The world's largest cruise line originated the Fun Ship concept in 1972 with the relaunch of an aging ocean liner, which got stuck on a sandbar during its maiden voyage. In true entrepreneurial spirit, founder Ted Arison shrugged off an inauspicious beginning to introduce superliners only a decade later. Sporting red-white-and-blue flared funnels, which are easily recognized from afar, new ships are continuously added to the fleet and rarely deviate from a successful pattern. If you find something you like on one vessel, you're likely to find something similar on another.

Even the decor is fun; each vessel features themed public rooms, ranging from ancient Egypt to futuristic motifs. More high-energy than cerebral, the entertainment consists of lavish Las Vegas-style revues presented in main show lounges by a company of singers and dancers. Other performers might include comedians, magicians, jugglers, acrobats, and even passengers taking part in the talent show or stepping up to the karaoke microphone. Live bands play a wide range of musical styles for dancing and listening in smaller lounges, and each ship has a disco.

Arrive early to get a seat for bingo and art auctions. Adult activities, particularly the competitive ones, tend to be silly and hilarious and play to full houses. Relaxing poolside can be difficult when Caribbean bands crank up the volume or the cruise director selects volunteers for pool games; fortunately, it's always in fun and mostly entertaining. There's generally a quieter, second pool to retreat to -- even an adults-only topless sunning deck.

Carnival is so sure passengers will be satisfied with their cruise experience that they are the only cruise line to offer a "Vacation Guarantee." Just notify them before arriving at the first port of call if you're unhappy for any reason. Should you choose to disembark at the ship's first non-U.S. port, Carnival will refund the unused portion of your cruise fare and pay for your flight back to your embarkation port. It's a generous offer for which they get very few takers.

Food

Carnival ships have both flexible dining options and casual alternative restaurants. A staggered dining room schedule, which includes a selection of four set meal times on all but the Spirit-class ships (5:45 or 6:15 pm for early dining and 8 or 8:30 pm for late dining), means the ships' galleys serve fewer meals at any one time. The result is better service and higher-quality food preparation. Carnival's less harried restaurant staff deliver a more satisfying dining experience for passengers because they have fewer passengers to cook for and to serve at any given time.

Don't expect celebrity chefs; think singing waiters instead. Although the upscale supper clubs on certain ships serve cuisine comparable to high-end steak houses and seafood restaurants ashore, the main dining room menus are less inspired. Choices are numerous, though, and good to excellent food appeals to American tastes and includes second helpings if you want.

Carnival has the best food of the mainstream cruise lines. In addition to the regular menu, vegetarian, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, low-salt, and no-sugar selections are available. A children's menu includes such favorites as macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches. If you don't feel like dressing up for dinner, the Lido buffet serves full meals and excellent pizza.

Fitness & Recreation

Manned by staff members trained to keep passengers in ship-shape form, Carnival's trademark spas and fitness centers are some of the largest and best equipped at sea. Spas and salons are operated by Steiner, and treatments include a variety of massages, body wraps, and facials; the latest in hair and nail services are offered in the salons. State-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, a jogging track, and basic exercise classes are available at no charge in the fitness centers. There's a fee for personal training, body composition analysis, and specialized classes such as yoga and Pilates.

Your Shipmates

Carnival's passengers are predominantly active Americans, mostly couples in their mid-30s to mid-50s. Many families enjoy Carnival cruises in the Caribbean year-round. Holidays and school vacation periods are very popular with families, and you'll see a lot of kids in summer.

Dress Code

Two formal nights are standard on seven-night cruises; one formal night is the norm on shorter sailings. Although men are encouraged to wear tuxedos, dark suits or sport coats and ties are more prevalent. All other evenings are casual, although jeans are discouraged in restaurants. All ships request that no shorts be worn in public areas after 6 pm, but that policy is often ignored.

Junior Cruisers

"Camp Carnival" earns high marks keeping young cruisers busy and content. Run year-round by professionals, dedicated children's areas include great playrooms with separate splash pools. Toddlers from two to five years are treated to puppet shows, sponge painting, face painting, coloring, drawing, and crafts. As long as diapers and supplies are provided, toddlers do not have to be toilet trained to participate. Activities for ages six to eight include arts and crafts, pizza parties, computer time, T-shirt painting, a talent show, and fitness programs. Nine- to eleven-year olds can play Ping-Pong, take dance lessons, play video games, and participate in swim parties, scavenger hunts, and sports. Teens 12 to 15 particularly appreciate social events, parties, contests, and sports. Every night they have access to the ships' discos from 9:30 until 10:45 pm, followed by late-night movies, karaoke, or pizza.

"Club 02" is geared toward teens from 15 to 17. Program directors play host at the spacious teen clubs, where kicking back is the order of the day between scheduled activities and non-alcoholic parties. The fleetwide "Y-Spa" program for older teens offers a high level of pampering. Staff members also accompany teens on shore excursions designed just for them.

Daytime group babysitting for infants two and under allows parents the freedom to explore ports of call without the kids from port arrival until noon. Parents can also pursue leisurely adults-only evenings from 10 pm to 3 am, when slumber party-style group babysitting is available for children from ages 4 months to 11 years. Babysitting fees are $6 an hour for one child and $4 an hour for each additional child in the same family.

Service

Service on Carnival ships is friendly but not polished. Stateroom attendants are not only recognized for their attention to cleanliness, expertise in creating towel animals -- cute critters fashioned from bath towels that appear during nightly turndown service. They've become so popular that Carnival publishes an instruction book on how to create them yourself.

Tipping

A gratuity of $10 per passenger, per day is automatically added to passenger accounts, and gratuities are distributed to stewards and waitstaff. Passengers may adjust the amount based on the level of service experienced. All beverage tabs at bars get an automatic 15% addition.

Past Passengers

After sailing on one Carnival cruise, you'll receive a complimentary two-year subscription to Currents, the company magazine, and access to your past sailing history on the Carnival Web site. You are recognized on subsequent cruises with color-coded key cards -- Gold (starting with second cruise) or Platinum (starting with your 10th cruise -- which alert the ship's staff to your status and serve as your entrée to the by-invitation-only repeat passengers' cocktail reception. You're also eligible for exclusive discounts on future cruises, not only on Carnival but on all the cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation -- including Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa, Seabourn, and Windstar.

Carnival Cruise Line.
Phone: 305/599-2600 or 800/227-6482
www.carnival.com