John Heald interviews the DREAMWEAVER himself: Joe Farcus
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to answer your questions concerning the Carnival Dream. It always gives me a great deal of pleasure to talk about our ships and even more so to give our guests some inside information about her. Creating a ship like this, especially in the difficult economic environment we are all facing, has been a real challenge. The overall idea being to create a better vessel in a manner that makes her more attractive to our guests so that their holidays aboard will have the potential to be the best ever. This not only applies to the architecture and hardware, but also as they affect the creation of better and more attractive software that equally enhances one’s experience aboard. We wanted to create the best ship yet, while remaining affordable and being the great value Carnival has always been for her guests.
-- Joe Farcus
Now on to your questions.
1. How long ago did you start preparing your designs for the Carnival Dream?
We have been working on her for about two years now. The first step was to design the changes we wanted to incorporate into what will be Carnival’s largest ship ever. The idea, of course, was not just to make the ship larger, but to add features which our other ships did not have so that she would could continue the evolutionary progression that Carnival has adopted over the years. For example, we know that our guests like to lay out on deck during the day. Making the ship larger does not proportionately increase the area of open deck traditionally located at the top of the ship. This was addressed cleverly by The Lanai, which is the addition of two lower sun decks at the sides of deck 5, off of the main public room deck of the ship, configured as overhanging extensions to the ship’s beam or width. I see these decks as being very popular, being used more by adults I think, who would like the much closer communion with the sea. We have added four half overhanging spa pools on this deck so that guests can lounge in them with spectacular and thrilling views of the sea. You’ll be able to hear the ship moving through the water at this location, which to those who appreciate it will be a very pleasant experience indeed. More about added features on a later question below.
2. I was on the ship recently and was amazed at the wide open spaces. Before we discuss specific areas, can you tell us what your overall theme and vision is for the vessel? Normally, I have begun the design process by envisioning what I have called a Central Idea from which the ship designs evolve. These ideas have mainly been a concrete specific characteristic, such as ‘The Impressionist Artists’ or ‘Colors.’ I’ve tried to do this a little differently for this ship, making the ‘Central Idea’ much more abstract. I knew the name of the vessel was going to be Carnival Dream and with that in mind I began my thought process. The word ‘Dream’ began to take on an importance, which led me to think about a ‘Dream Cruise.’ That was it for me and my inspiration. My idea was to put this ideal into my creative thought process so that it would be the inspiration for each design. So when I began to create each public room I thought of how each function could be realized as an integral part of the ‘Dream Cruise.’ It was a frame of mind really using all of my experience in creating successful ships and applying it to take the next step in the design process by consciously using this abstract concept of a ship where all of the designs stem from this ideal dream. Certainly the new spaces and areas of this vessel added to this concept, but even more so was my desire to create something extra special for her guests.
Ocean Plaza
3. One of the new areas is called the Ocean Plaza. Can you tell us about what you forsee happening here and what designs you have planned here? Ocean Plaza is a new space on the main guest deck 5, which was added as a result of this ship’s increased length over our most recent ship, Carnival Splendor. When the Carnival Dream was lengthened in the planning stages creating a new space to be defined and The Lanai open decks added there as well, it was clear to me that this new space was needed to connect these decks and to create a new nerve center for the ship. I believed that The Lanai decks were going to be very popular by day and also by night to a lesser extent. This area is for those who love the sea and want that added communion with it by virtue of its proximity. With all of this in mind and, working with Carnival’s management, the concept was created and originally generically named The Piazza after the traditional Italian town center square where the people congregate to meet, talk, eat, and enjoy. Such is what we can offer in Ocean Plaza and the adjacent Lanai. There are bars, a cafe, and entertainment to keep this town center active day and night. There is also a large Internet facility here too. “Meet me in the Ocean Plaza,” will be a logical and pleasant expression on Carnival Dream and a new concept for Carnival guests. The décor is clean and modern featuring special blue and gray tinted wood walls punctuated with a dark blue mirror fashioned as a horizontal wavy sea horizon. Beautiful orange handmade glass mosaics, mirror-like stainless steel pillar coves, and Venetian Murrina circular lamps finish the décor. The Lanai has also been widened at the Ocean Plaza on either side to create large under cover seating areas for those who want to be in the shade to watch the sea go by on a beautiful day while they… enjoy a dream cruise!
