17 Modern Architecture Homes We'd Love to Live in

Table Of Content

• Ask Amy: I’m uneasy about what they’re building in the basement
• Six Floor Luxury Home With Massive Family Entertainment Zone
• Modify Plan # 4534-00118
• What are the four common characteristics of contemporary-style homes?
• Plan: #142-1253
• An Architect’s House That Melds Traditional Japanese And Ukrainian Ethos In A Modern Shell
• A modern take on the family home.

Others focused on bringing the beauty of the estate’s gardens and views inside with verdant murals, floral fabrics, and nature-inspired lighting. Whether you’re looking to bring the California style to another region or looking to move to San Francisco and build a home, we have a plan for you. Check out our California style house plans and contact our support team with any questions. StartBuild's estimator accounts for the house plan, location, and building materials you choose, with current market costs for labor and materials.

Ask Amy: I’m uneasy about what they’re building in the basement

Jerome Thiebault created a polished and petite bathroom complete with storage and a shower. Troweled cement plaster was applied to the walls, and handcrafted Zia tile adds pattern to the floor. Designer Ashleigh Miranda focused on juxtaposing technology and earthy elements in her moody media room. All of these features combined create an inviting and personable atmosphere. Megan is a writer and editor with over 13 years of experience in both print and digital media, covering interior design and home décor. She regularly contributes to design-focused outlets such as Architectural Digest, Domino, House & Home, Hunker, and Rue.

Six Floor Luxury Home With Massive Family Entertainment Zone

The juxtaposition of this modern home surrounded by the stately oak trees of the south makes for an extra alluring feel. The 4,000 square feet, designed by noted architect Jim Thomas of Thomas and Denzinger Architects, is warmed up by the sweeping views of a salt marsh and salt ponds. Once you approve the quote and submit payment, your designer will get to work implementing the changes you requested on your house plan. Enveloped by lush, tranquil gardens, this dramatic courtyard house plan offers a spacious yet intimate oasis that stirs every sense. This narrow house plan can be built on a small inner-city lot, yet it’s bright and open, awash with light.

Modify Plan # 4534-00118

The 20,000-square-foot home has two wings settled on either side of a 2,000-square-foot upper deck, above an 84-foot-long lap pool. This residence boasts an enviable position in the Sotogrande development, along with some of the most extravagant properties in Spain. Its contemporary exterior is filled with classic elegance, stylish sophistication, and state-of-the-art technology.

A philosophy evidenced in every clever inch of this small modern house design. With a compact floor plan that extends living spaces outside, you will achieve more with less. When looking at modern floor plans, you'll notice the uninterrupted flow from room to room as every plan is designed with form and functionality in mind.

Entitled ‘Shadowbox’, this dwelling was created to be a sanctuary where modern luxury meets natural beauty, offering a one-of-a-kind escape in the heart of Montana’s wilderness. Drawing inspiration from the crisscrossing mountains that form the nearby glacial valleys of Glacier National Park, Shadow Box’s silhouette captures the essence of these timeless natural wonders. Though some of the exterior shots from Modern Family were taken at the homes featured above, pretty much everything else was tv magic.

The Burrow Is a Modern Tiny House With a Smart Layout Optimized for Family Life - autoevolution

The Burrow Is a Modern Tiny House With a Smart Layout Optimized for Family Life.

Posted: Sun, 28 Apr 2024 08:15:08 GMT [source]

Are modern homes cheaper to build?

This imaginative approach to homebuilding is highlighted with new home ideas cohesively blending with timeless design efforts and materials in a beautiful pattern. Exterior highlights may include a series of boxy spaces, some mixed siding that is usually sleek featuring clean lines, and contemporary wood/timber exteriors that can also be a stylish exterior choice. Mary Maydan of Maydan Architects broke the mold of traditional architecture in Silicon Valley when she designed this home for her family. This exterior shot of the back of the home shows that it's all about indoor/outdoor living, with large windows blurring the line between the two. The home, the first of its kind in the area, was designed to introduce ultra-modern minimalistic style to the otherwise traditional neighborhood.

Two en-suite bedrooms along with two bunk rooms provide abundant space to accommodate the owner’s family and guests to rest after a day exploring all that Northwest Montana has to offer. Whether enjoying the framed view of the forest in the sauna or stargazing by the fire pit or in the hot tub beneath the Montana sky, every moment was designed as an opportunity to commune with nature. The property is in the Wildfire-Urban Interface, or WUI, a term used for areas that experience wildfires. The exterior is clad in black standing seam metal siding, with different rib patterns alternating along the elevation, echoing the differing ridges and furrows of the surrounding pine tree bark. The black color mirrors the shadows cast by the surrounding forest, offering a striking contrast against the verdant landscape.

In contradiction to the box-like modern architecture that the homeowner had previously experienced, this Indian home design has silky, curvilinear architecture. The design flows in harmony with the contours of its habitat, and complements a predominantly outdoor lifestyle. Rammed earth gives this modern structure reduced solar heat gain, which keeps the temperature a comfortable 7 and 10 degrees cooler than the climate of Gujarat. Using sustainable building practices from our past, the 3000-square-foot house blends sympathetically with the natural habitat and farmlands.

The exterior is clad with Cumaru wood, which complements the captivating green garden and a cool blue swimming pool that cuts through the back lawn. Modern house floor plans can be significant with expansive floor plans and still be considered minimalist in their design approach, or smaller homes offering more compact floor plans and bold, luxuriously appointed spaces. California offers the perfect climate and location for relaxed living and homes that blur the lines between indoors and out. The West Coast aesthetic is eclectic and often filled with bohemian touches, natural elements, exquisite vintage and antique furnishings, and plenty of bold art.

The Robb Report said the five-bedroom, 2,770-square-foot Zimmerman house was originally commissioned in 1949 by Martin and Eva Zimmerman, completed in 1950, and featured in Progressive Architecture magazine. Samatha Williams’s Tearoom in the Gatehouse is brimming with vintage charm and elegant accents. Working with Jacqueline Black and Michelle Porreca, Williams brought in a Chinoiserie wall covering to give the space a garden-like atmosphere. They also installed a grass cloth ceiling treatment and sisal rug to add texture.

