The new 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor is shown here rounding Cape Horn in South America on its way to its permanent homeport of Long Beach, Calif., from where it will operate year-round seven-day Mexican Rivera cruises beginning April 5.  Carnival Splendor will be the largest “Fun Ship” ever deployed on the West Coast. 

 

            Too large to fit through the Panama Canal, the 113,300-ton SuperLiner embarked on a series of 14- to 18-day South America voyages which will serve to position the vessel on its new California-based program.

 

            Representing a new class of ship, Carnival Splendor offers a host of innovations, highlighted by a 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa – the line’s largest – featuring a thalassotherapy pool, elaborate thermal suite and 17 VIP treatment rooms.  Adjacent to the facility are 68 spa staterooms and suites – a first for Carnival.

 

            Other features include a 5,500-square-foot children’s play area – the largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet – a water spray park and a sliding sky dome over the mid-ship pool which also houses a massive LED screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming.