102,000 tons
Passengers: 2,642
893 feet in length
116 feet wide
Decks: 12
Crew: 1000
Registry: Panama
Entered service: 1999

Best For People Who Want
A budget/mid-price cruise; a high energy, Las Vegas-style atmosphere with lots of glitz; many singles; many choices of excellent nightlife and daytime activities; alternative evening dining; balcony cabins; large fitness/spa facilities; enormous casino; extensive children's facilities and programs; large cabins, many which hold three- and four-passengers.

Should Be Avoided By People Who Want
A classy, more-refined style of cruising; more intimate ambiance; kid-free cruising; freedom from constant public announcements for daily activities.

Onboard Experience
Viva Las Carnival! Carnival Triumph and her sister ships, Carnival Destiny and Carnival Victory, are high-energy ships for passengers who love nightlife, gambling and surprisingly good food.

During days at sea passengers lift glasses with pink umbrellas, dancing the Macarena to a live band on deck. Action is non-stop at night, with the casino and disco lively till the wee hours. At night, you can find dozens of venues with entertainment ranging from lavish production shows to off-color comedians, a fun sing-along jazz bar to cool blues and a hot disco. Carrying a wide range of ages, from singles to the retired plus families and hundreds of kids in the summer and vacation periods, it's a perfect cross-section of Americana. If this atmosphere appeals, you also get some of the largest cabins at sea, good food and a well-run organization that keeps everything running like clockwork, despite a maximum carrying capacity of 3,400 passengers (including upper berths).

Personally, however, I found it difficult to find my way around Carnival Triumph. Better signs at elevators and stairwells would help a good deal. Unlike other megaliners, this ship is high density and feels crowded. I encountered long lines at the shore excursion desk and luncheon buffets.

Open deck space has been expanded, allowing more space for sun bathing; Carnival has added 33 tables for two in dining rooms and cabins above the noisy casino are used by crew on Victory.

Decor
Carnival Triumph's theme decor is the world's greatest vacation destinations so look for lounges and nightclubs to be appropriately named:  The Big Easy and Club Monaco are among the night spots.

Public Rooms
Upon boarding, you'll enter a soaring atrium rising to a height of nine decks, with glass elevators rising to Pool deck. Most lounges are along the ship's "Promenade", a boulevard with comfortable seating for people watching. The ship's main theater is three decks high (the slightly off-center seats of the lower balcony are the best seats); seated on the main floor, you'll be trying to peek over someone's head.

My favorite nightspot is the piano bar, The Big Easy, where everyone sings along.  The Olympic Sports Bar features seven large-screen televisions providing a satellite feed of the ESPN Network. Built into the bars are video poker machines. The two-floor Hollywood Disco has 500 video monitors while a terrific jazz and cabaret room is always packed at night. The California Wine Bar is low-key but too small.

Additional public rooms include boutiques, a patisserie /cappuccino bar (there's a charge), small library, video game room and wine bar. Tuxedos may be rented for formal nights in the evening wear shop.

Cuisine
Hats off to Carnival for feeding thousands of people so well. In my experience, the food is better than is found aboard some ships costing more and Carnival's pizza is the best at sea (available 24 hours per day). At breakfast and luncheon buffets, you'll find made-to-order dishes and the best salad bar I've encountered. Carnival has new menus which include delicacies such as chateaubriand, lobster and rack of lamb. Desserts may be bland, except for those made of chocolate, which are mouth-watering.

Service
Don't expect personal or very refined service aboard a ship this size.  Carnival's staff is efficient and does its job well   dining room service is hilarious during dessert, when waiters do silly dances balancing trays on their head.

Restaurants
Total Choice Dining is Carnival's flexible dining program which includes four seatings for dinner in the main dining rooms, alternative Bistro dining every evening and an increased number of service staff. Passengers are assigned a table for dinner at one of four seatings; 5:45 p.m. or 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.. In addition to the expanded dining room seatings, the poolside lido eateries are converted into Seaview Bistros between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.each evening, offering buffet dinner with no reservations or advance notice required.

Carnival Triumph has two dining rooms (assigned by cabin), the London and Paris, both with two levels. Those sitting in the open area on the lower level will encounter very high noise levels. Tables on both sides and those located on the balcony are the best by far. You'll find over 30 tables for two, another improvement aboard this ship, but most dine with two or six other people.

During the daytime, most opted for breakfast and luncheon buffets in the ship's Lido restaurant, adjacent to the pool.  I loved the New York Deli, which was always crowded.  These are sun-filled rooms with wonderful sea views, and you can also dine alfresco. In this area you'll also find the ship's pizzeria, with multiple varieties plus Caesar salad served 24 hours per day. There is a very limited room service menu, available 24 hours per day.