Contemporary house plans often feature open floor plans, clean lines, and a minimalist aesthetic. They may also incorporate eco-friendly or sustainable features like solar panels or energy-efficient appliances. MonsterHousePlans.com has an abundance of modern house plans for families of all sizes. Floor plans range from 1, square feet to almost 6,000 square feet in size, giving you the option to pick something that works for your needs and budget. Whether you're building in a community or alone on a hill overlooking the valley, a modern home will stand out in any space and add beauty to the surrounding landscape.

10 Best Graphic Design Software of 2024 Free and Paid

Table Of Content

• Best Tool for Royalty-Free Stock Photos: Unsplash
• Graphic Design Software: Price Comparison
• The best web design software for prototyping and design systems
• How to Create the Perfect Project Timeline [Template + Examples]
• Inkscape
• Picking the Right Platform for Graphic Design
• Honest, Objective, Lab-Tested Reviews

Any good design software will provide templates and allow you to customize them to make your own templates. Our reviews are made by a team of experts before being written and come from real-world experience. Adobe InDesign is a must-have software tool if you are in the business of publishing. It offers excellent capabilities to design stunning magazines, info sheets, and brochures while easily exporting them to PDF or HTML. For publishers that want to create stunning, functional outputs, I suggest you check out Adobe InDesign. With a lower learning curve than Photoshop, InDesign is an excellent software for those who want to quickly create beautiful layouts for published works.

Best Tool for Royalty-Free Stock Photos: Unsplash

Its strength is in photo editing, whether it’s a quick fix or a redesign. It’s a lightweight alternative to heavy hitters, such as Adobe Photoshop. GIMP provides much of the same functionality for free and has a customizable workspace with user-friendly navigation. Designers used to only have a few choices for professional graphic design tools.

Graphic Design Software: Price Comparison

Whether you're focused on user-centered design, collaborative prototyping, wireframing, 3D modeling, or usability testing, there's a tool for every requirement. By integrating these tools into your design workflow, your teams can achieve better product-market fit and deliver exceptional user experiences. SolidWorks isn't just software for 3D modeling; it's a comprehensive engineering ecosystem that empowers users to bring their product ideas to life. You can use the program's parametric modeling tools to make precise and detailed models.

The best web design software for prototyping and design systems

Smooth version history and compare modes visualize iterative changes, informed by continual user feedback captured natively or via integrated third-party tools. It enables your teams to validate product designs with real users early and often by creating realistic or interactive prototypes. This end-to-end solution allows you to recruit diverse target audiences easily via its contributor network.

How to Create the Perfect Project Timeline [Template + Examples]

We recommend using this feature to incorporate custom shapes, layering them with your imagery to create the logo design that best encapsulates your vision. We liked Canva’s good use of a more drag-and-drop design approach that lets you select a variety of shapes and templates. After selection, you can customize per your brand and logo design requirements.

Although Squarespace and Weebly are easiest to use overall, coders might prefer something with more customization options. Connect your Figma files to other tools, like Asana and Microsoft Teams, with helpful integrations that keep you organized and efficient. If your research turns up a problem — your images aren’t compelling, your text is hard to read and your color scheme hurts the eyes — you need a simple solution. At the end of the day, what makes a graphic design the best is your choice, as it depends on your skill set and what you aim to achieve. Lastly, GIMP is backed by a very active community, constantly updating the platform with new features and debugging the software.

10 Best AI Graphic Design Tools (April 2024) - Unite.AI

10 Best AI Graphic Design Tools (April .

Posted: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Another powerful feature of Affinity designer is that you get floating-point accuracy by zooming your artwork, even by more than a million per cent. In our carefully curated list of the finest graphic design software, we've selected tools that offer seamless usability across devices, ensuring a smooth experience for users of all skill levels. These tools are not only user-friendly but also come equipped with advanced features to unlock your creative potential.

Adobe InDesign supports HTML exporting so web developers can easily share and export HTML code when implementing the website’s layout design. Neural Filters allow you to make non-destructive edits by automatically generating new pixels in your images. The Content-Aware fill allows for easy object removals in the background, like Adobe CCE. You can also integrate Canva with social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. You can easily create and schedule social media posts directly within the platform. Figma’s liveshare feature allows you to quickly monitor your teammates’ screens by simply clicking on their avatar.

Its rich feature set enables designing, prototyping, and gathering feedback across desktop and mobile screens, all from a single UI. Figma's multiplayer workflow allows multiple stakeholders to work within design files in real-time, leading to faster project momentum. Logo design can be a tricky thing to get right, as there are many important components to identify and incorporate throughout the design process. To create the right logo for your brand, you’ll need the software tools to distill your vision and brand values into the perfect imagery.

His focus is on the creative arts, like website builders, image manipulation, and filmmaking software, but he hasn’t shied away from more business-oriented software either. He uses many of the apps he writes about in his personal and professional life. Steve loves how computers have enabled everyone to delve into creative possibilities, and is always delighted to share his knowledge, expertise, and experience with readers. Like HomeByMe, it lets you build designs from your browser, or within the Android and iOS apps.

Moreover, version control enables you easily see your design’s history and go back and forth between versions to track the progress or revert changes if needed. Developed by a former Google engineer, Sublime Text is very flexible too, with a huge range of plugins available. Which basically means it’s suitable for any kind of web design project and any level of web designer, from novice to veteran.

Best Photo Books for 2024 - CNET

Best Photo Books for 2024.

Posted: Wed, 24 Apr 2024 01:00:00 GMT [source]

SVG-Edit is the best free graphic design software for quick vector jobs. The open-source browser-based app lets you edit and create SVG files using a standard vector toolset. There's nothing to download, as the software works straight in your web browser in an intuitive, if retro-looking interface. It doesn't have a big range of advanced tools, but then that's not the idea. For simple vectors, or even slightly more detailed ones, it'll do the job just fine.

