after promised upgrades and renovations are put in place.

On Carnival Victory, cabins fall into four main types. Cheapest are Interior cabins, which represent more than a third of the accommodations on the ship and average 185 square feet. Some Interiors are offered with two twin bunk beds; a few Interiors actually come with a porthole view. There are 19 cabins sold as Interior with Picture Window (Obstructed View)—accommodations found above and below the bridge. The obstruction is a public deck (not heavily used) and we look forward to trying these on a future Carnival cruise—they’re usually slightly cheaper than a standard Ocean View cabin.

Ocean View cabins (what we stayed in) measure a generous 220 square feet, with Balcony cabins coming in at 185 square feet, plus the balcony space (ranging from 35 to 75 square feet). There are also three categories of suites.

We measured our cabin at about 220 square feet, providing good elbow room for two sharing. While we might have felt differently if the sofa bed were opened for a third or fourth passenger (and storage space would have been tight), otherwise the cabin size seemed generous compared to standard accommodations on other cruise lines. The bed was comfortable and we slept well.

There were some negatives, starting with sound leak from the hallway and rooms on either side. Fortunately our immediate neighbors were quiet (we could still hear their TVs), but the same could not be said for someone working in the galley above at 4:30 a.m, one morning. A few times noise from the hallway awakened us after midnight. Cabin lighting was an all-or-nothing kind of arrangement that was not conducive to reading in bed and the TV in our cabin was an old-school Panasonic. Décor—the little there was—was outdated. Worse was a series of disconcerting purplish splotches in the carpet; our cabin steward said the stains were caused by excess glue used when the carpet was first laid.

Carnival’s standard bedding is surprisingly plush and inviting, and our bed on Victory—two eight-inch-thick twins joined with a mattress pad—was no exception, wrapped in a soft duvet stuffed with hypoallergenic down. There was a pair of little dressers on either side of the bed—too small to be of much use for anything more than eyeglasses and a book. There was a pair of reading lights above the pillows that were individually controlled. For light-sensitive sleepers, note that the curtains did not block out all of the light; a fair amount of sunlight leaked around the edges. The TV was not big, but it wasn’t far from the pillows, either.

{{photo_gallery "Cabin 1 Bedroom Photos", "Cabin 1 Bathroom Photos", "Cabin 1 Features Photos"}} Though colored a dingy pink—a color we think was outlawed in the 1970s—our bathroom was functional, with a decently sized shower, 37 inches wide, and 30.5 inches at its deepest, with a thin shower curtain. The shampoo provided in a wall dispenser was thin and useless, but fortunately Carnival’s goodie bag of product samples included some Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner to try. This lasted a couple days and our cabin steward brought more on request. Also stocked in our little amenity bowl were small tubes of Gold Bond moisturizing cream and Crest toothpaste. There was a cabinet to stash our travel kits and a wall-mounted hair dryer and bottle opener.

The main lighting system included two recessed lights at the doorway plus an overhead light panel that ran to (and above) the cabin window; all these lights were controlled by a single switch,. While this lighting proved ample, three bedside lights (two on either side of bed and one at the end of the couch) were barely sufficient for reading in bed. There was also a pair of fixtures on the mirror facing the bed with a separate switch.

Opposite the bathroom door were three closets side-by-side; each was 23 inches wide and was floor-to-ceiling in height. One had a safe (too small for most laptops) and shelves for storing clothes; the second had rods but not enough hangers while the third had a pair of bathrobes and three more hangers. There was space under the beds we used to store empty luggage. Two life vests were lodged in a cabinet next to the window. Above it was a 21-inch old-school Panasonic TV. In addition to a few non-ship channels there were two complimentary movies daily—one started every hour.

Other features included an 80-inch sofa with a pair of frayed pool towels sitting atop. There was a small table that could be used for dining, though tricky for two (the height was adjustable). Our cabin did not have a fridge or minibar, there was only a 1-liter bottle of Crystal Geyser water (for sale). Carnival’s website says our cabin had “individual climate control,” but if so, we couldn’t find air conditioning controls (though for us the temperature was comfortable throughout the cruise).

We did not stay in the rest of these cabins, but we have summaries here provided by Carnival Cruise Lines. Note that any photos on this page may be provided directly by the cruise line and not our reviewer.

A comfortable stateroom retreat, where some rooms also feature pull-down beds – ideal for families. Stateroom amenities: Television Soft, comfortable, and cozy linens Hairdryer/Bathrobes 24-hour stateroom service Ample closet and drawer space

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Relax and admire the passing scenery from your stateroom’s private balcony.
 Stateroom amenities: Television Soft, comfortable, and cozy linens Hairdryer/Bathrobes 24-hour stateroom service Ample closet and drawer space Separate seating area

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A spacious room, that includes Priority check-in during embarkation.

 Stateroom amenities: Whirlpool bath Vanity dressing table Television Soft, comfortable, and cozy linens Hairdryer/Bathrobes 24-hour stateroom service Ample closet and drawer space

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Rooms cover some of the basics, including a hair dryer, a small safe, and we appreciated the bathrobes. There were two frayed pool towels waiting for us on arrival. But some things we consider fairly standard were not present, including a fridge, minibar, and ice bucket.

Though maybe not a big issue for cruises of less than a week, the variety of dining options was not a strength for Carnival Victory. There were just two main options for meals: The main dining room (which was actually two—one for those signed on for traditional, assigned seating, the other for those on the Your Time Dining plan) and the buffet venue, called the Mediterranean Restaurant. The latter was a series of stations that expanded the food choices but did little to alleviate the feeling that this was a busy free-for-all. While food at the buffet was fairly mediocre, we had several good meals in the main dining rooms.

There is also a sushi stand with a very small selection of rolls, and a café serving coffee drinks and desserts for a surcharge. But anyone with a hankering for a more ambitious meal should check out the Chef’s Table, a fleet-wide intimate dinner option. There’s a steep surcharge for this meal (which includes wine), but we enjoyed the experience. Since the Chef’s Table is limited to just 12 guests per evening (and not necessarily conducted nightly), if it’s of interest we recommend signing up on embarkation day to make sure you get a seat.

By the way, if you’ve enjoyed the fine steakhouses on other Carnival ships, note that there isn’t one on Victory.

Victory has two main dining rooms, virtually identical in size and décor, adorned with banal paintings of old sailing ships and kitschy statues and reliefs of mermaids—it was like something out of a Jeff Koons porn fantasia. A schlocky orchestral soundtrack completed the vaguely Vegas aura. Both seat the traditional dining plan, with assigned seating at 6 and 8:15 p.m. The Atlantic also hosts "Your Time Dining", allowing guests to dine any time between 5:45 and 9:30 p.m. Breakfast was served in the Pacific from 7:30 to 10 a.m., and lunch was offered on sea days, from 12 to 1:30 p.m.

On the first night, servers didn’t devote much energy to interacting with guests, but the next night, our server greeted us by name and consulted on the menu. The personal touch continued after we complained that our entrées had been served lukewarm for two nights running. The next night a different waiter came over and asked if the meal was hot enough—apparently our complaint had been noted.

Both venues are crowded, with walkways threading between tables like a rabbit warren. Two-tops were available for the open dining plan, but couples on the traditional plan will find mostly shared tables only. Each evening a crew “show” erupted around 9 p.m. with waiters dancing to a pop song, several of them atop serving stations; the crowd loved it.

Salads were usually fresh and crisp; a highlight was spinach with portobello mushrooms, bacon, walnuts and blue cheese, and we also liked the simple, tasty Caesar. Starters ran the gamut, including delicious tom ka gai—robust, spicy chicken soup in coconut milk with lemongrass. Pumpkin soup was satisfying and not too rich; broccoli soup was just okay. The chicken quesadilla was routine, with tiny sides of guacamole, sour cream and salsa, nothing to get excited about. We were disappointed that the only breads available were a few variations of white—no dark, brown or whole grain at all.

Entrées included linguini with sausage, pepper and mushrooms—the sauce was flavorful but the pasta was overcooked. Spaghetti carbonara was fair, but served lukewarm, and (we never thought we’d say this) with too much bacon (not pancetta) overwhelming other flavors. Chicken à la Grecque featured a fairly dry boneless breast sitting atop a mound of penne in tasty tomato sauce; the menu didn’t mention the pasta (thus we ordered pasta for both appetizer and entrée). The beef stroganoff was surprisingly tasty—the meat tender and flavors perked with pickled red onion and beets.

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On formal night we dived into the prime rib. The cut was medium-rare, as ordered, but riddled with chunks of fat, and again, barely lukewarm. The next night we ordered the chateaubriand, which was hot and medium-rare, as ordered—alas, a quarter of the steak was inedible gristle. Each night an Indian vegetarian dinner was offered. It was a change of pace, but the brash flavors weren’t as distinct as they should have been, the overall effect indelicate, the hot spices laid on strong.

For desserts, Carnival’s dependable and ever-popular chocolate melting cake was fine—a soufflé-like creation served with dollop of vanilla ice cream. It’s served nightly. Following another dinner we ordered the cheese plate featuring port salut, brie, gouda, imported Swiss, Danish bleu cheese; the half-strawberry nudged against the cheeses wasn’t ripe. Our favorite, which we had the last night of the cruise, was a fig, date and cinnamon cake accompanied by beaker of rum raisin ice cream. The dessert was perfect, the cake moist and rich, with nuggets of the dried fruit like jewels in the batter.

Breakfast was served daily. We ordered blueberry pancakes one morning, anticipating they’d be full of berries; instead they were buttermilk pancakes with a goopy blueberry sauce. Egg orders were fine, but the hollandaise sauce on our eggs Benedict arrived toasted (we assume the plate was under a heat lamp). The coffee was decent; the orange “juice” was a drink mix that hadn't been diluted with enough water, rendering it sickly sweet. On one sea day we had lunch, choosing the fillet of kingklip. The fish was topped with sauce of tomato, olives and capers, but the flavors were muted.

There was a full dedicated bar serving the standard cocktail menu, and a wine list of about 90 bottles. Most were under $40, with a focus on California; about 30 were available by the glass. At breakfast, a waiter canvassed the dining room with a cart offering eye-openers: mimosas and bellinis, and a bloody Mary in 8- or 16-ounce sizes.

While we aren’t normally dependent on a ship’s buffet venue for most of our meals, with only one full-service dining option on Carnival Victory, the Mediterranean Restaurant is unavoidable. Unfortunately, despite multiple counters offering various specialties, the overall package was disappointing, with mediocre food.

Seating around the main buffet was crowded during breakfast and lunch. Fortunately, just upstairs was a secondary seating area overlooked by most passengers. In the evening this was sometimes used by children, escorted as part of Camp Carnival, but the area was still less crowded than most of the rest of the seating areas.

Continental breakfast was available at 6:30 or 7 a.m. each morning. The pastries were fine and the cereal selection covered a range of predictable hits; yogurts and cold cuts were available. The fresh fruit's quality was terrible; the orange slices in particular had a sour, off taste. Thirty minutes later the hot selection opened. A couple stations offered made-to-order omelets, sometimes with a line present.

Lunch had a broader selection. We particularly liked the salad station; in addition to a modest salad bar there were several prepared options that changed daily. The sandwich station had a decent deli selection, and a grill for panini style sandwiches. The hot section's theme changed daily; Caribbean day featured such fare as Jamaican chicken curry and seafood fritters. Italian, French and American fare also got their due, and there was a carving station with pork or beef each day.

The grill offered okay burgers. There were also grilled chicken breasts, chicken tenders, hot dogs, chili con carne and nachos. The Asian counter, Chopsticks, also changed daily—alas, we found everything on our plate to be saturated with sodium; we didn’t return for seconds. The 24-hour pizza counter, Pizza Pirate, served serviceable pies.

The dessert selection captured our sweet tooth—two standouts were key lime pie and almond Napoleon. There was a 24-hour soft serve ice cream machine and a delicious chocolate extravaganza was held on the last afternoon of our cruise.

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This imaginative feast was far and away our best meal aboard Carnival Victory. At $75 a head, including wine, it’s pricey—maybe not worth every penny, but pretty close. Given the dearth of meal choices onboard, it’s a must for foodies, or anyone celebrating a special occasion. We recommend booking soon after you board—the experience is limited to 12 guests per night, and it’s not necessarily conducted nightly.

The overall evening consumes a little over three hours, and began with a tour of the galley for the main dining room, where we met the executive chef. Sparkling wine was served with hors d’oeuvres, and we received a hands-on lesson in how to prepare Carnival’s most popular dessert, chocolate melting cake (1800 servings daily on Victory). After our galley tour we headed to the ship’s Indian Library, a small room that had been transformed for our intimate dinner. Dishes were assembled on adjacent tables, with the executive chef stopping in now and then to supervise and talk about the food.

The seven-course menu changes every six months, crafted by Carnival’s executive chefs. In all, it was a delightful array of creative tastes in small portions. While there were lots of staff preparing and serving the meal, a few elements were off. Plastic bottles to serve water were tacky, and the weak cappuccino that capped our meal was disappointing. The quartet of bite-size hors d’oeuvres served in the galley were unexceptional palate teasers: a moist black olive stuffed with a shard of parmesan, a tomato jam fritter plumped with a bit of langoustine, etc.

