While Carnival still commands a certain reputation for a flashy, neon-esque atmosphere, and by no means scants on elaborate lounges and discos, its ships continue to evolve. Particularly, Carnival cruise line has earned kudos for tasty cuisine, investing in a first-rate children's program, and intensifying its itinerary offerings beyond traditional Caribbean and Bahamas trips to Alaska, Atlantic Canada, even Europe. Recently it has taken advantage of the fastest-growing cruise sector in the United States—short vacations of three to five nights—and has organized most of its Fantasy-class ships to work at those markets.

The cabins were developed to include robes in standard categories and the "Carnival Comfort Bed" sleep system, which offers deluxe new plush mattresses, soft duvets, high quality linens and upgraded pillows. Passengers that are accommodated in suites have a "suite pillow menu" from which to select a specific pillow of their liking. And the biggest potential development is the quantum leap in culinary quality due in part to the new partnering with Michelin three-star chef, who upgrades new menu entrees fleet wide and institutes training for Carnival chefs both in his Vonnas, France restaurant and aboard the ships themselves.

This line also is one of the world's most innovative cruise lines. Carnival pioneered the idea of building regional "drive to" ports, increasing its embarkation centers beyond Miami to places like New Orleans, Mobile, Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Norfolk, Charleston, Galveston, and New York. A cruise port in Long Beach, California was built, to take advantage of sailings to the west coast of Mexico.

Carnival provides a vacation guarantee program that allows dissatisfied passengers the chance to come ashore at the first port and receive a refund.

Carnival Cruise Line expansion extends beyond its ships. Its parent company Carnival Corporation is the industry's largest. Costa Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Windstar Cruises as well as Princess Cruises, Swan Hellenic, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia, Ocean Village, AIDA, and A'ROSA are other cruise lines in the family fold.

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