Graphic design tools or software enable users to work on various aspects of design — from vector graphics and photo manipulation to color editing, color correction, and much more. You’ll also find a good number of performance improvements, and new collaborative tools as well, via a monthly or annual subscription. You can opt for the standalone app, or go for the Creative Cloud All Apps subscription, which grants access to other Adobe tools, including Photoshop and Lightroom.

It's best to sign up when there's an offer so you at least get a discount for your first year. See our full hands-on Adobe Illustrator review for more details, and see our guide to how to download Adobe Illustrator. We've put our experts to work testing and reviewing a wide range of options, and we've drawn on their conclusions to bring together our guide to the best graphic design software below.

You can unlock more features if you sign up for a premium CC express account. And there's a 30-day free trial of the premium version so you can try it out before you commit. Corel Vector is our pick as the best vector software for those on a budget. Formerly called Gravit Designer, the browser-based app now requires a subscription (Gravit Designer had a free option), but the annual cost is cheaper than the full professional CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.

On 'House of Balloons,' the Weeknd Best Warped Genre With This Track

Table Of Content

• The Weeknd’s ‘The Party & the After Party’ Paved the Way for our Genre-less Future
• 'Challengers' Heats Up: How Zendaya's Star Power and a Sexy Love Triangle Could Give Gen Z Its Next Movie Obsession
• What is The Weeknd  (Abel Tesfaye) Ethnicity?
• California communities are banning syringe programs. Now the state is fighting back in court
• Newsletter Signup
• Digital Album
• Kratom products have gone unregulated in California, unnerving both fans and critics

The tracks eventually got the attention of fellow Toronto artist Drake, who linked to the songs via his blog. Before the year was out, the songs were getting great write-ups on the music-hipster bible Pitchfork and in The New York Times. The Internet buckled under the strain of demand when the Weeknd followed up their highly praised "What You Need" with a free full-length mixtape a few days ago. That clamor shouldn't have been surprising; this is music that feeds off elements drawn from R&B but uses them to crack open a world that skews away from that fundamental starting point.

The Weeknd’s ‘The Party & the After Party’ Paved the Way for our Genre-less Future

The reissue was accompanied by a limited edition line of merchandise designed by architect Daniel Arsham. For a time after House of Balloons, many artists — from Usher to Rihanna — found inspiration in the Weeknd. Every song is House of Balloons 2.0,” he boasted to Rolling Stone in 2015.

'Challengers' Heats Up: How Zendaya's Star Power and a Sexy Love Triangle Could Give Gen Z Its Next Movie Obsession

He was able to dim a broad swatch of music with his spectral impulses, in part indebted to Beach House’s atmospheric sound. Today, the Weeknd’s use of their music on House of Balloons feels both like a work of fandom and reclamation. Modern rock and pop exist because of Black innovation but have been seen as white genres in the broad imagination. The key to pop ubiquity has often been the melding of sounds and cultures and historically often involved what looked like white artists borrowing — or stealing — from Black ones. On House of Balloons, like Michael Jackson and others before him, the Weeknd bent rock and pop to his will, and made us reimagine their image.

What is The Weeknd  (Abel Tesfaye) Ethnicity?

And I felt like it was the most unbiased reaction you can get to the music, because you couldn’t put a face to it. Especially R&B, which is a genre that is heavily influenced by how the artist looks. On March 21, 2021, the tenth anniversary of the mixtape’s release, it was finally added to streaming services.

California communities are banning syringe programs. Now the state is fighting back in court

Emergency radio dispatchers reported the victim as a man in his mid- to late 30s who was shot multiple times and called 911. Several other callers also reported hearing gunshots in the area, according to the dispatch reports shortly after the shooting. A security guard was shot multiple times Monday morning outside the home of a record-label executive who has worked with the Weeknd and other well-known musicians.

Slamdance Film Festival Leaving Park City for Los Angeles in 2025

House of Balloons received widespread critical acclaim, and it is considered by many to be one of the most influential R&B releases in recent years, specifically the 2010s. Preceded by a string of low-profile buzz single releases throughout 2010, the mixtape attracted significant interest due to the then-anonymous identity of the individual behind the Weeknd. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, House of Balloons received a weighted average score of 87 based on 16 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". It is widely regarded as a major influence on contemporary R&B music, being credited for pioneering alternative R&B. Musically, House of Balloons mixes R&B with elements of rock, electro, and hip-hop.

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5 Deep Cuts from The Weeknd - American Songwriter

5 Deep Cuts from The Weeknd.

Posted: Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

He and other members of the team were featured on the cover of Billboard in early 2021. Although The Weeknd is signed to Republic Records, he has his own record label, XO, that’s a subsidiary of Republic Records. Finding good outdoor entertainment space can be hard when you live in the city, but this rooftop oasis checks all the boxes. Semi-shaded wet bar, multiple lounge areas, and a grill area make this one of the best parts of this fantastic rental. An open floorplan allows for easy movement between the kitchen, dining room, and this luxurious living room.

10 Best The Weeknd Songs of All Time - Singersroom News

10 Best The Weeknd Songs of All Time.

Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

In December 2011, Metacritic determined that House of Balloons was the third best-reviewed project of the year. Additionally, the mixtape was featured on several music critics' and publications' end-of-year albums lists. Complex called it the "best album of 2011;" Stereogum ranked it number 5; The Guardian ranked it number 8; The A.V. Club ranked it number 6; SPIN ranked it (as well as Thursday) number 13; while Pitchfork ranked it number 10. As a whole, House of Balloons was the seventh most frequently mentioned album in music publications' year-end top ten lists. The mixtape was named as one of the longlisted of nominees for the 2011's Polaris Music Prize.

Kratom products have gone unregulated in California, unnerving both fans and critics

House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media discussion upon the use of its songs on television, as well as the then-anonymous identity of the individual behind the Weeknd. House of Balloons was entirely recorded in Toronto, with production handled primarily by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo, alongside additional contributions from Cirkut, Jeremy Rose and Rainer.

“We’d throw these sh-tty parties and have girls over, and we’d try to make it celebratory, so we’d have balloons,” said The Weeknd, to Rolling Stone. The sources said at least four people were inside the Encino mansion at the time the shots were fired, but they did not know whether Esmailian was among them. Investigators suspect the gunmen planned to break into the home and probably knew of Esmailian’s wealth. The wounded guard was expected to survive after undergoing surgery in the early hours of the morning. The motive for the attack remains unclear but investigators are considering that it may have been an attempted home invasion.

