Carnival Legend Cruise
Travel by Barry Esptein
It all started three decades ago, when Ted
Arison had a dream to offer affordable cruises
from the Port of Miami.
Starting with one ship, Arison and his son Micky
parlayed the fledgling industry into a huge
empire which has grown into a fleet consisting
of 18 Carnival Fun Ships and a host of other
cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation,
including Cunard, Holland America, Costa,
Windstar and Seaborn.
Its easy to see why Carnival
Cruise Lines is the most popular cruise line in
the world. With the introduction of the Carnival
Legend in 2002,Carnival has introduced another
spectacular floating resort for vacationers.
Don't think that Carnival Cruise Lines is on the
lower level of cruise ships. Judging from the
looks of the new Carnival Legend, the ship ranks
right up there with the finest of any cruise
line, exquisitely designed and laid out
perfectly, with a kitchen galley below the two
story dining room, making easier access for the
wait staff. Noted for inexpensive fares but
formerly not noted for its food on Carnival, at
least this time that misconception is quickly
dispelled as the Legend excels in the food
department with the quality of meals served on
board simply superb. The usual early and late
seatings are supplemented with an extensive
"Cafe" service and 24 hour pizzeria. Dining Room
Maitre D' Paul Mecia orchestrates his staff with
friendly aplomb.
As the third in the "Spirit" class of Carnival
ships, the Legend boasts newly-designed, faster
engines, which allow it to sail from Fort
Lauderdale to further ports than ever before,
such as Barbados and Martinique, instead of
requiring passenger to fly to San Juan, Puerto
Rico, for a Southern Caribbean cruise.
If anything, the demographics of Carnival
passengers skew to a younger crowd, as there are
many families and teenagers on board, in
addition to young couples, for the New Year's
holiday cruise. In contrast, Holland America
Lines, which Carnival Corporation owns, too,
usually attracts an older crowd, so the "Fun
Ships" of Carnival, each with their own
distinctive identity, are true to their slogan.
The ship was packed with holiday revelers for
the unique eight-day Southern Caribbean cruise
departing from and returning to Fort
Lauderdale's Port Everglades, with visits to St.
Marten, Martinique and Barbados. On alternate
weeks, the Legend has a Western Caribbean
itinerary: Belize City, Belize; Limon, Costa
Rica, and Colon, Panama.
One of the first things you notice is the
professional, friendly attitude of the staff.
Taking the lead set by owner Micky Arison and
President Bob Dickinson, the entire crew is
imbued with an attitude which is attentive and
solicitous. As a floating "city" it takes an
army to operate efficiently.
Led by its "Mayor", Captain Giovanni Cutugno,
Master of the Legend, a native of Italy, was
born into a fisherman family. His father worked
45 years on ships and the Captain joined
Carnival in 1978, serving on the Mardi Gras,
Carnivale, Festivale, Tropicale, Holiday,
Jubilee, Celebration, Fantasy, Ecstasy,
Sensation, Fascination, Immagination,
Inspiration, Paradise, Destiny, Fiesta Marina,
Spirit, Pride, Legend and the Conquest, moving
up the line from assistant navigator, to 3rd
officer, to 2nd officer, then 1st officer,
safety officer, staff captain and in 1991
Captain of the Tropicale, and subsequently
captain of all the Carnival vessels. His
attitude of loyalty to Carnival extends down the
line to his crew, meeting challenges every day
and creating a friendly environment with
different nationalities on board. His primary
concern is the safety and comfort of his guests.
In his free time, he enjoys sailing and living
by the sea. His goal was always to be the
Captain of a cruise ship, and it's obvious he
loves what he does. His zealous concern for the
safety and comfort of his passengers extends to
the immaculate condition of the ship.
If the Captain is the "Mayor", who is
responsible for all the guests and crew on board
the vessel, then the Hotel Director is the "City
Manager" of this floating hotel. As such,
Shahnaz Kashanipour is in charge of all the
operating departments, except engineering, which
falls under the purview of the ships officers.