In the Indian Library, our first dish included a chardonnay-poached grape tomato, a pudding of aerated tomato juice, and a bizarre white chocolate-coated tomato that just didn’t cut it. This was followed by a take on the Vietnamese banh mi sandwich—raw tuna atop lemon bread, framed with sesame crisps that splintered as we cut in; dollops of miso cream and avocado gel accented the plate. This was tasty, and by now we'd begun to understand the thought behind the meal—Carnival’s overriding devotion to fun.

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Next came Cornish hen; a tender, caramelized, slow-cooked boneless fowl, with a few small mounds of puréed butternut squash—delicious. Another favorite was a bavarois, turnip and apple purée in a bowl adorned with spinach and green pea paste—soup and salad in one. The salmon that followed was excellent, wonderfully moist. Presentations were delicate and mouth-watering, but the salmon was a hoot, with cylinders of dried beet like high rises in a little city. The final entrée was short ribs; good flavor, but the Wagyu beef was a bit stringy for our taste.

The dessert, called Chef in a Candy Shop, mingled chocolate, mango, beet, mascarpone and more. Fun to look at, but not really a standout in all that came before. Coffee was offered and we asked for a cappuccino; it was unacceptably watery, not remotely the coda this meal deserved.

The meal was accompanied by two modest but acceptable wines that, collectively, paired with most everything we were served: McGuigan Limestone Coast merlot from Australia and a crisp Mezzacorona pinot grigio from Italy’s Dolomites.

Positioned next to the casino, this sushi cart offers a small selection of items, but we didn’t find anything to get excited about. The cart was open nightly from 5 to 8:15 p.m., but remained closed on the one evening designated as Cruise Elegant. Seating was available in the adjacent lounges.

There were just two items available—chu-maki rolls (salmon and cream cheese) and nigiri with tuna. One of each was doled out on small plates. Tuscan-themed pottery contained condiments—togarashi sauce, wasabi, cured cucumbers, pickled ginger. It didn’t compare favorably with sushi we enjoy at home, and note that we saw these items show up at the Mediterranean Restaurant on at least one evening.

Sake is available at the Sushi Bar by the cup ($1.95), carafe ($5.50) or bottle ($12).

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There were two menus for room service, and a quick glance told us not to expect much. Breakfast was outlined on a door tag that could be hung outside our cabin before 5 a.m.; selections were limited to continental breakfast: packaged cereals, breads and pastries, smoked salmon, yogurt, and plates of citrus, melon or banana. A somewhat longer menu was available for lunch including hot sandwiches (grilled American cheese, grilled Reuben, pastrami on rye), cold sandwiches (tuna, turkey, ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, BLT, New York strip and cheddar), salads (mixed greens, Caesar) and desserts (New York cheesecake, chocolate cake, cookies, fruit salad, strawberry yogurt).

We ordered our breakfast to be delivered between 6:45 and 7 a.m.—the knock on the door came at 6:35 a.m. We didn’t notice right away, but the toast we ordered didn’t make it onto the tray. We ordered lunch by phone one afternoon, and were told to allow 30 to 45 minutes for delivery; the order arrived 43 minutes later. We craved a pizza one evening, but this wasn’t available through room service.

For our deliveries the tray was simply adorned with linen, and the silverware was also wrapped in linen.

Continental breakfast should have been a no-brainer, but our plate of sliced citrus was sour and off-putting. Coffee was thin, with dishwater flavor—undrinkable. The toast we ordered wasn’t on the tray, so our marmalade and butter sat idly, looking for a place to go. The Raisin Bran, however, was delicious; the grapefruit juice was fine. Everything was the right temperature.

Our lunch was okay, if unimpressive. The chicken fajitas, wrapped in a tortilla with lettuce, was warm, but not hot. It was pretty generic tasting, like something from the bargain menu at Chili’s. The menu promised guacamole but instead we received sour cream; the salsa was ultra-mild. The Caesar salad was decent with real anchovy bite. We ordered a soda and it came with a plastic cup filled with ice.

In addition to juice drinks, coffee, tea and milk, one could order from the regular bar menu, including soft drinks. Although there was no minibar in our room the cabin was stocked with a 1.5 liter bottle of Crystal Geyser water, available for $3.95.

{{photo_gallery "In-Room Dining Overview Photos", "In-Room Dining Presentation Photos", "In-Room Dining Food Photos"}}

Victory wasn't exactly flush with dining choices, but there was no shortage of places to drink. Eleven bars were spread throughout the ship, plus bar service could be had at the pools and in the theater. In typical Carnival fashion they're decorated in clashing colors and in-your-face design concepts. Our favorites were the icy Club Arctic, and the Black and Red Seas Bar, with décor straight out of a Duran Duran video (and guess which were the only two colors?).

A 15-percent gratuity was added to all drink orders. Minimum age for drinking was 21.

Beer & Wine

The wine list for the main dining rooms totaled about 90 offerings. About half the list was California wineries, with a small selection from Italy, France, Chile, Argentina and Australia; most were priced under $40, and about 30 were available by the glass.

The beer list included major American brands in 16-oz bottles for $5.75. Imports and specialty beers were $4.95. There was also Carnival’s own brew, Thirsty Frog Red, a heavily malted beer with a sweet finish, available for $5.50 a pint at the Seven Seas Bar.

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Mixed Drinks

The main bar list covers all the standards, with a few exotic options. A number of drinks could be served in souvenir mugs—silver disco balls, coconuts, etc.

Classic cocktails included mojito, mai tai, and margarita—all $8.75. Martinis were $8.95 and included traditional, cosmopolitan and other iterations. Cordials, liqueurs, and straight shots of liquor ranged $4.95-$7.50. Premium liquors were priced $7.50-$9.95.

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Drink Packages

Victory was among the first in the fleet to introduce the Cheers Beverage Program (billed My Awesome Bar Program when we were sailing). It's been tweaked since then, but it’s currently $42.95 per day, per guest, plus 15 percent gratuity, for "endless" beverages, alcoholic and non. The catch: All adults in the cabin must buy in, it must be purchased for the entire cruise, and there’s a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks served per 24 hours. With mixed drinks upwards of nine bucks apiece, five in a day (every day) would pay for the program. But for those drinking mostly beer or white zinfandel, or for those spending a lot of time in ports, the package might not add up to a good deal.

Carnival’s “Cruise the Vineyards” wine package offers five bottles of wine from one of three blocks. The cheapest option was five bottles from one block for $114; the two more-expensive packages were $133 and $168. Promotional material said the packages saved “up to 25 percent,” however, in no instance did we find that selecting five bottles of the most expensive wine in each package amounted to such savings. More realistic was a 15 percent savings when choosing five bottles of the single most-expensive selection within each block. Note that the usual 15-percent service charge was added.

An unlimited soda package was also available, at $6 per day, or $4.50 for kids (age 17 and under). This didn't apply to room service, and a 15 percent gratuity was applied.

Non-alcoholic Options

Soft drinks were all $1.95, as was iced tea. Powerade was $2.95 and Red Bull was $4.75. Bottled waters included assorted vitamin waters, Perrier and San Pellegrino. Non-alcoholic beer was $3.95.

Smoothies were available, as well as virgin versions of some cocktails, like daiquiris. All of these were $4.75 each.

We found four distinct qualities of coffee aboard Carnival Victory. Best was at the café, though the cappuccino wasn't stellar. Coffee at the main dining room was okay, while the buffet coffee was not good; we avoided it after the first cup. The coffee served at in-room breakfast was, in a word, undrinkable—it tasted as if it had been filtered through a dishwasher.

The ship’s coffee shop is on Deck 5, midship, accented by handsome stands of coral branches. It was open till midnight or later, for late-night caffeine fixes.

At times, this venue was sorely understaffed with only one barista. The frozen drinks involved hand-scooping the ice cream—a few orders of these created a long line pretty quickly. The hot coffee drinks were also available at a small stand in the Mediterranean Restaurant—it was faster to make our way up to Deck 9 and get the java there.

The pastry case was stocked with regal looking confections such as Swedish apple cake, apple strudel and humongous slices of carrot and chocolate cake; individual servings were $2.25. Whole cakes with inscriptions were available to order, serving 6 to 10. The ice cream freezer was stocked with gelato.

The menu featured espresso, along with cappuccino, latte, chai, and hot chocolate. All could be made with skim or soy milk; shots of assorted syrups and liqueurs were available. Iced coffee and milk shakes were also offered, along with tea and regular coffee.

Coffee served at the ship’s buffet wasn’t very good, so we high-tailed here. But the grande cappuccino we ordered tasted extra milky. We looked into it, and discovered that the barista used the same amount of espresso (a double shot) for the tall or grande, so the only difference was more milk and foam in the larger size, diluting the coffee's flavor.

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This lounge was less used than others on the ship, which made it ideal for special events and group functions. Open mostly in the evening only, the bar was decorated with Ancient Greek-style pottery behind glass. We’ve seen more outlandish on some Carnival ships. A raucous Spanish-language Battle of the Sexes game was held here one evening, followed by a Latin dance-off.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Ionian Bar.

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The Aegean was the ship’s de facto sports bar, with a bank of TV monitors broadcasting various matches. The décor was a bizarre collection of zebra-skin prints on sofas and bar stools and murals celebrating heroics of ancient Olympia. In all, it struck us as a small and strange venue to watch sports. Sports trivia games were also set here on some nights.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Aegean Bar.

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Decorated with a touch of cheap blarney—that is, lots of bonnie green and shamrocks—this was Carnival Victory’s piano bar. The piano man started at 7:30 p.m. with adults-only designated after 11 p.m.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Irish Sea Bar.

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This was our favorite burst of over-the-top whimsy on Carnival Victory, a lounge decorated entirely in black and red. It was a striking setting, though we never used it: The Black and Red Seas Bar was one of the ship’s designated indoor smoking areas, and the ventilation was poor, rendering it unusable for those of us with allergies to smoke.

On a couple nights there was a karaoke party here, and another evening a solo guitarist.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Black and Red Seas Bar.

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This was the spot to get your grove on, in an icy environment. The DJ cranked up the tunes starting at 10 p.m. (earlier on one sea day), with specific periods devoted to Michael Jackson, Motown, 70s, 80s, etc.

Smoking was permitted inside Club Arctic.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Club Arctic Bar.

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Wine Bar? Caspian seemed to provide the same wine selection as most of the ship’s other bars, with most guests drinking martinis and other “up” drinks. It was a smaller bar with limited seating, which made it a good spot at most hours.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Caspian Wine Bar.

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The facility is managed for Carnival by Steiner Leisure, a company that oversees spas for the majority of cruise lines. Treatments were on-par with or slightly higher than at most resorts. The 50-minute facials ranged $119 to $169 and massages ranged from $119 for the 50-minute Swedish massage to $199 for the 75-minute Lime and Ginger full body exfoliation and massage; the 50-minute couple’s Swedish massage was priced $269. As is typical on most ships, specials blossomed on port days, and there were discounts for multiple treatments.

Other procedures available included teeth whitening, acupuncture, Ionithermie, waxing and men’s grooming. The men’s and women’s changing areas had private sauna and steam rooms, open to those not signing up for a treatment. There was a spa “ice cream” party for pre-teens—foot scrub, massage and pedicure ($39) and a teen spa pamper party adding in a facial and scalp, neck and shoulder massage ($99).

Elemis products were the primary brand used for spa and facial treatments and many of the products were available for sale, along with Phyto and ME! Bath.

Fitness classes included daily stretch, abs blast, and body conditioning—all at no charge—plus yoga, pilates and spinning, priced $12 each ($30 for three sessions). The Body Sculpt Boot Camp was $69 for two sessions or $120 for four. A body composition analysis was $35, and a 30-minute session with a personal trainer was $45 ($100 for three sessions) or $85 for one hour ($180 for three).

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Triton’s Pool and Bar

This was Carnival Victory’s main pool area. The pool itself was fair-sized (4-feet 6-inches deep), while the decks around it were laid out in a sprawling amphitheater setting. This allowed for lots of loungers and on sunny sea days this area became the ship’s hub of action—getting an empty lounge chair (especially two side-by-side) was no small task.

With the grill close by, this area was very crowded around lunchtime, when live music was scheduled. There was a pair of hot tubs next to the pool, both of which were usually packed. A video screen towered over this area, but it didn’t get much play.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at Triton’s Bar. Special tropical drinks came out some days.

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Siren’s Pool and Bar

Located on Deck 9 aft, this was the ship’s second pool area, with a retractable roof that could be closed during inclement weather. There were two hot tubs flanking the pool. Surrounded by a bar, the pizza counter and ice cream station, this area was as much about the food as going for a swim.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Siren’s Bar.

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King of the Sea Pool

This was kind of a supplement to the main pool area, a smaller pool (4-feet 6-inches deep) that didn’t see as many bathers. The Twister Waterslide rose above, emptying out next to the pool. There was a hot tub and a small, covered throne-like perch with three loungers.

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Twister Waterslide

Towering above the ship’s main pool area, this slide was plenty of fun, departing from a platform next to the Serenity Retreat. Since we made the 48-inch height requirement we took a few spins down it.