But given that the majority of residential properties and lots in the state are zoned for single-family housing, there’s a dearth of affordable alternatives. Attorneys for the five cities focused on that missing mandate, arguing that the law would disrupt communities without guaranteeing more affordable housing. In some cases, families of people who died after taking kratom for pain relief have successfully sued kratom sellers, faulting them for inadequate warnings about health risks.

One of the key questions facing scientists, he said, is what levels are safe and potentially beneficial and what amounts could become harmful. The push for new regulations comes as kratom has continued to draw both interest and concern. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is exploring medicinal uses for kratom, including as a possible treatment for opioid addiction, but cautions that researchers are still learning more about its effects. “What’s allowed me to get the consistency I want as a consumer is simple, proper labeling — as well as quantifying the active ingredient,” said Karp, who later cofounded a kratom company that manufactures products in Vista. Matthew Lowe, executive director of the advocacy group Global Kratom Coalition, said some synthetic products have “very, very high doses” of a particular chemical found in scant amounts in kratom leaf material. Several kratom researchers have warned that chemical — 7-hydroxymitragynine — poses a higher risk of abuse.

The Weeknd's sound has been described as hipster R&B (or PBR&B to some), and his tracks have sampled a huge range of artists from indie-rockers Beach House to R&B megastar Rihanna. His slow grooves and falsetto croon create a beautiful and sometimes creepy backdrop for what are often sexually-charged lyrics. House of Balloons was released as a free mixtape in 2011, but became one of the best-reviewed albums of that year. Weeknd would release two more free mixtapes in 2011, Thursday and Echoes of Silence.

The project proved to be such a defining moment for his career that The Weeknd is re-releasing it in its original form on streaming services this weekend. Given the mixtape’s popularity, it’s natural for fans to wonder whether the House of Balloons a real place? Luckily, The Weeknd actually answered that question years ago during a Reddit AMA where he confirmed it was real and located at 65 Spencer Ave in Parkdale, Toronto. Maybe there is a deeper issue with that, but I feel like with me it’s never been about the artist and the image of the artist.

Everyone from DaHeala to the renowned Max Martin has produced for him. It’s worth noting that a producer by the name of Jeremy Rose claims that several songs on House of Balloons were actually his productions when he was working with The Weeknd…although he got no credit for it. The 5,004 square foot, the 2-floor penthouse features 4 bedrooms and 4 full bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, and a whopping 1,000 square feet of outdoor living space.

Haunted Cruise Ships: RMS Queen Mary

Table Of Content

• Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer
• DIG INTO LOCAL LIFE
• The Haunted History of The Queen Mary
• Mexico Cruises
• HAUNTED THREE RIVERS CRUISE & TOUR
• The Creepiest, Most Haunted Ships At Sea

Although the man was freed and carried to the hospital ward, it was too late. He showed signs of crushing injury on his arms, chest, and pelvis and was bleeding from his nose. The property finished an extensive renovation in early 2023, so while you ponder a stay on the spooky but spick-and-span ship, here's everything you need to know about its dark past and the ghosts who haunt its halls.

Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer

First off, one of the most famous haunted cruise ships is the Queen Mary after its travesty in the 1940s when crossing the Atlantic; there have since been reports of unusual sounds and ghostly apparitions around the ship. Living guests, though, aren't the only ones who've been known to spend time on the historic ship. At least 49 deaths are said to have taken place on the QM since its maiden voyage, and accordingly, legend holds that several areas on board have been home to apparitions. These days, the hotel offers ghost tours by day and night to take full advantage of the spooky stories.

DIG INTO LOCAL LIFE

Drinks and voices were raised, laughs were shared, and all had a good time. And as anyone who spent time there knows, those good times often went into the wee hours of the morning. Continuing our photographic tour of the now-deserted ship, we come across what was, in happier times, one of the most boisterous places on the ship. Riding in the glass atrium, which allowed you to soar above the Carnival Inspiration‘s atrium filled even the most curmudgeonly of guests with childlike wonder. The ship’s last voyage was one without passengers as she headed for Turkey, where she would be set upon by workers who would spend the next several months dismantling every inch of the ship.

The Haunted History of The Queen Mary

In the summer, soldiers slept shoulder-to-shoulder above deck and took turns sleeping in bunks below deck. A young crew member named John Pedder was crushed by a door during an emergency drill. Another died after drinking gin that turned out to be cleaning fluid.

Although the fact that Pedder died in this area is well-documented, no one is sure of the cause. People have speculated that it was due to a game of “chicken” gone wrong, murder by his fellow crew, or just a freak accident. Other visitors to the area claim to hear unexplained banging on pipes, seeing greasy handprints appear on the walls, and even unseen hands grabbing their clothing or bags. In general, the weather is best between December and April — there's little rain, and the temperatures are very comfortable. The wet season starts in May and ends in October, while hurricane season (affecting mostly the Caribbean side) starts in June and runs until November. Mexico’s wild west coast offers just as much natural beauty, vibrant culture and sun-kissed adventures as its eastern counterpart, the Riviera Maya.

The True Story Of The Haunting Of The Queen Mary's Ghost Ship - Screen Rant

The True Story Of The Haunting Of The Queen Mary's Ghost Ship.

Posted: Mon, 30 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The Queen Mary, an ocean liner that was converted into a hotel and permanently docked in Long Beach, California, is as stately as they come. But don't let its luxe appearance fool you; it also happens to be one of the most haunted hotels (and almost certainly the most haunted ship) in America. If you’re brave enough to stay the night, you can request the room by booking directly through the hotel. Don’t worry, guests won’t end up in the scariest room on the ship unless they specifically request it.

Why I Don't Recommend a Halloween Disney Cruise After Going on One - Business Insider

Why I Don't Recommend a Halloween Disney Cruise After Going on One.