She is responsible for all customer service
operations, including purser, entertainment and
hotel services. Her diligence contributes
importantly to the efficient operation of the
ship.
Of German and Iranian descent, she attended
school in Germany and studied in England, prior
to doing Real Estate in Los Angeles, owning a
restaurant/bakery and serving as a group escort
for a travel agency before joining Carnival in
1989. Starting on the Mardi Gras, then on all
the others, she has brought the Fantasy,
Ecstasy, Fascination, Pride and Legend out on
their inaugural cruises, and is just one of
three women hotel directors in the Carnival
fleet. Having served on the Legend since June
2002, she leaves for a brief vacation in
February. "It's the crew that makes us all come
back from vacation. A few weeks later, you miss
them again." No day is typical for her,
requiring flexibility for the myriad
interruptions that change her planned workday.
After 14 years, she remains committed to the
company and her job because of her ability to
deal with people and guests each week who are on
vacation and usually at their best. Dealing with
the many nationalities of the crew is her
biggest challenge and the source of greatest
satisfaction in melding different cultural
backgrounds into a successful highly motivated
team.
The Legend offers all of the usual shipboard
amenities, including an internet cafe, serviced
by Fort Lauderdale's own Digital Seas
International and run by James Brodesser,
hailing from Rochester, New York. Digital Seas
operates all the internet cafes on the major
cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines,
Holland America Lines, Norwegian Caribbean
Lines, Disney Cruises, Orient Lines, and
provides satellite service for Royal Caribbean
and Celebrity.
Carnival now operates its own photo department.
Matthew Barrett, hailing from New Zealand and
with Carnival for five years, heads a crew of 13
photographers who are kept busy clicking away at
the more than 2,500 passengers on this holiday
cruise, using more than 600 rolls of film of 36
shots each. Keeping up with the times, Carnival
is going to a digital photo operation and the
new Conquest will feature that latest advance in
photography. Port excursions, led by Paul
Brenner, provides guests with an insider look at
all the ports visited. Tour guides such as Hunt
Anselmo in St. Marten, and Anthony Lealock in
Barbados, offer a friendly itinerary of their
islands.
One of the hottest in activities is the art
auctions, conducted by genial Ian Wilson. Cruise
and art aficionados recognize the tremendous
bargains available, most at 50% to 75% off
retail cost. Many pieces were sold for their
opening bids.
Entertainment on board is on a par with other
cruise lines, featuring the standard singers,
dancers, comedians, jugglers and hypnotists.
Cruise Director Michael Mullane has quite a
singing voice himself. "Michael is one of the
best entertainers and cruise directors in the
company", said Captain Cutugno. Mullane has been
a cruise director for only 10 months, but was
spotted by his boss John Buccafuscio and
Carnival President Bob Dickinson who immediately
recognized Mullanes talents. A native of London,
he was an entertainer and production singer on
cruise ships in his 20's, but wanted a bit more
guest interaction and decided to pursue his new
career as a cruise director.
After returning to England, he and his wife had
the opportunity to join Carnival, and the rest,
as they say, is history. He leaves the Legend on
March 3 for vacation and in April will join the
Ecstasy on its three-and-four-day west coast
cruises, enjoying working on the older,
established ships in the fleet. His advice to
folks wanting to break into the field: "Be
patient, but once you are in the company, you
are treated as family."
Faster ships such as the Legend offer guests the
opportunity to visit ports that are typically
accessible on longer-length voyages. The Legend
will be sailing from Port Everglades through
April and then from May to October will be
sailing to the Caribbean from New York City,
allowing those within an easy drive of the
metropolitan area to take a cruise, without
having to fly to South Florida.
The size of the cabins on board the new ships
have increased too, so dollar for dollar, you
can't beat the value offered by today's
Carnival.
See your travel agent or call
1-800-CARNIVAL or visit
www.carnival.com.