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Serenity Adult Retreat

This was a chill, adults-only outdoor lounge on decks 12 and 14, the highest public areas of the ship. Surprisingly, it was not usually crowded, which made it a good place for relaxing in peace—we always found a lounger, though the day beds and hammocks were more in-demand. There were two shallow, rectangular whirlpools, and a wall of showers provided hot and cold options for rinsing off.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Serenity Bar.

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Deck 11 – Jogging Track

A jogging track circuited Deck 11, but covered less than half the ship’s length. There was also a shuffleboard court here, loungers and an outdoor shower.

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Panorama Deck 10

This deck provided outdoor sun areas for most of the length of the ship. Ample loungers were stationed along its length, along with outdoor showers.

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This would be the Promenade Deck on most ships, but it didn’t circuit Carnival Victory; the forward and aft portions were closed off. Additionally, there were few seating options (no loungers), so this deck was primarily used for smoking (allowed on the starboard side).

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High on Deck 12, this isolated little 9-hole course didn’t offer any surprises. Being totally exposed to the elements, it could be a little difficult to play when the wind kicked up. Clubs and balls were available from the towel station on Deck 9

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Forward Decks

We’d call this our secret hangout, but we weren’t the only ones who knew about these hideaways. Above and below the bridge were a series of forward-facing decks. While there was a minimum of lounge chairs here (and no other amenities), there was also a minimum of bodies angling for them, so something approaching quiet privacy was available. The decks could be accessed from the interior hallways of decks 6, 7, 9 and 10.

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Caribbean Lounge

Occupying the forward portion of decks 3, 4 and 5, the Caribbean Lounge was Carnival Victory’s showroom for big productions. Most of the ground floor was flat, so sightlines here sometimes depended on the hairdo sitting between our seat and the stage. The upper levels had a steep rake, and we’d say the front rows of the balcony were probably the best spots for viewing—these seats were generally taken well before show time.

There was a show nightly here, but they varied in scale. The big event was City Lights, a musical review featuring late 20th-century hits such as Viva Las Vegas, Georgia on my Mind, Fame, Physical, Muscles, the theme from Rocky. The show had a cast of 12 dancers, two singers and a five-piece live band. Carnival calls the show “PG,” which was presumably for G-string outfits that the Vegas-style showgirls wear for first third of show. There wasn’t much in the way of sets, but lots of lights (including lasers).

Other shows here included a juggling act (better than it sounds), a Motown review, and a show bringing guests on stage (previously rehearsed) for impersonations of Madonna, Garth Brooks, etc. The space was also used for Bingo, cha cha dance classes, and game shows.

{{ gallery "Venue 5 - Caribbean Lounge" }}

Adriatic Lounge

This somewhat nondescript venue on Deck 5 aft was the setting for the Punchliner Comedy Club, which took place several nights of our cruise. The usual schedule would be two comedians performing 25-minute sets, every hour. The first two shows, at 7:45 and 8:45 p.m., were designated as family-friendly; the remaining three shows (starting at 10 p.m.) were adults-only, which we found—mostly—pretty entertaining, if raunchy. But we noticed that the same comedians struggled during the family shows, delivering acts that were neutered of personality or humor.

Other events that took place here included singles gatherings, karaoke, church services and shopping lectures.

The bar had the standard cocktail list available, along with a Punchliner menu featuring drinks not found elsewhere on the ship. These included the blue Punchliner (rum, vodka, gin, blue Curaçao, citrus and lychee syrup), the Giddy Cosmo (pear vodka, Cointreau, citrus and cranberry juice) and a raspberry mojito—priced $8.75-$8.95. Shooters were $5.95 each, or a round of four was $20.

{{ gallery "Venue 6 - Adriatic Lounge" }}

The casino on Carnival Victory has an Asian theme. The facility was busy any time we were at sea (the casino was closed while in port), with slot machines staying open as late as 4 a.m. There were 187 slots covering the gamut of traditional games, and video poker was also available. Table games include roulette, craps, blackjack and various types of poker.

Gambling was allowed for guests 18 and older. Guests could charge up to $2000 to their room accounts. Smoking was permitted in the casino, but while there were designated non-smoking tables and slots the smoke had willful ways—the casino was easily the smokiest area of the ship.

The ship’s standard cocktail list was available at the Trident Bar. Although one side of the bar was ostensibly a non-smoking area, the smoke went where it wanted. Anyone purchasing a drink received a $5 match play coupon.

{{ gallery "Venue 31 - South China Sea Club Casino and Trident Bar" }}

Internet Café

This small facility next to the Ionian Room provided eight PCs for us to use; the area was usually unattended. The basic internet usage plan was .75 per minute, plus a one-time $3.95 activation fee; this covered computers in the Internet Café as well as WiFi around the ship. There were various packages available that brought the per-minute price down to .64 per minute (45 minutes for $29), .49 per minute (120 minutes for $59), etc. There was a printer, available for .50 per page.

{{ gallery "Venue 27 - Internet Cafe" }}

Indian Library

This small but striking library was open very limitedly during our cruise—generally just an hour or two each day to check our games and books. Then again, the collection was not much to get excited about.

This was the room in which the Chef’s Table dinner was conducted on some evenings.

{{ gallery "Venue 28 - Indian Library" }}

Seven Seas Atrium, Bar, Lobby

This is Carnival Victory’s soaring lobby, rising six decks. At the base of the atrium, on Deck 3, was the front desk, shore excursions desk, and Seven Seas Bar. Behind the bar was a small stage with a piano. Though fairly subdued during the day there was live (and DJ) music here each evening, before and after dinner. With the entrances to the Atlantic Restaurant, the casino, the shops and more nearby, each night this was truly the bustling hub of the ship.

The Seven Seas Bar had the ship’s usual selection of cocktails, plus we found Carnival’s home brew, Thirsty Frog Red, a malty sweet dark beer available at this bar on tap.

{{ gallery "Venue 32 - Seven Seas Atrium" }}

Camp Carnival

Carnival has a three-tiered kids program, with the entry level—Camp Carnival—designed for the youngest group. Camp Carnival was actually split into three groups: 2- to 5-year-olds, 6- to 8-year-olds, the other for 9- to 11-year-olds, and all children needed to be dropped off and signing out by parents.

The youngest group played such games as Duck Duck Goose and Wii dancing, with the age 6-8 group participated in magic shows, teddy bear crafting (additional fee required), talent shows and games. The age 9-11 group colored T-shirts, put on a stage show, made pizzas and learned towel folding. There was also a designated shore excursion for the kids (additional fee required).

Circle C was the clubhouse for 12- to 14-year-olds—they were allowed to come and go without parental supervision. Activities included Wii games, scavenger hunts, charades, dance class, pizza parties, etc. There was also a designated teens-only shore excursion at one port (additional fee required).

Club O2 is Carnival’s program for older teens—age 15-17. It was strictly a no-adults, no children retreat (supervised by one adult crewmember). Activities included theme dance parties, water fights, karaoke shows and mock casino play. These teens were also invited on one designated adult-free shore excursion.

An orientation was held for all ages prior to the muster drill.

{{ gallery "Venue 29 - Camp Carnival" }}

Virtual Sea Arcade

This was the spot where the teens hung out—if only occasionally. We found it a bit dingy and dark, but probably none of them minded. The games were token-operated—48 tokens were $10, 100 for $20, and 280 for $50.

{{ gallery "Venue 30 - Virtual Sea Arcade" }}

Victory Shops

Also known as the Fun Shops, this collection of shops stretches along Deck 5 between the Caribbean lounge and the central atrium.

The perfume and cologne selection was modest. There was clothing for women—mostly resort wear—but almost nothing for men. Watches, jewelry and other goodies were carried, though not much that was different from other ships (or the selection in ports). There was also a shop with liquor and cigarettes at duty-free prices, and another with Carnival logo merchandize. Sundries available included sun block, pain and cold medications, etc.—not a comprehensive selection, but enough to tide us over between ports. The Formalities shop rented tuxes.

{{ gallery "Venue 24 - Victory Shops" }}

Art Gallery

Hidden away on Deck 2 next to the elevator shaft, there was a selection of original art hanging on the walls, hauled out for various art auctions that took place during our cruise. The merchandize is handled by Park West Gallery, the dominant player in the cruise ship art auction business.

{{ gallery "Venue 25 - Art Gallery" }}

Photo Gallery and Studio

A dedicated crew of photographers roamed Carnival Victory, shooting both informal photos at staged areas as well as posed photos on the ship. Prints ranged $9.99 for informal 4×5 shots to $21.99 for posed 8×10 portraits, displayed in an ever-expanding gallery that wrapped around the atrium on Deck 4.

The Photo Gallery also sold cameras (primarily Olympus), underwater cameras, disposable Fujifilm cameras, media cards, frames and photo albums.

{{ gallery "Venue 26 - Photo Gallery and Studio" }}

We found service and staff interactions consistently upbeat and friendly on Carnival Victory. The staff seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs and didn’t break a sweat when keeping us happy.

The ship’s newsletter, Fun Times, was distributed each evening. It laid out the next day’s activities and entertainment, as well as hours of operation, in a concise and effective manner

Ship announcements were not piped into our cabin, but quite audible with our cabin door closed. While some of the announcements covered essential information, most of it recapped what was noted in the ship’s newsletter, with a special emphasis on surcharge activities such as the spa or Bingo.

We were not asked to fill out a guest questionnaire to rate our experience, as is common on other cruise lines. Instead, Carnival’s toll-free reservation number has an option to pass along comments about a recent cruise.

We had no complaints here. Our cabin steward was sweet and attentive, and waiters took note of our preferences soon after embarkation. All in all, it seemed to be a collegial crew.

Carnival adds a tip of $11.50 per day, per guest for crewmember services, other than bartenders. The charge was added to our statement during the cruise. For bar service a 15 percent service charge was automatically added onto all beverage tabs, including minibar purchases.

Dress Codes and Alcohol Policy

The formal shop on Deck 5 rents tuxes for men. For two formal nights the cost was $87 for jacket, pants and shirt; shoes were an additional $13 (the jacket alone was $45; pants alone $30). Check to see how many formal nights will be offered when 5-day cruises start, and pricing is available for only one night.

Carnival allows one bottle of wine to be brought aboard, per guest, during embarkation. There is a $10 corkage fee in the main dining rooms.

Loyalty Programs

The Past Guest Recognition program is Carnival’s frequent cruiser plan, though it’s not pushed hard as on some other lines. Passengers become gold members—the entry level—with their second Carnival sailing, which includes an invite to a cocktail reception on cruises of five days or longer and a free drink coupon, to be redeemed only at breakfast or lunch. With their tenth sailing on Carnival, guests become platinum-level members which includes priority embarkation, debarkation and tender boarding, priority reservations for the steakhouse and spa, casino benefits, complimentary wash and fold laundry, and other extras.

Laundry Facilities

A launderette and ironing room was available on each deck with cabins except deck 10. Valet and dry cleaning services were also available.

General Health and Safety

A muster drill was held just prior to embarkation the first day. We were not required to bring life jackets from our cabin to the drill and roll call was not taken. Muster stations were located on deck 4 outside, an area that was otherwise closed to guests during the cruise.

A medical center was located on Deck 0 and was open from 8 a.m, to 8 p.m. (with a one-hour break for lunch at noon). The doctor was on-call for emergencies at other hours.

Smoking Regulations

Inside the ship, smoking was allowed in the casino, and this room was clogged with smoke at pretty much all hours that the slots were open, despite some areas being designated as non-smoking. Smoking was also allowed at Club Arctic Dance Club, the Trident Bar adjoining the casino, and at the Black and Red Seas Bar, where cigars and pipes were also permitted.

Outdoors, smoking was allowed on the starboard (right) side of all open decks. Smoking was not permitted in any cabins, but for those with balconies, smoking was allowed there.

{{ gallery "deckplan" }}

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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Carnival Victory

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Carnival Victory

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What the Carnival Victory does best is comfortable, laid-back, unpretentious charm, and its effortless ability to put passengers of all ages and cruise-expertise at ease is a testament to its even-keeled, but still fun-loving, atmosphere. Featuring a more muted color scheme inspired by the sea itself, what Carnival Victory may lack in boisterousness it more than makes up for in a winning attitude and come-as-you-are ethos.

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Carnival Victory

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Carnival Victory

About Carnival Victory

Ideal for cruisers of all ages, the popular 102,000-ton, 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory is a charming Triumph Class ship, with fabulous restaurants, entertainment and generous accommodations. Upgraded in 2015, she now boasts such new enhancements as a sushi bar, a poolside movie screen, a thrilling 214-foot-long twister water slide, a variety of unique bars, a comedy club, a poolside burger eatery and a Mexican restaurant.

Lots of youth activities are offered for kids as well as adults, with an impressive range of choices, so everyone in the family will be busy having fun. Amenities include four pools, seven whirlpools and almost 20 bars and lounges, a fitness center and a spa where you can indulge in a variety of relaxing treatments. Carnival Victory boasts a ship-long promenade that includes duty-free shops where you can find that perfect item to bring home.

While the kids are at Camp Carnival and the teens are enjoying their dedicated areas, Circle C and Club 02, head to the peaceful adults-only Serenity for a tranquil delightful experience. Shop for lovely items, including duty-free selections at the boutiques, catch up with your reading at the comfortable library and shoot some hoops and play mini-golf and other games at the sports park that is perfect for families.