Posted: Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Allegedly, the unfortunate girl drowned in the pool during the ship’s sailing days and reputedly refused to move on, as her voice and laughter have been captured here. However, author, and paranormal investigator, Cher Garman points out that there are no known drownings to have ever occurred on the ship, although she says Jackie is there. The Queen Mary began its life as a cruise ship on the Cunard-White Star Line. The vessel was christened on September 26, 1934, by Queen Mary herself, and it went on to log more than three decades ferrying both luxury and military passengers. (During World War II, the ship was pressed into service to transport soldiers between the fronts.) The liner was retired in 1967 and given over to the City of Long Beach. Just five years later, it reopened as a floating hotel, allowing guests to sleep among the original wood paneling and portholes and imagine what it would have been like to cross the Atlantic in style.

Although his burial site is rumored to be at the Snagov Monastery, all that was found were animal bones when the tomb was opened. Today, the Queen Mary, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, provides a wide range of guest rooms for travelers and 14 Art Deco salons, tours, restaurants, shops, and exhibits. Ten minutes into their film, the mother and daughter saw the silhouettes of three people enter. These late arrivals walked the entire length of the theatre as though they were looking for a seat. This was strange because there were clearly plenty of free seats available. Several people have reported seeing a little girl in this area, sometimes sucking her thumb and sometimes with a doll in hand.

A portrait gallery showing Disney Treasure’s own “ghosts” will be another feature meant to entertain. Despite her 1930s luxuries, the Queen Mary couldn’t compete with modern cruise ships. Cunard eventually made the difficult decision to sell her to the City of Long Beach, where she would serve as a tourist attraction and hotel.

It’s been a very long time since the show first aired—but over the past 33 years, the ghosts have not aged a day and their stories remain timeless. Wilmer met with the ship’s historian, Bill Winberg and spokesperson Jennifer Nestegard for an extensive tour of the ship, in pursuit of ghosts, from stem to stern, and down through the forepeak and the bowels of the ship. Some may say it's a myth, but the Bermuda Triangle -- also known as Devil's Triangle -- is one of the most infamous spooky spots on this side of the Atlantic. Legend has it that a number of aircraft and sea vessels went missing there in large part due to extraterrestrial activity.

Visitors describe the spirit as a woman in her late 20s or early 30s, wearing a 1930s-style swimsuit. The identity of this ghost remains a mystery, but she’s certainly enjoyed many refreshing swims over the past century, though the pool no longer contains any water. Beginning in the early 1990s, ghost hunter and psychic medium Peter James spent many years conducting tours of the ship and allegedly communicating with its spirits. Traveler’s guide to planning a relaxing 4-day Mexico cruise filled with extraordinary things to do while making the most your short vacation getaway.

Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. At the close of the war, the ship began to transport more than 22,000 war brides and their children to the United States and Canada. Known as the “Bride and Baby Voyages,” she made 13 voyages for this purpose in 1946. At first the woman assumed it was her loving husband putting on a voice, but when she turned around she saw he was still outside on the balcony with the door shut. She then looked at the TV, but it was on the menu channel with the sound muted. She shrugged it off and assumed it had probably come from somewhere out in the hall.

Paranormal enthusiasts won’t want to miss a chance to stay overnight on the Queen Mary. The hotel features 347 original staterooms and suites, all located in the first-class section of the ship. Art Deco rooms range from Standard Staterooms with portholes (they actually open!) to full suites with separate living and sleeping areas and a breakfast nook. Many believe she did, but no record exists of anyone drowning in a pool on the ship. The ghost known as John Henry may have been a member of the Queen Mary’s original construction crew in the 1930s.

B340 was so notorious that hotel management closed the room in the mid-1980s and gutted it of all its furnishings. But still, people staying in adjacent rooms reported unusual noises and even apparitions disappearing through their guest room walls…into Room B340. The most commonly recorded spirit on the Queen Mary, “Jacqueline Torin” or “Jackie” interacts with visitors in the first- and second-class pool areas. In July 1966, a tragic accident resulted in the death of one of the ship’s firemen. Eighteen-year-old John Pedder was crushed between a watertight door and its frame.

The Creepiest, Most Haunted Ships At Sea

Table Of Content

• DIG INTO LOCAL LIFE
• Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer
• The Mizpah Hotel
• RMS Queen Mary—the world’s most haunted cruise liner
• The Queen of all Ghost Stories

In 1989, two women were sent to clean this lounge for a VIP reception. When they entered the room, they found a guest sitting silently on a chair in the middle of the dance floor. When a third woman came in to help with the cleaning, she remarked that the guest was staring, and she asked him to move.

DIG INTO LOCAL LIFE

Following her delivery from the shipyard, Disney Treasure will enter service home-ported at Port Canaveral, Florida, sailing Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Bartenders will be serving classic margaritas with a ghostly twist, served with flavored smoke and containing a secret message, for example. Another drink, Ghoulish Delight, will sport the flavor of ube, the sweet-tasting purple yam native to Southeast Asia, and presented with a gummy eyeball, and glitter. Just in time for Halloween, Disney Cruise Line has revealed a new and spooky lounge experience that will debut on Disney Treasure when she enters service in December 2024.

Four MSC Ships Will Cruise from North America next Summer

On the final morning of their cruise, the mother woke to find her fifteen-year-old daughter standing eerily in the centre of the room, watching her. Her daughter answered – but to her surprise, her daughter’s voice came from the couch behind her. The mother looked again but the shadowy figure she’d mistook for her daughter was gone. If you want to visit the world's most haunted ship or spend the night at America's most haunted hotel, here are the spots where encounters of the Queen Mary kind are (allegedly) most likely. The ship’s pretty nighttime lights have stayed on—even during the closure—and they’re easy to spot from the shore in Long Beach. My favorite place to enjoy them is from the waterfront around sunset, when her lights twinkle on the harbor.

The Mizpah Hotel

It was reopened as a “haunted attraction” in 2018, though the key comes with a fierce warning. By then, the Queen Mary had undergone a 10-month renovation that erased any remnants of military life. Paintings, fine china, and art deco furniture were returned to the cabins and dining rooms. She was ready to dazzle the rich, famous, and powerful once again. One rather gruesome rumor is that galley crew locked the chef in his own oven one night, roasting him alive.

Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise

This haunted vessel is said to appear mysteriously and disappear just as quickly, leaving passengers in awe of its spectral presence. For many, a cruise is the ultimate vacation, but for these unlucky travellers it was a frightening experience. Here are ten creepy ghost sightings that took place on haunted cruise ships. A castle where prisoners were left to die, subterranean vaults and narrow alleys of tenements where plague victims perished -- all these contribute to Edinburgh's haunted reputation. The South Bridge Vaults -- chambers built beneath the viaduct's arches -- were once home to 18th-century taverns and tradesmen; some say they'e now the stomping grounds of sinister ghosts.

Truth be told, Inspiration’s Alchemy Bar lacked some of the charm found on other ships, feeling more like a theme set in an available space. But the drinks served were as creative as found elsewhere, and the mixologists were equally talented. But all of the expensive decor in the world couldn’t bury what had happened during the war.

Disney's New Cruise Ship to Feature 'Haunted' Lounge - Cruise Hive

Disney's New Cruise Ship to Feature 'Haunted' Lounge.

Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Passengers and crew members have reported strange occurrences, including disembodied voices and unexplained footsteps echoing through the empty corridors at night. The QE2 is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former crew members who met tragic ends while serving on the ship. Beneath Charleston's southern charm is a demonic underbelly of Civil War ghouls and antebellum apparitions (i.e., dead pirates). The historic port city, which Carnival Fantasy calls home, is reportedly teeming with haunted cemeteries, churches, slave markets, and converted inns and restaurants. A pre-cruise stay in the Battery Carriage House Inn, one of Charleston's notoriously creepy establishments, provides the opportunity to meet a dapper sprite known for lying down next to sleeping female guests.

When you board a Carnival cruise ship in Long Beach, you’ll likely note the port's permanent resident, Queen Mary. This retired Cunard vessel-turned-hotel is notoriously said to be haunted by the ghosts of past passengers, crewmembers and military personnel who served on the ship in WWII (when it was fittingly nicknamed the Grey Ghost). Or book a pre-cruise stay and ask for a haunted cabin; you might hear the conversations or feel the presence of those long dead.

Requesting a stay in Room B340

Sure, the Caribbean is sunshine-filled, but that doesn't mean there isn't a darker side. Locals took to calling her the "White Witch." Though she reportedly was murdered in the early 19th century, visitors to Rose Hall still claim to see and hear her ghost as well as the ghosts of her victims. Known for housing some of the most infamous criminals like Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Alcatraz is believed to be home to several ghosts. Among the most haunted sections of "The Rock" is Cell 14D, one of the "hole" cells where prisoners were often kept in isolation for up to 19 days. Visitors and employees have reported feeling an extreme cold come upon them while in the cell or hearing cries and moaning coming from cell blocks A, B and C. Others claim to have heard the sounds of a banjo playing while in the prison.

The Queen Mary, built in 1936 as a luxury ocean liner and the flagship of the Cunard Line, has had a permanent home in Long Beach, California since her retirement in 1967. In Mexico, you can explore an array of culturally unique cities like Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel, as well as cruise ports such as Huatulco, Costa Maya and the Yucatan. And the best way to get to know these places is by arriving from the water.

It would be strange if New Orleans weren't haunted, given that it’s been inhabited over time by French prisoners, voodoo practitioners and, if Anne Rice is to be believed, vampires. One of the most haunted homes is said to be the LaLaurie house, where in 1834 several severely tortured and mutilated slaves were found barely alive after a fire. Subsequent owners have claimed the house was plagued by ghosts and quickly moved out, but today it serves as luxury apartments. Another must-visit stop on any haunted New Orleans visit is Cemetery Number 1.

The startled traveller immediately leapt out of bed to investigate – but of course there was no trace of the intruder. This was physically impossible, as the open wardrobe doors were blocking the main exit. If you’re planning a cruise that begins or ends in LA, Carnival’s cruise port is literally next door! Los Angeles World Cruise Center is also less than eight miles from the hotel, making it the perfect choice for your pre-or post-cruise accommodation. Visitors with mobility challenges should be aware that some areas of the ship are inaccessible, and tours may include lots of stairs.

The largest cruise ship of its time at 1,019 feet long, it was considered the fastest and most powerful, as well as the most beautiful. Adorned with the finest classical décor of the era, featuring ornate Art Deco interior, it is still considered to be one of the most elegant passenger ships ever built. Yet more odd occurrences have been made in several first-class staterooms. In the third-class children’s playroom, a baby’s cry has often been heard, which is thought to be the infant boy who died shortly after his birth. You can even join a paranormal investigator onboard Queen Mary and explore her most haunted locations (even those parts not available to the general public) and attempt to connect with the spirits that still live on the ship.

But it was quaint in its own way, filled with the laughter of families during the day and, often, after the sunset, couples enjoying a stroll, breathing deeply of the ocean air. The final stop on our tour of the now-empty ship brings us to City Sports Park. Compared to the Sports Square complexes found on newer, bigger ships like the Carnival Vista or Carnival Horizon, the Inspiration’s miniature golf course and surrounding jogging path may not seem all that special. One place where the echoes of the past really are whispers is the ship’s Shakespeare library. The dark woods and almost gothic design gave the space an almost chapel-like feel, offering a quiet respite from the more rambunctious areas of the ship.

The entity sometimes called “Half Latch Harry” lurks in corridors and elevators near the engine room. Visitors to the area known as Shaft Alley sometimes report being followed by a bearded man in work overalls who disappears near door 13.

According to the Queen Mary‘s passenger logbooks, 47 passengers have died on board. However, many more servicemen reportedly also met their ends on the ship. One woman has died and 10 others were injured after a shuttle bus crashed into the transportation area outside a Honolulu cruise terminal Friday, according to police.

8 Best Turks and Caicos Excursions on a Cruiseq

Table Of Content

• Carnival Cruises
• Oklahoma woman shot multiple times after being dared …
• Booking Shore Excursions in Advance vs. Booking Onboard
• Night Exotic Western Caribbean Cruise
• Group Tours
• Onboard Activities
• Who goes on Carnival cruise ships?