4. As always, I am interested in the main theatre. What can you tell us about it? Well, John, we couldn’t make a cruise ship for a dream cruise without making our great theaters even greater. Such is the case for the Encore! In the first place, it is larger and obviously has a larger seating capacity. We worked closely with Carnival’s entertainment department to add the features, which would also increase the production capabilities. That would be better access to and from the stage, as well as more backstage facilities for more elaborate sets, costumes, and general operating space for the entertainers and technicians. So the groundwork for even better shows is an integral part of the Carnival Dream. From the audience point of view, the auditorium portion of the room is improved. The lower deck or main floor if you will now goes beam to beam, which is considerably wider than the previous theaters. This has allowed me to add additional side tiers to the seating arrangement ensuring better sight lines to the stage for the audience. The addition of these areas has allowed the for the reduction in the side depth or projection of the balcony over the main floor. This result is a bigger ‘hole’ as it were in the balcony giving everyone in the audience a much larger sense of space in this theater. What had been a grand theater on the previous ships will be even grander aboard Dream. The décor is contemporary and features walls of a handmade finish consisting of a textured spatula-applied reddish iridescent paint broken up into stone-like panels with joints of gold leaf. Flanking the stage are massive marble columns and the walls and ceiling are accented with Macassar Ebony wood columns and beams. The overall color scheme of the upholstery and carpets features mainly gold with dark red accents. The ceiling over the main part of the auditorium is a starlit sky creating an even more soaring effect to this theatre of the Dream.
Encore main show lounge.
5. The public entertainment areas look wonderful. Can you take us on a journey through the vessel? This is tough question that the answer could take pages and pages of description. However here’s my best shot. An experienced guest will find something new as soon as they enter the ship. The Dream is the name of the atrium and is the gateway to what I hope will be the dream cruise. The feeling here is a sophisticated modern Deco look. The main features are reddish Italian marble frames surrounding polished copper and white glass lamps or luminous mirror panels. The lamps can change colors creating a virtual light show and the mirror is normal silver mirror interspersed with yellow translucent flecks all over which are illuminated by concealed back lighting for a new and striking effect. The bar and other counter tops are made of the same mirror material for an even more striking effect giving life to bar glasses sitting on them. The dome at the top of the atrium also utilizes this type of luminous mirror, however, here the lighting is by color changing LEDs continuing the light show effect. However apart from the décor the arrangement and indeed the function of the atrium itself has evolved. Carnival entertainment has increasing utilized the atriums for entertainment and on Dream this will be taken again to the next level. I have modified the layout of the space to make the entire atrium a three-deck-high show facility (and arguably more since the upper decks in the atrium can see the stage). First you will see that a stage has been created ‘flying’ over the bar placing it above the atrium floor and spatially in the middle of the three-deck-high atrium. This, combined with additional seating, makes a stage view very easy from each deck of the atrium allowing for great audience connection and maybe participation in the atrium shows. It should be fun and just another venue for our guests to enjoy the varied and great entertainment options aboard. One moves forward from the Dream Bar and atrium lobby to the Encore! Theater. Moving aft one comes to the one of two main dining rooms. The prevalent color used throughout the room is crimson which is primary hue used in colored glass lamps and chandeliers, mosaic tiles, ceiling coves, and the glass balustrades and privacy screens used throughout. All of these features are framed by beautiful light wood paneling evoking a warm and sophisticated, yet comfortable look. The layout of the room itself has been changed as well as being made larger. Our two level previous design has been kept, but reconfigured to give a more open and formal entrance. Additionally the upper level has changed by virtue of a new circulation space added to the Dream, which is a lower promenade on the starboard side called Lower Dream Street. Just forward of the main dining room are two adjacent dining venues, which are breakout rooms used as additional main restaurant seating, private party rooms, and card or game rooms. In these rooms the décor is overall lilac colored created by beautiful glass mosaics with elaborate multi-colored medallions, iridescent painted contoured wall panels and fiddle back Movingue wood wainscoting.
DREAM Atrium Bar
Going back to the Dream atrium and up one deck from the lobby itself we come to the additional atrium show seating mentioned above, plus the expanded photo shop and facilities, which have become more interactive with facilities for guests to ‘work’ with their photos in addition to selecting them. Of course forward of the atrium is the theater and moving aft one comes into Lower Dream Street. This street does not exist on any other Carnival ship and allows for fore to aft circulation without going through the restaurant itself. The first room encountered here is the Page Turner Library with beautiful fabric wall covering with wood bookcases and trim. Opposite the library on the port side is a lounge called Rendezvous created with a Western theme of saddle leather walls and furniture, Frederick Remington bronze sculptures and Western paintings. Enjoy a brandy here on the Dream. Lower Dream Street then continues on past the main dining room to our greatly expanded conference center, The Chambers. This space can be configured as our largest conference room ever or 3 separate breakout rooms, all with direct food and drink service. In Lower Dream Street outside the Chambers is one of our several new Internet areas. Moving more aft we come along the street to our younger cruisers area containing Circle C Club, Club O2, and The Warehouse, our surreal brick and blue mirror-like stainless steel décor garage-like video game room. This collection of spaces will be a dream for our younger cruisers, as Carnival has never devoted so much space to this important segment of our market.