Take your taste buds on a culinary journey at the fabulous eateries offering a myriad of dining options , such as a Taste of Nations, serving delicious food from all around the world, a 24-hour pizzeria, Asian, a New York-style deli, a sushi bar, a grill by the pool and a decadent dessert station. Savor warm pastries and sip on a cappuccino at the café. Delicious continental cuisine is featured at the main dining rooms, as well as mouthwatering vegetarian dishes, healthy spa fare and children's favorites on a kids menu. Foodies can have a memorable gourmet evening at a special dinner hosted by a master chef that includes a unique galley tour. Complimentary room service is also available 24/7.

Make yourself at home in a wide range of accommodations. Select from a variety of choices, such as insides, outsides, balconies, mini-suites and suites. With different configurations, and many with side-by-side twins that can be converted to a king, you will be able to find the best stateroom to suit your needs. Watch first-run in-cabin movies on TV as you relax on the line's special bed system.

Exciting entertainment offered varies from a Calypso band playing on deck during the deck to lavish Las Vegas-style productions and live music at many of the fun bars and lounges. Watch movies, shows and sporting events at the huge 270-square-foot LED screen outdoors for a unique family night. Try your luck at the casino with roulette, blackjack and more. Dance the night away at the disco or enjoy a first-run-in-cabin movie as you relax in the privacy of your stateroom.

Take a fabulous getaway cruise on the Carnival Victory for the fun-filled vacation you have always dreamed about.

Carnival Victory offers short cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Carnival Cruise Line

Captain’s Suite

This is the best room you can get… without bunking up with the guy himself. A Captain’s Suite aboard Carnival Victory features tons of indoor space, and a huge balcony when you need a little more. Back inside you’ll find a king-size bed, two full bathrooms (one with tub), plus a separate living room that sleeps another three. And VIP check-in? Naturally.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code GS (Grand Suite)

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Victory features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code OS (Ocean Suite)

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Victory suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors. Choose an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation, including walk-in closet and bathroom with tub.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 9C (Premium Vista Balcony)

Premium Vista Balcony

Premium Vista Balcony staterooms were designed to wrap around the aft corners of Carnival Victory, giving you a unique vantage point from which to enjoy luxuriously panoramic views of the sky and the sea — and yes, take in even more of that sunshine.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 9B (Premium Balcony)

Premium Balcony

Step into a Premium Balcony stateroom aboard Carnival Victory and it's easy to see exactly what you're getting: one seriously spacious stateroom. It's about more than just the room itself, you'll find; step onto your oversized balcony and you'll find that when there's a sea breeze in your hair, there's no limit to the relaxation you can have.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 8N (Aft-View Extended Balcony)

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space; not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Victory gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 8M (Aft-View Extended Balcony)

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Victory. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 8E (Balcony)

Scenic Grand Ocean view

Two twin beds (convert to king) and double sofa bed. Sofa and coffee table. Desk and seat. Full bathroom with shower. 3 closets. Floor-to-ceiling windows.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 6J (Scenic Ocean view)

Scenic Ocean view

Your Scenic Ocean View stateroom aboard Carnival Victory provides the best view of the sea that lies ahead of the ship, with views unlike any on land. And you'll get more of them, too, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing plenty of looking-glass for gazing at the natural wonders of the sea... and let's not forget sunrise and sunset.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 6C (Ocean View)

Catch a glimpse of what's going by from your Ocean View stateroom aboard Carnival Victory, where you'll get views you won't find anywhere on land. Don't miss sunrise and sunset at sea — your comfy stateroom is the best way to experience these!

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 6B (Oceanview Stateroom)

Oceanview Stateroom

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 6A (Oceanview Stateroom)

Interior with Picture Window (walkway view)

An Interior with Picture Window stateroom on Carnival Victory gives you a view beyond your stateroom, out to the observation deck outside including a great sky view. (Note that the view will be partially obstructed.)

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 4H (Interior)

An Interior stateroom is the most affordable way to cruise, and Carnival Victory's interiors are not just cozy, but are full of things you'd expect from any Carnival stateroom: a full private bathroom, Carnival Comfort Collection linens and more.

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 4G (Interior)

Inside Stateroom

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 4A (Inside Stateroom)

Carnival Victory's Porthole staterooms give you the classic seafarer’s view times two: a pair of round windows providing an affordable view of the ocean. If you tire of ocean-gazing in comfort — not that we think you will — there’s plenty more fun to experience aboard the ship!

Sample Cabin Image for Category Code 1A (Interior Upper/Lower)

Interior Upper/Lower

A Carnival Victory Interior Upper/Lower stateroom creatively maximizes space for a pair of cruisers. These staterooms feature all the same amenities as other Interior staterooms, with a different layout — including one Twin bed, and either an upper Pullman or sofa bed. They also feature linens from the Carnival Comfort Collection, a full private bathroom and more.

View Deck Plan

Plan for 14 Sky Deck

Atlantic Dining Room

Decks: 4 Atlantic 3 Lobby

Experience the ultimate in elegant dining - the service, food and atmosphere - while dining at sea in the Carnival Victory Atlantic and Pacific Dining Rooms.

Carnival Deli

Carnival Deli

Deck: 9 Lido

Looking for a little taste from the old neighborhood? Pile 'em high at the Carnival Deli. Enjoy old time favorites like a hot pastrami on rye, grilled Reuben, or roasted turkey breast on a country roll. Our sandwiches and wraps are always hand-carved and served fresh with cole slaw or relish. Come by, satisfy your craving for a great sandwich and make sure you don’t forget the kosher dill.

Chop Sticks

Chop Sticks

Give the forks and knives a break and grab some chopsticks as you enjoy this bold and flavorful Chinese culinary experience. Help yourself to delicious dishes like sliced beef honey chili, five spice and oyster glazed seafood, pork or chicken cellophane noodles, shrimp fried rice and so much more — served with crispy vegetable rolls. The food at Chopsticks is so flavorful, you probably won’t want to share.

Galley

Deck: 3 Lobby

Grand Buffet

Grand Buffet

“Hey, which side does the fork go on?” is a question you’ll never have to ask at a dining room dinner aboard a Carnival cruise… we set the table for you. We also bring to the table a full three courses in an experience that’s filling, but never stuffy — after all, you’re just as likely to catch waiters table-dancing as you are to order dessert. Dessert’s included (along with the rest of your meal, by the way) in your fare. But don’t skip straight to dessert, because the main course is the main attraction — drop in daily and enjoy a rotating menu of delectable favorites like steak, roasted duck, scallops and prime rib.

Mediterranean Lido Restaurant

Mediterranean Lido Restaurant

Decks: 9 Lido 10 Panorama

Featuring a nice variety of casual dining options like Mongolian Wok, Chef’s Choice, Salad Bar, Carnival Deli and more, the Lido Restaurant has something — or more likely, at least a few somethings — to satisfy your craving. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, plus food options for everyone, you can enjoy your personal favorites in company of family and friends for lunch or dinner… or even breakfast! It’s also where you can find our pizza, soft serve and frozen yogurt — all open 24 hours a day, which ought to be enough for anybody.

Pacific Dining Room

Pacific Dining Room

Savor delectable gourmet cuisine in the elegant setting of the Pacific Dining Room.

Pantry

Pizza Pirate

Tossing dough is an age-old art passed down the generations. Lucky for you, someone passed us the secret to the perfect pie. While aboard, this is the place that will shiver your timbers and warm you to the bone, 24 hours a day, with a Margherita, Funghi, Prosciutto, Pepperoni or Quatttro Formaggi pizza served with a delicious Caesar salad. Savvy? Then it’s the pirates’ life for you!

Sea Food Shack

Sea Food Shack

A good seafood dish is quite the catch. However you like yours served — whether it’s on a roll or a platter — Seafood Shack’s the place to cast your net. Imagine a New-England-style seaside spot where you can take it all in, enjoying a great meal complete with a side of ocean view. On a Carnival cruise is where you’ll find this shack by the sea, wherever in the world you happen to be!

Blue Iguana Cantina

Blue Iguana Cantina

Guy's Burger Joint

Guy's Burger Joint

Bonsai Sushi Express

Bonsai Sushi Express

Deck: 5 Promenade

Band

Deck: 4 Atlantic

Stage

Decks: 3 Lobby 9 Lido

Our stage shows are designed to razzle and dazzle. Featuring talented singers, musicians and dancers performing crowd-thrilling numbers in extravagant costumes with awesome sets and scenery, it's like catching one of the best shows on land. All performances are created to ensure that every night feels like opening night. And best of all, since shows are included in your fare, it's like having top-dollar tickets to the hottest show in town, absolutely free.

South China Sea Club Casino

South China Sea Club Casino

Winning big in the casino is big fun, and your next stop is celebrating with a top-shelf drink. Located right off the casino floor, the casino bar serves up your favorite cocktails, beer and wine, making this the perfect spot to celebrate with family, friends… and maybe even total strangers.

Indian Library

Indian Library

With wall-to-wall activities, most people wouldn’t think of their cruise vacation as a great time to read a book, but you’ll find the bibliophilic faithful stretched out on deck chairs, enjoying the sun, sea breeze… and a page-turner. Forgot to bring a book? E-reader battery just died? Every Carnival ship features an onboard library stocked with the good stuff. For the silent types, it’s a great place to read, but if the roar of the ocean is more your soundtrack, the library is a great place to find a good read to devour, al fresco.

Club Arctic Dance Club

Club Arctic Dance Club

Dance. Dance. Dance. The party is in full swing at Carnival Victory's Club Arctic. Show off your moves and make new friends in the process. It's fancy footwork fun in this hot-spot.

Dance Floor

Dance Floor

Decks: 4 Atlantic 5 Promenade

When you’re on a Carnival cruise, there are plenty of places to bust out your moves when the mood strikes: in the dance club, at a deck party, in line for tandoori. Some people are born with all the right moves, but the rest of us need a little instruction to smooth the sharp edges off of ours. That’s why you’ll find a host of free dance classes that sail along with you, helping you make the most of your cruise… which is perfect because a cruise is just the kind of vacation that puts you in the dancing mood!

Internet Cafe

Internet Cafe

Is vacation a time for disconnecting? Yes! But isn’t it a great time to stay connected and share the good times you’re having with everyone back home? Also yes! That’s why your Carnival cruise gives you options for just how in-touch you want to stay. Looking to share every moment as it happens, hashtag it up and get all the Likes? You’re gonna love our onboard WiFi, which lets you do the social thing and connect your phone, tablet or laptop wherever you are on the ship. Or are you looking to check in every now and then — have a look at your email, check the news and send a note home? Stop in to your ship’s Internet Café, sit down at a computer and enjoy the kinda-connected life. Vacation purist looking to get away from all the news feeds and trending whatevers? We dig your style — a Carnival cruise remains the disconnectedest kind of vacation.

King of the Sea Pool

King of the Sea Pool

Deck: 10 Panorama

The King of the Sea Pool area, on the Carnival Victory Panorama Deck, has a Twister Waterslide that's three-decks high, which is perfect for splashin', playin' and slidin' -- Fun for all ages.

Siren's Pool and Bar

Siren's Pool and Bar

Located on the Lido Deck, this is just one of the Carnival Victory's three pools.

Triton's Pool and Bar

Triton's Pool and Bar

Passengers can bask in the sun and can beat the heat with a refreshing dip in this grand pool.

Wading Pool

Wading Pool

Deck: 12 Sun

POOL DAY! Whether today's the day for a bit of a dip, a dash of splash or even some swimming — or just a serious poolside lounging session — your Carnival cruise has just the pool for you. In fact, pools are so important to a great cruise that we designed many of our ships to have two of them. At an aft pool you'll catch a breeze, plus a sea view featuring the ship's wake, while midship pools have an grand view of a different kind: the big screen's right there for the viewing. And no matter which you find yourself chilling in, the sunbeams are yours for the soaking.POOL DAY! Whether today's the day for a bit of a dip, a dash of splash or even some swimming — or just a serious poolside lounging session — your Carnival cruise has just the pool for you. In fact, pools are so important to a great cruise that we designed many of our ships to have two of them. At an aft pool you'll catch a breeze, plus a sea view featuring the ship's wake, while midship pools have an grand view of a different kind: the big screen's right there for the viewing. And no matter which you find yourself chilling in, the sunbeams are yours for the soaking.

Mini Golf

Ah, imagine a perfect day out on the links, the golfer's zen of the ball, the hole and nothing in between but well-manicured fairway... plus one cactus, a treasure chest... and wait, is that a windmill in the way? Just who designed this course anyway? Whoever it was, they had one thing in mind — maximum fun for mini-golfers, big and small! That's precisely why you'll find a course on every Carnival ship, where you can hit the holes and take in everything you’d expect, like the sights and the sounds... plus the seagulls.

Carnival's Seaside Theatre

Carnival's Seaside Theatre

Night time isn't the only time to see stars on your cruise. Day or night, find a spot on deck and check out the huge poolside screen — it's Carnival Seaside Theater™! Hit movies, live sporting events, concerts and even cartoons for the kids are just some of what you'll find featured at this large-scale outdoor entertainment zone. Grab a copy of the FunTimes and check the day's listings... then grab a friend or three and get ready to kick back and enjoy.