The latter venue was created in partnership with Food Network's Guy Fieri and serves a free lunch on embarkation and sea days, with all items smoked on board. BlueIguana is a Chipotle-style restaurant, with yummy made-to-order burritos and tacos. Created in partnership with Food Network's Guy Fieri, Guy's Burger Joint offers burgers that beat anything you'll find around the pool on other mass-market ships and even most luxury vessels. Design-wise, Carnival's cabins and suites are fairly basic and comfortable, if not super stylish.

Carnival Cruises

Some cruise lines and even some travel agents offer shore excursion credit as a booking perk. It is essentially a credit of a preset amount (often $50) applied to each day in port for which you book a shore excursion. If your excursion costs more than the credit amount, it becomes a discount. Booking an excursion on Carnival is an exciting part of the cruise experience, offering opportunities to explore the ports of call and create unforgettable memories. By following the step-by-step guide provided in this article, you can easily navigate the process of booking your desired excursions with confidence.

Oklahoma woman shot multiple times after being dared …

However, keep in mind that popular excursions may sell out quickly, so it’s still recommended to book in advance if possible. So, if you’re ready to embark on a journey of discovery and adventure, let’s dive into the world of Carnival cruise excursions and find out how to make the most of your time on land. I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

Booking Shore Excursions in Advance vs. Booking Onboard

Active tours can include water sports, ziplining, hiking, biking, dog-sledding and more. Activity-based trips might feature a day at the spa or beach, a pleasure cruise on a sailboat, wine or food tasting, a cultural performance or a visit to a museum. Sightseeing excursions are typically bus tours that take passengers to the highlights and shopping areas of the port city or nearby destinations. You are free to come and go at will from most cruise ships while they are in ports of call.

Night Exotic Western Caribbean Cruise

To enhance each port visit (as well as to increase their profits), cruise lines offer organized shore excursions on all ships for additional fees. These land-based trips run the gamut from sightseeing city tours to cultural events and active pursuits. You can take a sunset pleasure cruise in St. Lucia, visit penguin colonies in Antarctica, go wine tasting in Provence or bike through Copenhagen. The tours can be booked onboard at your ship's excursions desk or online before you depart on your trip.

Group Tours

11 things I wish I had done differently on my first Carnival cruise - Cruise Blog

11 things I wish I had done differently on my first Carnival cruise.

Posted: Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Carnival also uses its big theaters for lots of interactive shows that involve you, the passenger, getting a little silly. They include Lip Sync Battle Carnival — a shipboard adaptation of the Paramount Network TV series — and Hasbro, the Game Show. Maybe you'll drink a little too much, eat a little too much, play a little too much — but in the end, you'll say it was your best trip ever.

Children's programs

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day. I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed. If you want to see the island and have a few thrills while simultaneously having time left over to lounge on the beach, a dune buggy excursion might just be your answer. You’ll see the Grand Turk Lighthouse, with its stunning overlook, plus there’s the Cliffhanger Lookout.

Once on board, managing your excursions effectively ensures a smooth experience. Attend briefings, follow meeting instructions, and communicate with excursion staff to stay organized and keep track of time. Respecting local customs and regulations adds to the positive impact you can have in each destination you visit.

Whether you choose to explore historical landmarks, engage in exciting water sports, or immerse yourself in the local culture, Carnival offers a wide range of options to cater to every interest and preference. Another option for shore excursions are intimate tours that are limited to 25 or so passengers. Many lines offer these boutique-sized excursions, which could be cooking classes at a renowned French cooking school or visits to Native American villages in Alaska. Many lines also offer car-and-driver packages (so you can customize your own tour) or have concierges to arrange shoreside activities exclusively for your travel party.

Researching and booking the right Carnival cruise excursions can greatly enhance your vacation experience. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned veteran, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the process and make informed decisions. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of researching, booking, and managing Carnival cruise excursions, as well as provide some insider tips to help you make the most of your excursion experience. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Most onboard activities such as shows and deck-top attractions are included in the fare.

There's now at least one waterslide on all but one ship in the Carnival fleet (Carnival Luminosa) — something no other line can say. In addition, every ship has at least one — and usually several — extra-charge eateries. The two venues have flat fees of $49 and $24 per person, respectively. Every vessel has two main dining rooms and a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. For dinner in the main dining room, you must sign up for either Your Time dining (you go whenever you want) or Traditional Dining (you have a fixed table and time for dinner). That said, Carnival has seen the success that some of its competitors have had with a bigger range of upscale accommodations, and it's eyeing more suites for future vessels.

It allows Carnival and the excursion operators to accommodate your needs, provide appropriate services, and communicate important updates or changes that may arise. Additionally, you can view excursion details, including descriptions, inclusions, and even customer reviews. This information will help you make an informed decision and select the excursion that best matches your preferences. The Excursions page on the Carnival website is designed to provide you with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to search for excursions based on your preferences.

The best opportunities for independent exploration and touring are on ships that stay in port the longest. The fun continues when you reach your port — there’s a huge variety of shore excursions to choose from. If you're a first-time cruiser, it can be helpful to have a few hacks to make your shore excursion experience amazing. Keep these tips in mind when booking, preparing for and embarking on your tour. Not all shore excursions involve busloads of tourists dutifully following flag- or umbrella-waving guides.

Two Guests From the Carnival Elation Report Being Drugged and Raped During Excursion in the Bahamas - Cruise Law News

Two Guests From the Carnival Elation Report Being Drugged and Raped During Excursion in the Bahamas.

Posted: Fri, 09 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage. A Carnival passenger taking seven-night cruises will hit the Platinum level during their 11th sailing. Sail a few longer voyages, like a transatlantic sailing, and you could reach it even sooner. In other words, if you are sailing seven-night cruises, you will be Gold level on your fourth sailing, as you will be passing the 25-day mark on that sailing. Most Carnival ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards.