Circle "C"
Lower Dream Street then ends at the aft dining room on Deck 4 . Moving up the Dream atrium again we come to deck 5, where the Ocean Plaza and Lanai open decks are located. There are several entrances to the Lanai’s all along deck 5 for easy access and convenient use. Our shopping center is located here as in the past, with more shops and a completely new layout and décor. Rich woods of various colors are used throughout giving a completely new and contemporary feeling for shopping. Coming out of the Dream Atrium on the starboard side we come into Upper Dream Street, which in this area is combined with the Jackpot Casino. The casino is larger and follows the model successfully arranged aboard the Carnival Spirit-class ships, where one walks through it moving forward and aft on the ship. The décor here is dream-like, wild with copper frames holding huge lenses, which gives one a different view of the world (you have to be on board to fully understand) combined with black and white striped woodwork, and multi-colored handmade art glass wall panels. Running throughout are beams of light points creating an ever-changing color symphony replicating the action of this gaming spot. Located at the aft corner is the bar, lounge area, and bandstand. The bar features large video monitors for sports and other event showings culminating this action center. Continuing on Upper Dream Street we come to Ocean Plaza at the midship position and described above, with the exception that a stage is located here, as well, fulfilling the entertainment function mentioned above. Continuing through Ocean Plaza we come to a large seating area in Upper Dream Street, where the walkup Wasabi sushi bar is located in Japanese décor.
Wasabi Sushi Bar
Then we come to the entrance to the Collection art gallery, which is our largest yet designed as a museum with many contemporary designed alcoves to effectively display the art for sale onboard. Just aft of this entrance is the Caliente dance club. Here we have gone with the South Beach model of upscale and very now in way of décor. Sofa seating encircled by diaphanous gold curtains form the main seating groups, along with many high tables encouraging meeting and having fun in this state of the art equipped dance club. The large dance floor is made ip of graphic LED displays with other LED graphic panels over it in a kind of cone-like shape. We even have an outdoor section on the port side of The Lanai, where groups can gather in the outdoors on beautiful nights with the feeling of being in a top spot club. The remaining walls and ceiling coves are painted with bi-color changing wall finishes and the pleated chrome ceiling is painted on one side black to give a “now it’s here, now it’s not” feeling. At the end of Upper Dream Street we come into the open piano bar, Sam’s. The homage to pianos is carried out through simulated ivory moldings and our traditional oversized piano keyboard bar where guest can imagine (or dream) they are talented piano players while enjoying the music. Rich woodwork is used for the walls and furniture accented with string-like red strip lights weaving through the room. Our traditional piano on a turntable will still be here and located in a much larger bar than previous ships with a large convex mirror above it giving those seated there an extraordinary view of the performer.
Sam's Piano Bar
When you move through Sam’s you come to the aft atrium, which serves as not only the entrance to the aft lounge, but also to The Song jazz/ karaoke bar. The Song’s architectural style is lyrical as the music played there. The columns are tapered wave-like flutes finished in a heavy textured copper color with royal purple velour curtains festooned in the windows. The ceiling undulates with the music so to speak and the floors and bar area is finished with a mosaic made up of broken pieces of five different fancy marbles. The translucent dome over the dance floor has a similar finish replicated on glass and backlit giving a Tiffany glass effect. The lounge follows the new layout first used aboard Carnival Splendor, where the stage is located completely aft with a very large dance floor in front of it and tiered seating all around. This new layout is very conducive to performances, but also for conference seating making the aft show lounge a great venue for meetings, cocktail parties, and the like. Here is also the most themed room on the Dream, taking its inspiration from Carnivale in Venice. This is sort of my dream of remembrance as the Carnivale was the first ship I worked on for Carnival Cruise Lines. The walls are a Venetian design fabric wall covering above a quilted maple wood wainscot with gold leafed quatrefoil appliqués. In front of the wall covering are Venetian Carnivale masks back lit with color changing lights creating a multi-color glow on the walls. Large versions of the masks are used behind the bar and in gold leafed domes in the ceiling. The main domes also have handmade Venetian glass chandeliers adding to the Venetian theme.