Neptune's Way Promenade

Neptune's Way Promenade

Sliding Sky Dome

Sliding Sky Dome

Sliding Sky Dome.

Virtual Sea

Virtual Sea

If you love to play video games we've got just the spot for you - no matter your age - it's called the Carnival Victory Virtual Sea. Enjoy our video arcade which is equipped with the latest high-tech video and arcade games.

Photo Shop

Our photo gallery is located on the Carnival Victory Atlantic deck and loaded with some of your best "Fun Ship" moments. Pick your favorites; then take home your fondest and funnest memories.

Club O2

Your parents deserve a nice vacation… but then again, so do you. So let’s let them go do their thing while you do yours. Where to? Club O2. Hang out and do stuff like watch movies, listen to music from this decade, play sports and video games, join karaoke jam sessions… maybe even have a pool party or two, all with other high schoolers ages of 15 to 17.

Shore Excursions

Shore Excursions

As much fun as you can have aboard our ships -- and that's a whole lot -- we know that the ports are a big reason you chose a Carnival cruise for your vacation. Make the most of your time there with any of our wide variety of shore excursions.

The Fun Shops of Carnival

The Fun Shops of Carnival

You'll find the perfect gifts for friends, family or yourself at the duty-free shops of Carnival located on the Carnival Victory Promenade deck - everything from t-shirts to high-end timepieces, lockets to your favorite spirits.

Salon

Deck: 11 Spa

A trip to the salon is an opportunity to relax, to chat with others, to focus on yourself. It’s about more than just getting your hair or nails done… but it’s definitely about getting your hair or nails done! Even though you’re on vacation, you won’t have to settle for anything less than the salon style you’re used to back on land. And these good looks go beyond the usual — we even offer services like teeth whitening… great for taking those ‘I’m on vacation and I’m looking great!’ smiles to the next level.

Fitness Center

Fitness Center

We have some bad news for you — your ship has a gym. In other words, there’s no excuse for leaving your fitness routine back on land. That’s great news, however, for your body, which will definitely benefit from all the extra energy that vacationing pumps directly into you. And let’s not forget the extra time you’ll have, since you won’t be waking up and spending most of the day at the office or anything like that. If those were some of your go-to excuses, we’re sorry, but we all know this is important. Why not treat yourself to some of our fitness classes — you might even have a little fun while you do something great for yourself!

Massage Room

Massage Room

Cruising always feels good, but it doesn’t usually — ooh, right there. Right where? Sorry, we’re at the onboard spa, where they do these amazing massages by hand. But they don’t just stop there — they’ve got tools to enhance the benefits too. Select from different hands-on experiences featuring seaweed for detox, herbal poultice for energy, bamboo for deep tissue penetration and hot stones for — ahhh — for perfection. We know you’re all about feeling good, and so are these massages.

Sauna

Spa Carnival

Decks: 11 Spa 9 Lido 10 Panorama

When it comes to complete relaxation from the inside out, nothing beats a trip to the spa. From the minute you step inside, the soothing ambiance begins to work its magic. Renew yourself with premium beauty and wellness therapies, like hot stone massages, aromatherapy or full-body wraps. This is your time to be spoiled, indulged and even beautified. Lie back, close your eyes, and feel the stress sail away as your body and mind experience total tranquility. (Oh yeah, and this feel-good stuff isn’t just for the ladies — dudes, there are plenty of treatments on our menu for you too.)

Adriatic Aft Lounge

Adriatic Aft Lounge

All of our "Fun Ship" lounges provide the space and enjoyable ambience needed to unwind, meet up with friends or enjoy some "me" time. Grab a friend, grab a drink and/or grab a seat and just lounge.

Black & Red Seas Lounge

Black & Red Seas Lounge

Black & Red Seas Lounge.

Caribbean Main Lounge

Caribbean Main Lounge

Decks: 4 Atlantic 3 Lobby 5 Promenade

Sit back and enjoy the performance at the Carnival Victory Caribbean Lounge where every performance is an extravaganza.

Carnival Seaside Theater

Carnival Seaside Theater

Camp Ocean

When families cruise Carnival, even the smallest fish in the pond have a big, awesome time. Okay, so it’s actually way more than just a pond — it’s Camp Ocean. At Camp Ocean, 2–11 year-olds stay busy, keep active and have fun as they enjoy all new ocean-themed activities and entertainment made for kids. We put campers into supervised, age-based groups and give each a cool marine-life label that’s sure to raise the sails on camaraderie at sea. The littlest little ones — ages 2 to 5 —join the Penguin colony and engage in activities like Musical Icebergs and Ocean Bingo… even learning a thing or two about buoyancy! The little-biggers, 6 to 8, are the way-cool Stingrays, who might be found enjoying Pirate Game Night, making sea salt art or even designing their own aquarium. The big fish are the Sharks — ages 9 to 11 — who really sink their teeth into playing Marine Life Trivia, creating a giant ocean mural, and scoring big with games and sports competitions. Our counselors, each with education or childcare experience, are there to make sure everyone in these small groups has an amazing time.

Circle “C”

What does the “C” in Circle “C” stand for? Well, “chill,” “connect” and “cool,” just to name a few. It’s where young teens ages 12 to 14 go to hang out, meet new friends, and enjoy some pretty awesome activities like dance parties, games, outdoor movies and more, in the special Circle “C” area or around the ship. It’s all supervised by friendly and fun-loving counselors who want your young teens to have the best vacation ever.

Virtual Sea Video Arcade

Virtual Sea Video Arcade

If you love to play video games, you’re in luck. Our video arcade boasts a huge array of games, and is open to players of all ages, all night and all day. So get some tokens from the vending machine and let the fun times begin. Challenge your friends to a game, or just see if you can beat the top score. After all, with the video arcade open 24 hours and an entire cruise ahead of you, you have plenty of time to try.

Guest Services

Guest Services

So you're in the mood for some good eats, but you’d rather stay in your comfy, cozy stateroom? Really, who could blame you? Simply pick up the phone and order something from our tasty room service menu. And since you get hungry when you get hungry, room service is available any time of the day (or night) and delivered right to your door. Best of all — and you may not believe this — the food's even included in your fare.

Alchemy Bar

Alchemy Bar

For the perfect antidote to all that pre-vacation stress, try a unique cocktail custom-concocted by our mix-masters.

Bar

Coral Sea Cafe

Traditional and delicious Italian refreshments combine with striking, modern décor in Carnival Victory’s Coffee Bar/Gelateria, where guests can treat themselves to a selection of gourmet coffees, freshly-baked pastries, and many tempting gelato flavors.

Ionian Room

Ionian Room

Irish Sea Piano Bar

Irish Sea Piano Bar

Play it again, Sam. Or Diana. Or whatever your name is. Because this is the bar where you call the shots – and the songs. Pull up a seat, order your favorite cocktail, and let your friendly piano player know the songs you'd like to hear. Then join the sing-along for a hand-clapping, foot-tapping, finger-snapping good time. Don't feel like flexing your vocal cords? No worries. Shy songbirds are welcome here, too. And since it's open from early evening to late at night, it's the perfect spot for a before-dinner drink or singing 'til the wee hours of the evening.Play it again, Sam. Or Diana. Or whatever your name is. Because this is the bar where you call the shots – and the songs. Pull up a seat, order your favorite cocktail, and let your friendly piano player know the songs you'd like to hear. Then join the sing-along for a hand-clapping, foot-tapping, finger-snapping good time. Don't feel like flexing your vocal cords? No worries. Shy songbirds are welcome here, too. And since it's open from early evening to late at night, it's the perfect spot for a before-dinner drink or singing 'til the wee hours of the evening.

Sky Box Sports Bar

Sky Box Sports Bar

Get hands-on with a game, a drink… and high-fives galore! SkyBox Sports Bar gets you right onto the 50-yard line of onboard sports action. Grab a drink or order some snacks — they’re great while kicking back and watching your favorite teams on one of the big screens, or just dropping by to check out real-time scores and headlines on the panoramic ticker. And if you’re feeling lucky, feel free to grab a controller and get a little competitive with the latest sports game titles. They’re free to play, so find a friend or three and get set for some serious play-action.Get hands-on with a game, a drink… and high-fives galore! SkyBox Sports Bar gets you right onto the 50-yard line of onboard sports action. Grab a drink or order some snacks — they’re great while kicking back and watching your favorite teams on one of the big screens, or just dropping by to check out real-time scores and headlines on the panoramic ticker. And if you’re feeling lucky, feel free to grab a controller and get a little competitive with the latest sports game titles. They’re free to play, so find a friend or three and get set for some serious play-action.

Trident Bar

Trident Bar

Located on the Promenade Deck, this relaxing watering hole at sea is a great spot to laugh and spend time with friends.

Serenity

Decks: 14 Sky 12 Sun

Somebody at Carnival knows just what you need, and it's pretty much exactly the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat. Look, you'll still be on the same ship as the kids, the hoopla, and all the Carnival-style excitement… but you could easily forget, because when you’re at Serenity you could not be further from it all. The world you'll find yourself in is one of complete peace, sea breezes, swaying hammocks and, of course, a nearby bar. It's the place to get done the kind of stuff you just can't seem to do anywhere else — reconnect with your partner, finish that book, or do absolutely, blissfully, nothing at all.

Jogging Track

Jogging Track

Jogging may not immediately come to mind when you think of things to do at sea, but it probably should. You don’t have to walk on water, you just have to get on a Carnival cruise. After all, if you’re going to jog, you’d be hard-pressed to find a place to do it with a more scenic view, or a more refreshing breeze — both of these are available in abundance when you go for an open-air jog on the upper-deck. Jogging tracks are available on all Carnival ships, and are even padded for long-distance comfort.

Odyssey Hall

Odyssey Hall

Decks: 3 Lobby 4 Atlantic 5 Promenade

Plan to meet up with friends in the Odyssey Hall Atrium. It's a great place to gather before heading for a meal in the Pacific Dining Room.

Seven Seas

Decks: 4 Atlantic 7 Empress 9 Lido 3 Lobby 10 Panorama 5 Promenade 6 Upper 8 Verandah

First impressions are important — everyone knows that. We’ll let you in on a little secret: that’s why it’s so important to us that the atrium, your first taste of your Carnival cruise, tastes like ‘wow.’ From the moment you step aboard, the atrium — the heart of the ship — simply screams “welcome aboard!” It screams it with hustle, with bustle, with music and with high ceilings featuring panoramic views of the whole scene from the upper decks. This 360-degree funspot is also the home of the Guest Services desk, the place you go if you have questions for one of our certified fun experts… about just about anything that’s on your mind.

Slide Entrance

Slide Entrance

Deck: 14 Sky

Fitness Studio

Fitness Studio

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar

Red Frog Rum Bar

Red Frog Rum Bar

Bridge

Deck: 8 Verandah

Cherry On Top

Cherry On Top

Photo Studio

Photo Studio

Seven Sea Lobby

Seven Sea Lobby

Art Gallery

Art Gallery

Deck: 2 Main

Art Gallery.

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Definition of cruise verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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Victory Cruise Lines Review and Photos

Victory Cruise Lines was founded by veteran cruise executive Bruce Nierenberg (Norwegian Caribbean Line and Premier Cruise Lines) in 2016. Then in January 2019, the fledgling cruise line was purchased by American Queen Steamboat Company. Shortly afterwards, Victory II was added…identical to Victory I. 

MV Victory I at sea

Ships: 2  – Victory I, Victory II, plus a third new ocean-going ship, Ocean Victory

How Many Passengers : 202 passengers

Personality : M/V Victory I and Victory II are intimate ships with a modern and spacious design that still honors maritime’s past. Colors are calm and muted, and some spaces are furnished with rich, dark wood while others are light, white, and airy. Crew members are friendly and personable while always maintaining a keen attention to detail. 

Fellow Passengers : The line offers unique itineraries that range from Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River to S.E. United States. Usually these types of itineraries attract slightly older passengers that are well-traveled and in search of new experiences. 

Cabins : Cabins are very spacious, light and airy, with a modern beach house feel that still maintains a refined elegance. They each include an armoire, chest of drawers, robe and slippers, LCD televisions, and premium bathroom amenities and bedding.

Victory II Stateroom AA

Dining Experience : The main dining rooms offers three meals a day, with a menu full of regionally-inspired dishes. There is also an open-air venue called Cliff Rock Bar & Grille, where guests can select fresh ingredients that are then cooked on 100% pure volcanic rock. Here, breakfast and lunch are buffets, and dinner is normal seating.

Victory I Lake Huron Yellow Perch

Amenities : Guests can indulge in the onboard salon and spa, as well as gather around the grand piano in one of the lounges for an old-fashioned sing-along, relax on the sun deck, enjoy live musicians, and listen to presentations by experts brought onboard that specialize in the areas that the cruise will visit. There is also free wifi in public areas. 

Best For : Older couples, independent solo travelers, and anyone that wants a smaller ship cruising experience in the USA.

What’s Included : Wine, beer, and non-premium alcohol, filtered water, daily cocktail hour, afternoon tea and a pre-cruise hotel stay.

