Overview
The Carnival Destiny is the first of Carnival Cruise Lines' five 100,000-ton-plus Destiny-class liners. This ship has some of the best nightlife at sea, with entertainment for every taste and age group. The Carnival Destiny also boasts one of the largest casinos afloat and one of the largest spas and fitness centers on a cruise ship. Guests will find a huge variety of entertainment and dining options, excellent food, spacious and comfortable cabins, friendly and professional service and an exceptional value for the dollar.

At 101,000 tons, the Carnival Destiny is one of the larger cruise ships at sea. Despite her size and 3,000+ passengers, we never noticed any more crowding or any longer lines than we have found on much smaller ships. We were also surprised to discover how easy it was to find our way around this vessel. We quickly learned that the key was finding out which elevator banks served which public rooms.

There is a full slate of activities and entertainment for every age group and taste -- from ballroom dancing, classical music concerts, tea time and art auctions to hairy chest and knobby knees contests, blackjack and slot machine tournaments, bingo and karaoke.

Public Rooms
Boarding the Carnival Destiny is by way of a soaring seven-deck history-making atrium called The Rotunda. Its centerpiece a lobby bar lit with the subtle hue of blue neon, this now popular Carnival trademark made its first appearance on Destiny.

Navigating the vessel is easy once you figure out you can get anywhere from the Promenade Deck 5, forcing passengers to walk by the tempting casino.

Family
Carnival continues to be popular with families the attraction being the Camp Carnival program. Camp Carnival is divided into four categories. Toddlers (2 - 5), Juniors (6 - 8) Intermediate (9 - 11) and Teens (12-15). There's a playroom for under-3s. On sea days the program operates from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. On days-in-port, Camp Carnival offers supervised free-play from arrival until 2 p.m.; scheduled activities run from 2 - 10 p.m. Kids pay a flat rate for third/fourth guests in a cabin, regardless of age. Parents should pay "tips" on children aged three and up.

All ships have at least one play room, a wading pool and an outdoor play areas. Otherwise, facilities vary; some ships have teen clubs, video arcades, and jungle gyms. Baby-sitting is available on sea days and port days; cost is $6 for first child, $4 apiece for additional children and babysitting is a group activity (available from 10 p.m. - 3 a.m. in the children's play room. Diapers are sold in the infirmary, and there's a turndown service featuring fresh baked chocolate chip cookies at bed-time. Carnival also offers teen-only shore excursion outings and walkie-talkies available for rent onboard. A Fountain Fun Card ($9 - $23 depending on length of cruise) is available for the under-21 set.

Gratuity
Carnival recommends $3.50 per person, per day to the waiter; $2 per person per day to the assistant waiter; $3.50 per person, per day to the cabin steward. A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Fellow Passengers
Most passengers are 21-45 with large groups of singles, couples and families. Since the ship has moved to San Juan for a Southern Caribbean itinerary more couples 35-55 are onboard.

Dress Code
For one or two nights, a dark suit or formal attire is suggested -- with most men opting for suits. The dress code for the rest of the evenings ranges from sport coat and tie to resort wear.

Entertainment
The three-deck-high Palladium Lounge is the venue for the Carnival Destiny's nightly Las Vegas-style floor shows and reviews. This state-of-the-art theater boasts lasers lights, special effects and a sound system to rival any land-based show room. This lounge also has a video projection system, a revolving stage and a retractable orchestra pit. A word of warning -- be sure to get there early to get the best seats. Some of the seats have limited or obstructed views of the stage.

One of the most popular places on the ship is The Apollo Bar, the sing-along piano bar. Get there early if you want a seat. Later in the evening, it was standing room only -- in the hallway! Passengers in the mood for a high-octane dance club will find the entrance to the Point After Dance Club nearby. More than 500 video monitors cover practically every square inch of wall space, and the glass dance floor features various lighting effects. A winding staircase leads down from the disco to the Onyx Bar, where sofas and comfy chairs abound but don't count on a quiet escape there since music from above is piped in.

The Down Beat Lounge jazz and cabaret room is accented with black and brass walls and a gray carpet covered with red treble clefs. The highlight of the room is the oversized trumpet, tuba and flugelhorn suspended from the ceiling. Huge Clarinets are stand-ins for window dividing pillars.

The All Sports Bar offers satellite TV projected on large-screen TV's throughout the room. Aft of the Promenade Deck is The Criterion Lounge, a mid-size showroom seating 440, is the place to be for midnight shows nightly. The "Millionaire's Club" casino is the one of the largest afloat, with slot machines operational at 8:00 a.m., the tables at 10:00 a.m.

Dining
The two-deck main dining rooms--London and Paris-- offer two seatings for all meals. The majority of tables seat four and eight but there are tables for two available but not enough for the group of 3,000+. Nightly entertainment by the waiters is part of the "Fun Ship" experience so look forward to a singning maitre'd and dancing busboys. The service in the dining room was efficient and professional. Menu selections are varied nightly.

The Sun and Sea Lido Restaurant adjacent to the main pool is a popular spot for buffet breakfast and luncheon. We found the selection limited and long lines. Breakfast on port days were very crowded. Asian food, hamburgers and Mexican food stations were a quick alternative to the regular buffet with selections changing each day. A 24-hour pizzeria, and Caesar salad bar was a hit for the late-night crowd.

Fitness and Recreation
The Carnival Destiny's 15,000 square foot, two-level Nautica Spa is one of the largest at sea. Work out on treadmills, Stairmasters, stationary bikes, rowing machines, free weights, and progressive resistance machines while enjoying panoramic views. There are men's and women's saunas, steam rooms and locker rooms, plus two coed whirlpools. There is also a separate aerobics room and juice bar. Trained instructors lead a variety of exercise classes. Personal trainers are available, at an additional charge. There is an outdoor, one-eighth mile, padded jogging track and a golf driving net. Golf lessons are available with a PGA pro through Carnival's Fore! Golf Program. The spa and salon, which are operated by Steiner's of London, offer every kind of massage, facial and treatment imaginable.

The main pool area is one of the Carnival Destiny's most popular features highlighted by the winding, 214-foot-long water slide. The deck around the pool is laid out in levels, creating an amphitheater-like effect. There is also open deck space around the aft New World Pool, with its retractable glass ceiling. Topless sunbathing is allowed in a secluded section near the main funnel.