LA - Carnival Cruise Lines

We drove down to Carnival Cruise Line's docking station next to the Queen Mary. We waited in line outside some kind of geodesic dome and then filed in. On the way through there were several ID checks and staged photo opportunities.

The first dinner was gorgeous, with very excellent food and deserts. In this regard I was quite impressed. I enjoyed two main courses, two appetizer, and two deserts.

In general, the cruise ship was the gaudiest thing I've seen in my life. The walls are covered with renaissance-painting wallpaper which showed pixelation. There are naked people touching fingers and the sort, combined with awkward sexual marine themed statues, and a full sized replica of Michelangelo's David. There are fancy plastic light fixtures and molding strewn all about. The atmosphere has clearly been designed to make people who are not familiar with luxury think that they are surrounded by it lavishly. It seemed to be working.