Gratuities : Additional. $15 per person/day is added automatically to the onboard account, but additional gratuities can easily be added.

Where They Go : The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River, Canada and New England, Southeast U.S.

READ NEXT:  Victory II Cruise Review on a Canada/New England Cruise

Contributor: Sarah Bretz

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Antarctica Cruises

Ocean Victory

cruise victory meaning

  • State-of-the-art, retractable, over-the-water observation decks for the best close-up and personal wildlife sightings.
  • Immersive adventure with onboard experts, highest standards of safety and five-star facilities amid incredible scenery.
  • Unique environmentally-friendly design with the lowest Greenhouse Gases emissions per passenger in the industry.

Built in 2021, Ocean Victory is a nine-deck, 189-passenger expedition ship that merges luxury and adventure for an immersive experience that will bring you close to the nature and wildlife of Antarctica. The environmentally-friendly vessel has the highest ice-class rating, and is ideally suited to the Southern Ocean with her X-bow design and revolutionary Rolls Royce Zero-Speed stabilizers, created to provide more comfort by reducing noise and vibration, and more stability respectively, especially in rough waters such as the Drake Passage.

The Ocean Victory cruise ship’s 93 balcony-cabins and spacious suites are very comfortable and have plenty of storage space. The nine different categories range from 157-square-foot cabins to 465-square-foot suites with separate living and sleeping areas. All have a view of the ocean; most have their own private balconies; some feature picture windows or French balconies. Offering the amenities of a luxury hotel, all come equipped with large televisions, luxury bedding and heated bathroom floors.

Life On Board

Specifications.

  • Staff & Crew 100
  • Guide & Crew to Guest Ratios 1:3 & 1:1.9
  • Guest to Space Ratio 1:39
  • Number of Decks 7
  • Number of Cabins 93
  • Zodiacs & Loading Bays 18 & 4
  • Year Built 2020
  • Ice Class PC6 (1A)
  • Length 342.5 ft (104.4 m)
  • Beam 60.4 ft (18.4 m)
  • Draft 16.7 ft (5.1 m)
  • Cruising Speed 16 kn
  • Stabilizers Yes

About the Ocean Victory

The ship is laden with facilities. The Main Restaurant and the more casual Panorama Restaurant offer menus that change daily. Dinner always starts with delicious hot soups, cold cuts, and crisp, fresh salads. Several choices of entrees are offered each evening, to accommodate different tastes and dietary requirements, with a good variety of gourmet meat, fish and vegetarian options. Freshly prepared desserts include ship-made ice cream or cakes.

Much of the onboard social activity takes place on Deck 5 in the Albatros Nordic Bar Lounge, where you can partake in a wine-tasting menu. Next door in the Shackleton Lecture Room, you’ll discover plenty more about the region from the expedition team’s experts, including climatologists, geologists and renowned photographers, all of whom are eager to share their adventures and knowledge. This is also the place for learning about the next day’s expedition activities.

Deck 8, the Albatros barbeque deck, offers a casual-dining area with indoor and outdoor seating, making it the perfect spot for barbecues and other informal meals. On the Midnight Sun Pool Deck, you’ll find hot tubs under the stars, and an infinity pool.

The Knud Rasmussen Library is stocked with plenty of books, magazines, and games, while the on-board fitness center has weight machines, cardio equipment, and floor-to-ceiling windows with awe-inspiring sea views.

Finally, after an active day, you may wish to step into the Polar Spa for an escape within your escape in the form of rejuvenating destination-inspired treatments.

Wildlife Viewing & Excursions

Aboard your Ocean Victory Antarctica cruise, you can enjoy the ship’s terrific viewing areas, both indoors and outdoors, with a highlight being the retractable, over-the-water observation decks that offer in-your-face wildlife viewing. You can enjoy stunning views of the icy landscape from the Albatros Observation Lounge, which is also great for reading or relaxing.

Additionally, virtually all of the indoor spaces are lined with floor-to-ceiling windows, so whenever you want to see what’s ashore and in the water, you’ll never be more than a couple of steps away from a spectacular polar landscape view, ensuring that you’ll never miss a sea lion or whale tail.

Off the ship meanwhile, the Mud Room is where you’ll get ready for your expeditions. This room offers large lockers, life jackets, and big boots for your personal use. There is a fold-out platform here for boarding and launching the ship’s kayaks and Zodiac inflatable boats.

The ship’s stabilizers can even function when the ship is not moving, so when combined with the benefits of dynamic positioning and the five zodiac loading locations available, boarding zodiacs is a breeze—much faster than any other vessel with a comparable size—meaning passengers spend more time exploring the unique wonders of Antarctica.

Departing Ushuaia in Argentina, Ocean Victory’s 10 to 20-day “encounter expeditions” to Antarctica will take you to a hauntingly beautiful wilderness. Perfect for active, adventure-loving couples, singles, groups of friends and families with older kids, a cruise aboard the Ocean Victory will probably change your life. Note: During the summer season, the Ocean Victory cruises to Alaska.

Single Cabin

cruise victory meaning

Triple Cabin

French balcony suite, albatros state cabin, balcony state cabin, balcony suite b, balcony suite, junior suite, premium suite, description.

cruise victory meaning

Itineraries

  • Prime Season Antarctica
  • Giants of the Southern Ocean: Whale Voyage with South Shetlands & the Antarctic Peninsula
  • South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
  • Explorers Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula & Extreme Weddell Sea
  • The Ultimate Antarctica Experience
  • Falkland Islands, South Georgia & Antarctica
  • Antarctica, South Georgia & Falklands Islands

Departure Dates

  • 2024 Departures
  • 2025 Departures
  • 2026 Departures

Enjoy special rates on all remaining cabins – 30% off

Terms & Conditions

  • — This offer applies to new bookings and cannot be combined with any other promotions, discounts, or group deals.
  • — The sale ends 15th March 2024.
  • — 30% off also applies to a single supplement.
  • — To qualify, personal details and deposit payment must be received within 7 working days of the booking.
  • — For trips with less than 90 days until departure, personal details and full payment must be received within 48 hours of the booking.
  • — Category F & D cabins are excluded from this promotion.
  • — Promotion is applicable for single travellers travelling in a single cabin or single with a single supplement.
  • — We keep the right to withdraw the promotion, certain cabin categories or voyages at any time.

Related Cruises

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Ocean Endeavour

cruise victory meaning

Ocean Adventurer

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

Get in touch with us via phone or form today and you’ll be assigned a dedicated Antarctica specialist who’ll be with you every step of the way to help you choose, book and plan the right Antarctica cruise for you. Here’s how it works:

Listen & Match

We’ll carefully listen to your aspirations and curate an impartial shortlist of personalized polar cruise recommendations—and pre- and post-cruise extensions—to match your desired experience.

Reserve & Relax

Next we’ll place a free, no obligation, 24-hour cabin hold on your preferred cruise option whilst we discuss the final details. Book and relax safe in the knowledge you’ll be paying the lowest price guaranteed.

Prepare & Travel

Then we’ll provide you with our expert packing advice, insider travel tips, and more to ensure you are fully prepared for—and maximize your enjoyment of—your once-in-a-lifetime Antarctica expedition.

Give us a Call

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  • With Partner/Friend
  • With Family
  • As Part Of A Group
  • Emperor Penguin
  • Photography
  • Exploration Heritage
  • Antarctic Peninsula
  • Antarctic Circle
  • Falklands/S. Georgia
  • Weddell Sea
  • Ross Sea/E. Antarctica

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Definition of 'cruise'

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The Ultimate Cruise Lingo Glossary – 85 Terms You Need to Know

Cruise Lingo Glossary the ultimate guide

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Cruise vocabulary, jargon or lingo – if you’re going on a cruise, you’ll want to be familiar with the cruise terminology

Are you getting ready for your first cruise? Through the planning process, you may have noticed that there’s a whole world of cruise vocabulary, nautical terms or “cruise lingo”.

This handy glossary of cruise terminology includes some of the new terms and acronyms used in the cruise industry today. These are some of the most common cruise phrases and words you’ll be hearing as you plan your cruise, as well as when you board your cruise ship.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

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A Cruise Lingo Tip You Must Know

Before we get started, here’s the most important piece of advice I can give you, when it comes to talking like a cruise pro.

Don’t call a cruise ship a boat.

Cruisers might have different opinions about which cruise lines are the best, cruise line dress codes , and the do’s and don’ts of cruise gratuities , but there’s one thing all cruisers agree on…

Don’t call a cruise ship a boat. Trust me on this 😉

cruise lingo glossary for cruisers

About Cruise Lingo and Cruise Lifestyle

Cruising is a lifestyle unto it’s own, and cruisers really do have their own lingo and cruise terminology. Nautical terms are often used, and cruisers love it!

New cruisers can be left scratching their heads.

Words and acronyms such as Aft, Muster drill, Starboard, OBC and MDR, may seem like a mysterious cruise language. However, in this cruise lingo glossary, I’ll go over all the cruise jargon need to know.

You’ll be chatting like a seasoned cruiser in no time!

Cruise ship vocabulary

You’re on a ship, not a boat. A boat fits inside a ship, and not the other way around. Fellow cruisers won’t hesitate to correct you sternly if you get this wrong.

Try and get used to this one quickly,  just trust me on this…

Below you can hear Celebrity Cruises Captain Kate , explaining this point in her navigational report.

Your room is called a cabin. While hotels have rooms, ships have cabins.

3. Stateroom

Sometimes a cruise cabin will be referred to as a stateroom.

Your cruise ship will have many decks. While hotels refer to floors, cruise-ships refer to decks.

cruise deck cruise lingo

5. The bridge

The bridge is the navigational hub of the ship.

The person in command of the ship.

7. Cruise Director

Think Julie McCoy :-). Your cruise director, among other duties, will act as Emcee, heading up most major entertainment events on the ship. On larger ships you’ll see assistant cruise directors and other activities staff also leading main activities.

8. Itinerary

Your cruise itinerary refers to each destination/cruise port of call you’ll be visiting.

9. Port of departure

This is the port from which your cruise will depart (ie. Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Vancouver, Barcelona etc.)

10. Cruise terminal

Just like airplanes have airports, cruise ships have cruise terminals or cruise ports. There are safety and boarding procedures to be aware of.

Recommended:   11 Cruise Boarding Tips You Need to Know

cruise port

11. Ports of call

You probably remember this one from “The Love Boat”. I know I do! This is individual destination where you will stop at for the day. Examples of cruise ports or ports of call on a Caribbean cruise include Cozumel , St. Thomas , Grand Cayman and so on.

12. Shore excursion

This is an organized activity you may choose to do when in a port. You can book a shore excursion through your cruise line or on your own with a private vendor or tour company. Examples include a snorkeling or sightseeing excursion.

A cruise ship will usually arrive at a large dock when it arrives at the cruise port.

There are some cruise ports where cruise ships cannot access the land directly and dock, due to coral reefs and other reasons. In these cases your ship will tender a few minutes away from the port, and shuttle passengers in by tender boats.

As an example, Grand Cayman is a tender port at this time, but it looks like a new dock will be built in a couple years.

tendering in georgetown grand cayman

15. Stabilizers

Modern cruise ships have stabilizers to keep motion to a minimum.

The ship’s anchor is impressive. Along with the chain, the anchor holds to the sea bed to keep the ship from drifting at sea.

The super large kitchen where literally tons of food is cooked and prepared. You can actually do a galley tour while on your cruise if you’re interested.

What cruise lingo do you need to know

18. Dry dock

When a cruise ship goes into dry dock, it’can be to receive routine maintenance, or to be refurbished. the ship can be out of service for weeks or longer.

19. Charter

Groups will sometimes charter a cruise ship, to host a special event.

Cruise Ship Terminology – understanding common areas of the cruise ship

The atrium is a large central public area usually spanning 3 or more decks. Often very beautiful, it will be the central hub of the ship’s interior.

cruise atrium

21. Port side

The left side of the ship, as you face forward, is referred to as port side .

Tip: An easy way to remember – LEFT has 4 letters and so does PORT

22. Starboard side

The right side of the ship as you face forward is the Starboard side.

23. Forward

The front section of the ship.

The back section of the ship is called the aft. The aft or wake view is a favorite for many cruisers.

25. Purser’s desk

These days, the purser’s desk is often referred to as guest or passenger services. However many avid cruisers enjoy the nautical language and will continue to use the term “purser’s desk”. Usually this is located in the atrium.

Cruise Lingo Every Cruiser Needs to Know

26. Mid-ship

Generally said in reference to the preferred cabin location . Most cruise passengers will prefer a mid-ship cabin, rather than one that is forward or aft. This area has an advantage of having more stability in general.

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cruise victory meaning

Cruise Cabin Terminology

When booking a cruise, you’ll notice that there are several different stateroom options. Below are the most common cabin options.

27. Interior staterooms

Inside or interior cabins are staterooms which include all the basics, however do not have a window.

Related:  15 Best Tips for Cruising in an Inside Cabin: cabin organization and more

28. Oceanview Cabins

Cabins with a window or porthole are ocean view cabins.

29. Balcony cabins

Balcony cabins , sometimes referred to as Veranda cabins, include a private outdoor space outside your cabin.

