Published October 19, 2003. All images and text copyright Peter Knego 2003 (unless otherwise noted).

Page Four: The Carnival Years

A twilight view of the handsome CARNIVALE at San Juan on 15 September 1982. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The mid 1970's was a very dark time for 1950s-built fuel-hungry steamships like the QUEEN ANNA MARIA. As her twin, the OCEAN MONARCH, was being cut down and melted for the burgeoning Asian steel industry, most ship pundits figured it was just a matter of time before the out of work Greek liner would join her. Meanwhile, after a very shaky start, the third EMPRESS, the 1961-built EMPRESS OF CANADA, was beginning to enjoy fantastic success as the MARDI GRAS for recently formed Carnival Cruises. With need for more berths, their inspectors were sent to Greece in search of a suitable running mate.

An impressive company-issued post card view of the CARNIVALE in dry dock. Peter Knego collection.

The rust-streaked QUEEN ANNA MARIA was purchased, pulled from mothballs, sent to Newport News,VA for a refurbishment, and delivered to Carnival Cruises as the CARNIVALE in February of 1976

Although her refit entailed little structural change, the CARNIVALE's tonnage was officially listed at 18,952 GRT according to Panamanian standards. Despite this, Carnival advertised her as "27,250 tons of fun," and placed her on weekly Miami service to the Caribbean in tandem with the MARDI GRAS. She was a tremendous success, leading to the purchase of the larger SA VAAL, which became the FESTIVALE, and a new-building program that would eventually make Carnival the worlds largest cruise line.

Ironically, CARNIVALE's deck nomenclature was patterned after that of MARDI GRAS, which had changed little from her days as Canadian Pacific's EMPRESS OF CANADA. Even Carnival's funnel logo adapted the similar later day CP pattern, although the colors were altered to a very U.S.-friendly red, white, and blue.

Sun and Sports Deck remained unchanged, as did Promenade Deck. Upper Deck became Empress Deck, Main Deck became Upper Deck, Restaurant Deck became Main Deck, and A Deck became Riviera Deck. The former part-time two class ship was permanently transformed into a one class cruise ship with a new capacity of 1,297 passengers.

On Promenade Deck, her public rooms took on new names and were "spruced" up for a party-going, mostly American clientele. The promenades, themselves, were opened up, while the former first class Athenian Club and Drawing Room were merged to form the Fly-Aweigh Discotheque. The Olympian Ballroom became the Mardi Gras Nightclub and Zacharatos was renamed the Riverboat Lounge, which was opened up into the Riverboat Club Casino, the former Orpheus Room. The Writing Room became a Gift Shop and the tourist class Reading Room was transformed into the Boutique. The Church became a playroom and the Taverna was transformed into The Showplace. Little was done on Empress and Upper Decks, but on Main Deck, the first class Restaurant and port annex were replaced with cabins. The Main, or aft Restaurant became the International Dining Room and some of the cabins on this level were reconfigured. On Riviera Deck, the pool was renamed Coral Pool and some of the cabins were converted for crew use.

Some of the rich wood paneling, brass fixtures, etched glass panels, and linoleum decking were covered in shiny wallpaper or hidden underneath festive carpeting. Carnival did not have the funds to completely restyle a somewhat dated looking ocean liner, so she was "tarted" up in certain cosmetic respects. As time wore on, CARNIVALE's vintage features took on their own cult following and for nearly fifteen years the ship was a haven for classic liner buffs. Here are some views taken aboard CARNIVALE in her early years:

Aft from CARNIVALE's port bridge wing on a balmy Caribbean day in the summer of 1982. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

CARNIVALE's expansive Lido Beach Club (shown here facing forward) was a very popular feature carried over from the ship's QUEEN ANNA MARIA conversion. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The aft Lido portion of CARNIVALE's Sun and Sports Deck was one of many wide open spaces enjoyed by the ship's Caribbean-bound passengers. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

CARNIVALE's promenades were slightly modernized with new surfacing, but retained an old world quality with their beautiful full length brass-framed windows and authentic teak deck chairs. This view is facing forward from the aft/starboard side. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1981.

The Fly Aweigh Discotheque, shown facing starboard, was originally the first class Cocktail Bar and Drawing Room on the EMPRESS OF BRITAIN. Aside from its new dance floor, it was in many respects a very traditional looking space with fine paneling and etched glass windows. Peter Knego collection.

Initially, the posh woodwork of the CARNIVALE's Mardi Gras Nightclub (originally EMPRESS OF BRITAIN's first class Empress Room) was covered up in tinselly wall paper, as seen in this forward-facing view. The modern chrome chairs and Formica tables replaced the room's wooden seating and cocktail tables. But the circular ceiling fixture and brass bannister were clearly from another era. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

Wonderfully obtuse angles from the mid-1950's still permeated the architecture, furniture, and fittings of the Riverboat Lounge, as seen in this starboard facing view. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The still traditional-looking Cinema, facing aft. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The "chromed up" Showplace in an aft-facing view from the starboard side. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The lovely forward portion of the Empress Deck entrance lobby, facing starboard. This half of the ship's lobby was originally the tourist class Main Entrance. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The CARNIVALE's alleyways and passageways were a sea of polished woodwork and nickel-alloy hand rails. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

Modern backlit glass panels and chrome-framed seating could not hide the utilitarian splendor of CARNIVALE's International Dining Room. It boasted richly varnished woodwork and traditional ceiling recesses in the style of most great British liners' tourist class dining halls of the 1950s.

The lobby aft of the dining room, shown facing starboard, was once the tourist class shopping area. Here, its main kiosk is being used as a wine display. The carpeting is protected by canvas for the removal of luggage on the final night of a Caribbean cruise. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

The Coral Pool was largely unchanged. A keen eye will see that the funnel colors of the ship on the panel have been updated to the Carnival livery. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 1982.

A stunning former first class suite in Carnival linens. Peter Knego collection.

CARNIVALE was an informal, friendly ship. She managed to hold her own in a rapidly growing fleet of larger and more modern ships. By the late 1980s she had been switched to the three and four night "party cruise" circuit and it was claimed that the wear and tear had taken a high toll on the ships fine wooden veneers. Instead of selling CARNIVALE off to another operator, the powers in charge decided to give the ship a major overhaul, assigning the task to renowned "in house" Carnival designer Joseph Farcus.

Please click for page five: The Carnival Years, continued. Return to Greece

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