“We are committed to providing exceptional vacation experiences, both aboard our ships and by taking our guests to some of the most sought-out destinations around the world. When we say that the beaches in Turks and Caicos are all stunning, we mean it. A Bajari Beach excursion really takes the cake, though, offering an option for private cabanas or lounge chairs, plus most cruise lines’ excursions include at least some food and beverages. The beach is known as a party spot, complete with a DJ, so if that’s your jam, this might be the Turks and Caicos excursion for you.

Everything You Need to Know About Shore Excursions

Table Of Content

• Our Shore Excursion Partners:
• Related Cruises
• Learn About Credit Cards
• The ultimate guide to Carnival Cruise Line ships and itineraries

For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. On "elegant" nights, you'll see a range of clothing from ball gowns, dresses that leave little to the imagination, tuxes and suits to the same shorts and tees people sport all day long. Most men, however, opt for long pants and collared shirts, while women don sundresses, or a skirt or pants with a blouse. Carnival Cruise Line sells itself as the "fun" cruise line, and it attracts cruisers who are looking to have a good time with little to no pretensions. Carnival cruisers, who range from young to old, tend to be quite friendly, looking to strike up conversations with other people in the buffet, by the pool and, really, anywhere. In fact, the lower tiers of the Carnival program are among the most stingy in the entire cruise universe.

Our Shore Excursion Partners:

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes. Who wouldn’t enjoy a private cabana experience complete with food and drinks? You’ll find Margaritaville in Turks and Caicos on sailings from Galveston on Carnival Miracle and from Manhattan on Carnival Venezia. 2 A minimum of 25 guests is required for private excursions and 35 guests for custom excursions. Carnival ships are all about fun, in a lively, let's-not-take-this-too-seriously sort of way. If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Carnival.com to book directly.

Related Cruises

Popular Carnival Tour to Be Available for Pre-Cruise Reservations - Cruise Hive

Popular Carnival Tour to Be Available for Pre-Cruise Reservations.

Posted: Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Once you have reviewed your cart and proceed to the checkout, you will move on to the next steps of providing necessary information and making the payment for your excursions. In the upcoming sections, we will guide you through these steps to finalize your excursion bookings. Embarking on a Carnival cruise is an exciting adventure that offers you the chance to explore different destinations and create memorable experiences.

Learn About Credit Cards

The overarching idea for Carnival's ship deployments is that a large percentage of the U.S. population can reach one of the line's ships by car, saving the cost of flights. Note that the Carnival fleet is scheduled to grow over the next year with two more new vessels. As noted above, the line has ordered another sister vessel to Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration that will be ready to sail in late 2023.

I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently. I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand. I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee, and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

You'll receive things like a single complimentary bottle of water (at the Red tier) and a single free drink that only can be ordered on the last night of a cruise (at the Gold tier). One or two nights a cruise, there will be a more formal "cruise elegant" night where men are expected to turn out in dress slacks and a dress shirt, preferably with a sports coat, or even in a suit. The suggested attire for women on such nights is cocktail dresses, pantsuits, elegant skirts and blouses. A slightly more expensive "value" plan, at $19.55 per day when bought in advance, adds access to email and most websites. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, also are acceptable.

On the West Coast, sailings to Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska are the norm. Seven of the line's 25 vessels measure less than 100,000 tons, which makes them almost midsize by today's cruise ship standards. Some shore tours -- such as daylong trips from Tunis to the marketplace, museum and ancient Carthage -- pack many activities into one trip. Others focus on one destination or activity, like a trip to the Mayan ruins from Cozumel. It's up to you whether you'd prefer to see many things for short amounts of time or focus on one place in depth. The ship’s excursions get you to the markets, often with some city highlights along the way, then leave you with a few hours of shopping time.

While you may sometimes find scuba diving excursions offered by your cruise ship, they are just as likely to only be offered through an independent tour operator. We’ve covered the basics -- many of which are similar to other Caribbean ports of call -- let’s check out the shore excursions you will struggle to find anywhere else aside from Turks and Caicos. You’ll need to have a confirmed group cruise booking before you’re able to book a group shore excursion. Additionally, only guests included in this cruise booking are eligible to participate in the group shore excursion together. There are instances when you might be limited to excursions provided by the ship.

Do you take your passport on shore excursions?

Cabins on recently unveiled or overhauled vessels have a soothing palette of creams and blues. Cabinetry in these rooms is a crisp and clean faux wood, and cabin bathrooms are neutral. For the most part, Carnival ships sail relatively short voyages of three to eight nights.

Waiting might be a good idea if you're not inspired by the shore excursions you're seeing on your cruise. Some cruise lines charge penalty fees for canceling shore excursions onboard or within 24 to 48 hours of the port call, so you might want to wait to see how the weather is before booking. You may also get some good word-of-mouth tips on board the ship that change your mind about what tour you'd like to do. Don't forget to come up with a Plan B, in case your desired tour gets canceled or is sold out. Shore excursions are designed for all activitiy levels in almost any mainstream cruise destination.

From sightseeing tours to water sports, cultural immersions to adrenaline-pumping adventures, there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer exploring ancient ruins in Mexico, snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, or zip-lining through rainforests in Alaska, Carnival has you covered. What would a list of shore excursions in Grand Turk be without mentioning the local cuisine?

In general, the production shows aren't nearly as sophisticated — or as long — as what you'll find on Royal Caribbean or Norwegian ships. Every Carnival ship has one big theater where you'll often find flashy, fast-paced production shows that string together a medley of loosely related tunes. Designed to be quick and digestible, they typically last around 30 minutes and have relatively small casts (just eight on some ships). Carnival draws a lively, outgoing crowd looking to be part of the action.

Both these ships would give you ample opportunity to enjoy either ship-sponsored shore excursions or those you book independently. The benefits of booking a shore excursion through your cruise ship are many. You can skip the hassle of arranging your own onshore activities, you'll know the tour provider has been vetted by the cruise line and is licensed and reputable. The ship also won't leave until all of its tour buses have returned -- even the tardy ones. And you might meet shipmates whose company you'll enjoy back on the ship. The only guarantee of its kind in the cruise industry, the program is now available fleet wide for all Carnival Cruise Lines shore tours on ships sailing from North America.