Related:   7 Best Reasons to Book a Balcony Cabin

30. Guarantee cabin (GTY)

This refers to an unassigned cabin any type of cabin (inside, ocean view, balcony) . The cruise line will assign the cabin at any point before the cruise.

Often, guarantee cabins will be priced lower, so this can be a great value if you’re not picky about the location of your cabin.

31. Pullman bed

If you have more than 2 passengers in your cabin, you may have pullman beds for 3rd and 4th passengers. They are like bunk beds that come out of the wall or ceiling. They will be tucked back into the ceiling or wall during the day if you like.

cruise ship pullman bed

32. Double occupancy

The cruise fare will be based on double occupancy as a standard, and this is what you will see as an advertised price.

33. Single occupancy

When cruising solo, most of the time you’ll be paying a single occupancy rate, which can be almost the cost of 2 people in a cabin (you won’t pay taxes twice).

34. Solo cabins – Studio cabins

If you’re cruising solo, look for cruise ships that have studio cabins intended for solo travelers.

35. Triple and Quad Cabins

Some cabins can accomodate 3, 4 or more passengers in one cabin, referred to as triple or quad cabins. These are most popular with young families cruising together .

Read next:   Worst Cruise Ship Cabins to Avoid

85 most useful terms

Back to the Cruise Ship

36. Deck plan

A map of all the cruise ship decks.

37. Lido deck

The Lido Deck is the public pool deck, often on one of the top decks of the cruise ship. There may be more than one pool, hot tub and outdoor seating.

38. Gangway

The gangway is elevated walkway you will use to board your ship, usually covered, but not always.

The very front of the ship.

The very back of the ship.

The beautiful white trail of waves visible at the very back of the ship. My favorite spot on the ship to realx and take it all in. Please let me know in the comments if this is your favorite as well – if not, where is?

ship's wake - Ilana Life Well Cruised

Cruise Lingo you need to know for the first day of your cruise and beyond

42.   Embarkation day

The first day of your cruise and the best day in a cruiser’s life 😉

Recommended reading to prepare for your cruise embarkation day – 25 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips Straight from the Pros

43. Muster drill

The muster drill is a mandatory safety drill which is done prior to sailing. Note, it’s not “mustard” drill, as you just may hear from other passengers.

44. Muster station

Your assigned emergency meeting location. You’ll likely meet here for your muster drill, but don’t worry, cruise ship crew will help to guide you.

45. Daily planner

Different cruise lines use different terms for their daily newsletter of information scheduled activities (Cruise Compass, Princess Patters, Today, Freestyle Daily). Many cruise lines now have this information available on their app.

cruise daily planner

46. Sailaway

The period of time that your Cruise Ship actually sails away from the shore. Often there will be a Sailaway party on the top deck, however some cruisers enjoy it from their own balcony.

47. Sailaway Party

Check your daily planner for information. Generally the Sailaway party will be at the main pool and will include some drinks, a DJ or band playing and some dancing.

48. Sea day

A day at sea is when your cruise ship is not visiting a port, but sea days aren’t boring ! There will be plenty of activities to choose from if you don’t want to simply relax by a pool.

49. Cruise Card

On most cruise ships, you’ll be given a cruise card which will act as your room key, ID and your method of payment when on your cruise.

Cruise lingo the ultimate guide updated

50. Ocean Medallion

Ocean Medallion is a relatively new cruise ship technology available on Princess Cruises . Instead of a cruise card, the medallion serves like a cruise card, but also does much more.

You can read about our recent Ocean Medallion experience here .

51. Room steward or cabin attendant

Sometimes mistakenly called a room “Stuart”, the person who cleans your room twice a day (amazing!) and really takes care of you and your cabin mates is called a room steward or a cabin attendant.

52. Dress code

Cruise lines have suggested dress codes , ranging from very casual to more formal.

53. Formal night 

A tradition on many cruise ships, the formal night is a night to dress up. Check your cruise line’s dress codes for suggestions. Some cruise lines have relaxed the dress codes a bit, including Celebrity Cruises which now has Evening Chic , rather than formal.

54. Early dining and late dining

Early and late dining are basically a first and second seating, which some cruise lines with an option of assigned dining will have. This is for a main dining room and not a buffet.

55. Open dining

Open dining is offered on many cruise ships. In some cases, a cruise line will offer both open and set dining. It can go by different terminology including Anytime Dining on Princess , My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean, Select Dining on Celebrity .

To note, some cruise lines offer only open dining, such as Norwegian Cruise Line which is Freestyle dining.

56. Specialty restaurants

This usually refers to the dining in an alternative restaurant that is not included in your cruise fare and is often a more intimate or higher culinary experience. An example of this would be Celebrity Cruises Tuscan Grille .

tuscan grille celebrity cruises

57. All Aboard

The ship will leave your ports of call promptly. All aboard time is generally set for 30 minutes before your cruise is scheduled to leave the port of call. Do verify the all aboard time before heading off for an excursion in the cruise port.

All joking aside, there are people at cruise ports every year – and you don’t want it to be you.

58. Towel animals

You just may find towel animals in your cruise cabin. These are the super cute towel creations made by your room steward, available on some cruise lines (usually family orientated ones).

We’ve had many years of enjoyment when our kids were young, even miss them a little bit these days.

towel animal

59. Pier runners: This is an unofficial name given to those (who may have had too many libations) who can be seen running in the last few minutes hoping not to miss the ship’s departure. It is quite entertaining!

60. Roll call

A roll call may be set up for your cruise by yourself or other cruise passengers. Basically, this is a group of people who chat online before a cruise, and may have some gatherings set up once on board.

Read more:   5 Reasons Why You Should Join a Cruise Roll Call

61. Disembarkation

The saddest day in a cruiser’s life is the day that you need to disembark and the cruise is over.

Wondering about how disembarkation day really works?   21 Cruise Disembarkation Tips You Need to Know

62. Onboard booking

Booking your next cruise on board can give you some awesome benefits and is one of the best kept secrets for saving money while booking a cruise . For those that book with travel agents, don’t worry, the future cruise consultant will transfer it to the agency (request if they don’t offer).

Tip: Check to make sure about the terms and conditions and find out if future cruise deposits are refundable if that’s important to you.

85 cruise lingo terms you can use

Booking a cruise – terms to know

63. Cruise fare

This is the base cost of the cruise, per person

64. Deposit and Final Payment

When you book a cruise, if you’ve booked early you’ll be making a deposit which will secure your booking. As you get closer to sailing (usually about 70-90 days pre cruise), your final payment will be due.

Terms and conditions may be different on various cruise lines, however the details will be on your own reservation.

65. Cruise contract

When booking a cruise, you’ll be agreeing to a cruise contract. The cruise contract includes the terms and conditions that cruise passengers agree to.

66. Online check-in

Before your cruise, passengers are asked to complete an online check in and print out cruise documents to sail.

67. Gratuities

Gratuities or tipping is customary on a cruise. A per person service fee or gratuity will be charged daily to your cabin, on most major cruise lines.

Recommended:   Cruise Tipping Guidelines and Etiquette

68. Prepaid gratuities

When booking your cruise, you can prepay your gratuities , and avoid thinking about additional expenses on a cruise .

69. Lanyard

A lanyard might be used by cruisers to hang a cruise card around the next for convenience. This is one of the most popular cruise accessories in our list of travel essentials .

70. Rum Runners

A type of container used to conceal alcohol brought on a cruise, that isn’t allowed. For more on other items that are prohibited, read this next:  33 Banned Items You Can’t Bring on a Cruise 

Recommended:   10 Things NOT to pack for a cruise

New cruise lingo for cruise suspension

Cruise Start Up Terms

Along with some major changes on cruise ships, we have seen new cruise line policies the have resulted in more cruise lingo – more words and explanations we just don’t know.

71. Cruise with Confidence

The major cruise lines introduced a flexible cruise cancellation policy, during this time, should people decide to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours pre-cruise. When cancelling, in most cases passengers will receive a credit which can be used towards a future cruise.

There are some terms and conditions to be aware of, so always read the fine print.

72. Muster 2.0

A new technology that would allow muster drills to be done using a new app, rather than in a large gathering. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises came out with this new technology as cruises resume. Several cruise lines are using a form of emuster as well.

The Cruise Line International Association is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association. It represents the major cruise lines, which have suspended cruises leaving from the United States until the end of October .

74. No Sail Order

A no sail order was put into effect by the CDC in March 2020. For cruises to resume, it was imperative that the CDC lift the no sail order . This is lifted and cruisers have resumed with strict guidelines for safety and health.

75. Warm lay up and cold lay up

As cruises are suspended, we hear the terms “warm and cold lay up” of cruise ships.

Warm lay up refers to when a cruise ship has reduced levels of crew onboard, and costs for fuel and other items are reduced. However, the cruise ship is kept in a condition as to be able to be brought back to service relatively quickly.

A cold lay up is a prolonged period of time when the cruise ship is shut down as much as possible to reduce cost. It takes longer for ships to be brought back to service and is a more complicated process.

76. NEW Safety and health protocols

The cruise lines have adopted new safety and health protocols to ensure safe cruising for passengers and crew.

balcony breakfast

Cruise Lingo Acronyms

It’s quite common to hear people who cruise a lot speak using these acronyms. You may even see these abbreviations in cruise facebook groups and pages, or on cruise forums .

Here is an explanation of the most common cruise acronyms, so you’ll be fluent in cruise lingo of all sorts.

Main Dining Room

On board credit – extra cash credit on your cruise account that you can use on the ship for most purchases. Sometimes this is added as a promotion by the cruise line or your travel agent.

This refers to a back to back cruise, meaning one cruise and then another cruise one after the other. Some cruisers may even do a B2B2B (3 cruises in a row)

The abbreviation for a guarantee cabin (see above in cruise lingo glossary)

Future Cruise Credit – when booking a future cruise onboard

A TA is short for travel agent

Cruise Lingo you must know if you love cruising

Avid Cruiser Lingo

83. Cruisebug

After a first cruiser, it’s not uncommon for a new cruiser to love it so much that they feel an immediate calling to book again and cruise more often. Often, this is referred to as catching the cruisebug.

84. Cruise addict

It’s said that cruising is the healthiest addiction and a vice many are happy to have! If you’ve cruised and now you’re constantly on the lookout for all the cruise info you can find and really just want to book cruises, congrats! You are now a cruise addict!

85. Cruiseaholic

Another word for someone who is addicted to cruising!

Recommended:   30 Best Gifts for Cruisers (that are unique too!)

86. Thallosphile (n)

A lover of the sea , someone who loves the sea, ocean.

87. Post-cruise blues

So, the post-cruise blues is real! One possible remedy is booking another cruise when onboard, but it’s still tough to leave that amazing cruise ship life!

Do you suffer from Post-Cruise Depression?

How To Know if You Have Post-Cruise Depression (a fun read)

*Ultimate Cruise Travel Planner*

Over the last year, I put together a 47 page cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise.

If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, you’ll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner .

Plus, for a limited time, it’s $10 off. Hope you enjoy!

See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -What’s Included

Related and Popular Posts:

Port Side or Starboard Side on a Cruise: Which Side is Best?

37 Interesting Cruise Ship Facts that Will Surprise You

50 Most Popular Amazon Cruise Essentials

25 Cruise Embarkation Day Tips You Need to Know

75 Genius Cruise Hacks and Tips

23 Essential Things to Pack in Your Cruise Carry-On Bag

What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise

Worst Cabins to Avoid on a Cruise

Recap: Cruise Lingo Glossary – 85 Cruise Terms You Need to Know

In this post, we went over 85 cruise terms that are important to know when you’re booking a cruise, as well as when you’re on a cruise ship. This list of “cruise lingo” should help to navigate the world of cruise language.

If you’re a new cruiser I hope the information has been helpful. If you’re a seasoned cruiser, I hope it was a fun read!

Is there a cruise term that you think should be added? Please let me know by leaving a comment below.

Happy cruising!

P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-)! Please share it with a friend, on Facebook or save for later on Pinterest. Thanks so much!

Let’s connect:

Follow me on YouTube at Life Well Cruised

Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised

Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised

Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised

18 Comments

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You missed out Rum Runners. Those cheapskates that think its clever to smuggle on alcohol rather than buy on board in various containers. This may be a Carnival thing but its creeping on the better lines.

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You’re right – I completely forgot that one and it’s now totally in the cruise lexicon, right? For better or for worse, lol!

I’ll add it in. Thanks for taking the time to comment :-)!!

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by the way what happens to the “Rum Runners” when caught?

Hmmmm,good question. I actually have heard that any alcohol will simply be confiscated, but I’ve never used them so I can’t say for sure.

I love the drinks on board, so I just drink those 🙂

Thanks for taking the time to comment Lebo.

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I really like your blog/page. The information in it is very good. I am a member of the Princess Cruise forum and what I have done is when I have come across something interesting or information I didn’t know I take notes on it. That’s how I’ve learned many of the items here. I would add TA – which is travel agent may seem too simple But I see TA all the time. I liked your comment about if you don’t know something ask a fellow cruise passenger or staff person on board. Since I am a solo travelor that really helped me. I would also add to tips for new cruisers is to be respectful of their fellow travelors and also all staff they encounter onboard (which includes room stewards, wait staff and everyone else they encounter).

Hi Charles,

Great points! TA is one I overlooked and you are so right. I agree completely with respect for passengers and crew – I hope most are.

I really appreciate you reading my blog and taking the time to leave a comment!

All the best,

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This is great, but I would have liked a short, printable list, as well.

Glad the list was helpful. Thanks for your suggestion as well. This may be something that I’ll work on doing in the future.

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I love your cruise blog. I have the cruise bug bad. PCD is bad in me on disembarkation day. I have only cruised with NCL and when onboard I buy as many CruiseNext Deals as I can. Many times you buy one and get on free, and on balcony and higher you can use two. To me free money off my cruise. NCL has past guest deals and when on bourd I book it. Thus even getting a better deal. I will triple dip looking for a past guest and a Latitudes Reward program. Earn point for every cruise night, Point for Suite, point booking 9 mounts in advance, and point for a Latitudes insider offer. Next cruise I will earn many points per day. That gives you free laundry, free dinners, free bottles of wine at dinner, and hopefully one day a free cruise… I would like to do a B2B2B. Do you have to get off the ship? Only word I would add is RESPECT. Respect yourself not making a scene if something not right. For you are the lesser for it. Hopefully one day we will meet up on a cruise ship. Your friend Russell

Thanks Russell for your kind words and your great tips! I have the same sentiments on disembarkation day – it’s the worst :-(.

For a B2B, you do have to get off the ship (although I hear sometimes not if customs come on), but it’s a pretty good process as passengers are grouped together and passed through quickly.

Would be great to meet you on a cruise one day!

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Yes a printable list of the terms would be very helpful. Tyvm for your time to help fellow cruisers!!

Thanks Deborah for your comment. I’ll definitely look into creating one, especially since it’s been suggested a couple of times.

Best to you,

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We too had a stressful private tour in Turkey, going to Ephesus. We made it back by the skin of our teeth, but the traffic on he way back through Izmir was heavy and slow. All your tips about not being a pier runner are very apt! Thank you. Jim and Norita Nickerson

Hi Jim & Norita,

Wow I would have been stressed as well. We loved Ephesus but did a morning tour only so were back early. Thanks for sharing your experience!

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Not only do I find your newsletters fun AND helpful but ditto your You Tube videos. I have been addicted to cruising since 1959. Wish I could afford to feed my addiction more frequently. Going on an 11 day Caribbean cruise on Rotterdam VII in December.

Thanks so much Jim! I’m so glad that you enjoy my emails and videos & appreciate you taking the time to comment.

Don’t we all just wish we could cruise a little more? Your Caribbean cruise sounds absolutely amazing – enjoy every minute!

' src=

I enjoy your work … 2 more often overlooked terms: bunkering and along-side … bunkering of course is the re-fueling process … along-side is the captain’s term for bringing a ship to a full stop at a future pier (“we’re expected to be along-side at 7 am in Fort Lauderdale”) …

Thanks for sharing these!

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NBC New York

Red Bull's Max Verstappen cruises to another victory at the Chinese Grand Prix

Verstappen has won four of five races this season and 23 of 27 dating back to last year, by stephen wade | associated press • published april 21, 2024 • updated on april 21, 2024 at 1:51 pm.

Another Formula 1 race. Yet another victory for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The three-time defending champion won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday starting from pole, his fourth victory in five races this season and his 23rd in the last 27 extending through last season.

Only a brake failure last month at the Australian GP in Melbourne probably kept him from sweeping all five.

Verstappen trailed for only a few laps following a pit stop. Lando Norris of McLaren was about 14 seconds behind Verstappen in second — the eighth time he has been No. 2 in his career as he still seeks his first victory. Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was third.

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The Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc, in fourth, and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five, holding off Mercedes driver George Russell and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in sixth and seventh, respectively.

The rest of the points finishers following on were Oscar Piastri of McLaren, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg in tenth.

Verstappen now has 110 points to lead the standings followed by Perez (85), Leclerc (76), Sainz (69) and Norris (58).

cruise victory meaning

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cruise victory meaning

Caitlin Clark's early WNBA play will be tryout for spot on US Olympic team

“It felt amazing,” Verstappen said. “All weekend we were incredibly quick and it was just enjoyable to drive. The car was basically on rails and I could do whatever I wanted to with it. Those kind of weekends are amazing to feel.”

Verstappen was asked if this was the most dominant victory of his career.

“It was a good one, yeah,” he said without getting specific.

The next GP is Miami on May 5. Will Verstappen power through that street race?

"Completely different track," he said. “Different tires. Different tarmac. So you never know.”

The safety car came out twice in the middle of the race. Once after Sauber's Valtteri Bottas stalled at the edge of the track with a blown engine, and again with two nearly simultaneous incidents.

In one, Kevin Magnussen clipped Yuki Tsunoda, and in the other, Lance Stroll ran into the back of Daniel Ricciardo.

Verstappen's rule in F1 also extended to  Saturday when he took the inaugural sprint race of the season.

Verstappen, after winning in Japan two weeks ago,  was critical of running a sprint in China.  He hasn't changed his mind very much — despite winning.

“The sprint format was better,” Verstappen said. "But let’s not overdo it as well. We are already doing 24 races, six of these sprint events as well. I get it. I guess it sells better and better numbers. But it’s also more stress on the mechanics”

“We take it,” Verstappen added. "We have to deal with it. But that’s not a thing now where we need 12 because it will take its toll on people as well.”

Norris echoed Verstappen.

“The main point is the toll it has on mechanics and engineers,” he said. "I don’t think it’s too bad for us as drivers, honestly. I don’t think we can be the ones to complain at all. The hundreds of mechanics and engineers here that have to travel so much. It's not healthy for them.”

This was the first F1 race in China since 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic and China's clampdown wiped out four races.  Shanghai-born Zhou Guanyu  finished 14th for Sauber, perhaps his last chance to race at home as teams next season will shuffle their driver lineups.

He squatted on the tarmac after the race and covered his face, the crowd thundering “Guanyu, Guanyu, Guanyu.”

The real competition in F1 for the rest of the season appears to be for the half-dozen places behind Verstappen and Perez. Mercedes' George Russell called it “a fight” for places No. 3 through No. 8.

“Small differences can have a major impact,” Russell said.

Domination is nothing new to F1. Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton ruled before Verstappen came along – Schumacher and Hamilton winning seven season titles and Vettel four.

It’s a good bet that Verstappen and Red Bull will rule next season. That might change in 2026 when new engine and chassis regulations take effect in F1.

Miami will present a celebrity paddock. There was also a parade of celebrities in China with former basketball star Yao Ming and double Olympic champion skier Eileen Gu posing for photos in the paddock and on the track before the start of the race.

This article tagged under:

cruise victory meaning

Cambridge Dictionary

  • Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of victory in English

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  • annihilation
  • be gunning for someone idiom
  • be one in the eye for someone idiom
  • moral victory
  • move/go in for the kill idiom
  • sweep the board idiom
  • take someone down
  • take someone to the cleaner's idiom
  • take something apart

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

victory | American Dictionary

Examples of victory, collocations with victory.

These are words often used in combination with victory .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of victory

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cruise victory meaning

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

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    To cruise to victory. Example: Slick City cruise to victory (Sky Sports, December 4th 2019) Example: Liverpool cruise to victory over Porto after Naby Keïta's flying start (Guardian, April 9th 2019) Related Phrases. Comprehensive victory; Labour to a victory; To run out winners ; Check out our glossary of footballing phrases here.

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    Dream class. Ships in class: Carnival Breeze (2012), Carnival Magic (2011) and Carnival Dream (2009). Size: 130,000 tons. The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic. ANDY NEWMAN/CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE. Carnival's Dream-class ships are roughly the same size as its Vista-class ships, and the two classes have a lot in common.

  5. cruise verb

    Definition of cruise verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. ... The home team cruised to victory. Topics Success c2 [intransitive, transitive] cruise (something) (slang) to go around in public places looking for a sexual partner;

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    A dedicated crew of photographers roamed Carnival Victory, shooting both informal photos at staged areas as well as posed photos on the ship. Prints ranged $9.99 for informal 4×5 shots to $21.99 for posed 8×10 portraits, displayed in an ever-expanding gallery that wrapped around the atrium on Deck 4.

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    The 200-passenger Ocean Victory, a newbuild designed to enable up-close nature and wildlife viewing, will offer 20 seven- and 10-night itineraries between May and September, beginning in 2021. The ...

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    About Carnival Victory. Ideal for cruisers of all ages, the popular 102,000-ton, 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory is a charming Triumph Class ship, with fabulous restaurants, entertainment and generous accommodations. Upgraded in 2015, she now boasts such new enhancements as a sushi bar, a poolside movie screen, a thrilling 214-foot-long ...

  11. cruise_2 verb

    3 [intransitive, transitive] (of a car, etc. or its driver) to drive along slowly, especially when you are looking at or for something + adv./prep. She cruised around the block looking for a parking space. cruise something Taxis cruised the streets, looking for fares. 4 [intransitive] + adv./prep. to win or achieve something easily The home team cruised to victory.

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    CRUISE meaning: 1 : to travel on a boat or ship to a number of places as a vacation; 2 : to move along at a steady speed ... teenagers cruise the main street in town to show off their cars. [+] more examples [-] ... The team cruised to victory in the last game. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] ...

  15. Cruise to victory definition and meaning

    cruise. verb. To sail about, especially for pleasure (intransitive) to. Accord; adaptation; as, an occupation to his taste; she has a husband to her mind. victory. noun. The 48th sura (chapter) of the Qur' an (uncountable) Cruise to victory definition based on common meanings and most popular ways to define words related to cruise to victory.

  16. victory

    victory meaning: a win in a fight or competition: . Learn more.

  17. Cruise Definition & Meaning

    cruise: [verb] to sail about touching at a series of ports.

  18. Victory Cruise Lines Review and Photos

    Victory I on the Great Lakes. Photo: Victory Cruise Lines. Ships: 2 - Victory I, Victory II, plus a third new ocean-going ship, Ocean Victory How Many Passengers: 202 passengers. Personality: M/V Victory I and Victory II are intimate ships with a modern and spacious design that still honors maritime's past.Colors are calm and muted, and some spaces are furnished with rich, dark wood while ...

  19. CRUISE

    CRUISE definition: 1. a journey on a large ship for pleasure, during which you visit several places: 2. (of a ship or…. Learn more.

  20. VICTORY

    VICTORY definition: a win in a fight or competition: . Learn more.

  21. MV Ocean Victory Cruise Ship

    The Ocean Victory cruise ship's 93 balcony-cabins and spacious suites are very comfortable and have plenty of storage space. The nine different categories range from 157-square-foot cabins to 465-square-foot suites with separate living and sleeping areas. ... boarding zodiacs is a breeze—much faster than any other vessel with a comparable ...

  22. to cruise to victory definition

    3 verb If a car, ship, or aircraft cruises somewhere, it moves there at a steady comfortable speed. A black and white police car cruised past. V prep/adv. 4 verb If a team or sports player cruises to victory, they win easily. (JOURNALISM)

  23. Carnival Victory is officially renamed Carnival Radiance

    Carnival Cruise Line has officially changed the name of the Carnival Victory to the Carnival Radiance. The ship is in the final stages of a $200 million bow-to-stern transformation in Cadiz, Spain.

  24. cruise to victory

    On the other hand, a synonym for 'cruise to victory' is 'win at a canter'. A canter is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop; so if you win at a canter you win without much effort - 'without breaking [a] sweat'. b. Not open for further replies.

  25. 15 Things to Know About Victory Casino Cruises Before You Sail

    It's $13 Per Person to Sail. Most casinos are happy to let you in the doors for free. Victory charges passengers $13 per person to board. You can book your tickets ahead of time on the cruise line's website. As well, many regular players who are members of the casino's players club can get free boarding vouchers for their play.

  26. Cruise. Meaning in football (soccer). Definition. Wiki. Terms

    The verb to cruise when used to describe travel suggests that a trip is very smooth - there have been no problems at all. In football if a team cruises to victory then they have had hardly any trouble or difficulty at all - it has been easy for them to win the game. Example: Slick City cruise to victory. Example: Liverpool cruise to victory ...

  27. CRUISE definition and meaning

    7 meanings: 1. to make a trip by sea in a liner for pleasure, usually calling at a number of ports 2. to sail or travel over (a.... Click for more definitions.

  28. The Ultimate Cruise Lingo Glossary

    This refers to a back to back cruise, meaning one cruise and then another cruise one after the other. Some cruisers may even do a B2B2B (3 cruises in a row) 80. GTY. The abbreviation for a guarantee cabin (see above in cruise lingo glossary) 81. FCC. Future Cruise Credit - when booking a future cruise onboard. 82. T.A. A TA is short for ...

  29. Red Bull's Max Verstappen cruises to victory at Chinese GP

    Yet another victory for Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The three-time defending champion won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday starting from pole, his fourth victory in five races this season and his ...

  30. VICTORY

    VICTORY definition: 1. an occasion when you win a game, competition, election, war, etc. or the fact that you have won…. Learn more.