The Promenade
Moving to the top of the ship we have the Gathering lido restaurant complete with the international food bars consisting of the Mongolian Wok, The Deli, the Tandoori, the Pizzeria, the Grille, and the daily specials, not to mention the elaborate dessert and coffee bars. Here the walls have been covered with glass mosaic tile with real platinum tiles interspersed throughout the mosaic. These walls will be broken up by large angular forms on the walls and ceiling whose pyramid-like elements are polished stainless steel on one face and wood veneer on the opposite side. They form really interesting geometric shapes half of which reflect angled views of the rooms creating an eye catching perspective from anywhere in the room. The ceilings are dark metallic lacquer panels alternated with bright red feature strips. Throughout are white wall and ceiling lamps with amber colored glass ‘buttons’ fused on creating a clean sparkling effect. The floor and walls in the serving lines are triangular tiles of pink and dark red granite. The banquets are trimmed in mirror stainless steel with the wall mosaic tile and orange tinted glass privacy panels. It’s a warm and pleasant environment with some visual reflective excitement for our informal dining experience. Moving up two decks, we come to our best restaurant onboard, The Chef’s Art. Our reservations-only supper club. Here the décor is rich and beautiful. The main feature of the room is an almost full ceiling chandelier made up of hand-blown violet glass sphere elements fixed on a black chrome background with small clear bulbs placed in between the spheres. The effect should be a dreamy evening sky when the lights are dimmed. The walls are mainly lavender tinted frosted and textured glass back lit panels framed with light wood frames accented with dark wood corners and pink and gray marble circular inserts. The remaining ceiling is copper-colored cassettes with a brushed in design framed with wood and marble strips as the walls. I think when a couple is dancing under the evening inspired chandelier a sense of relaxed style and satisfaction will be the effect. Our public room tour will end in the Cloud 9 Spa. The décor will be Asian-inspired as our new upgraded spa facilities on the Carnival Splendor, however everything will be larger. More treatment rooms, Asian themed cabins just below and associated with the spa, bigger gym, and special glass elevator strictly for the spa which goes from the spa cabins up two decks to the Serenity retreat above for adult guests. It is surely our most comprehensive spa in our fleet. The facilities, services, and equipment are second to none and for those who book a spa cabin, a spa experience equal to the finest ashore.
Caliente Dance Club
6. What about the open decks, what do you have in store for us there? Well, John, as you may have guessed, they are bigger and better, as well. I have already gone into some detail about the deck 5 Lanai decks which forms a continuous connection around the sides and aft section of the ship. Additionally we have the Waves lido with the Seaside Theatre, which is the two-deck-high main Lido area featuring our mega-sized video wall for all sorts of performances, day or night. In fact this space with the video and bandstand make this the largest ‘public room’ on the ship. So we have our normal swimming pool here, plus bars and food venues. A great place to have fun in the sun or party down in the night. The aft deck is a cruiser’s dream Lido called Sunset. We also have two whirlpools here and the Sunset Bar. A magnificent view aft is the main feature here forming a perfect spot for lounging to watch the mesmerizing wake of the ship float on. Above this deck we have a basketball court and games deck. Carnival’s mini-golf is located in this area providing an interesting course at sea. Above and forward of the Wave lido is Carnival WaterWorks, which is a great aqua park for all ages. Slides of different types and water jets and sprays are there for splashing fun in a self-contained area. Above and forward of the WaterWorks is Serenity, our adults only resort-type retreat. Upscale loungers, special whirlpools, cabanas, and sunshades complete this exclusive area located just above the Cloud 9 Spa.
DREAM Lido Deck
The Wave and Sunset lidos are decorated in a yacht club style complete with sailboat masts complete with rigging, special lights, and signal flags. Large dishes of bougainvillea will adorn each mast as well. Garland light lines will also connect the masts giving a festive feeling at night. The walls around the bars will be a beautiful white ceramic tile with colorful confetti flecks on them. Beautiful bronze sculptures will be placed in both lidos with the one at the Sunset as part of waterfall feature that one can walk through. Surrounding the pools will be a wading pools fitted with amorphic shaped benches to lounge on in the shallow water.
7. When I saw the ship, none of the public areas had really been started. Can you tell us what happens between now and September? We finish! We were recently onboard just after you were. There is, of course, a lot to do, but all seems on schedule. Almost all of the finished material is prefabricated in the workshops of the various subcontractors, so the finishing occurs more or less in a rapid fashion. From our end, we have approved all of the mockups, drawings, samples, etc. As I said, things seem to be on track. Carnival’s representatives who are in the yard on a daily basis also reassure me this is correct. So for us it is monitoring the situation and dealing with unforeseen issues that always come up.
8. How often will you have to go back to the vessel to make sure your work is carried out properly. And can you tell us where some of your design features are constructed? We were onboard just before Christmas and will return in February. Probably will be there just about every other month until she is finished. It is an ongoing, hands-on process. It is never just design it and hand it over and hope it will be built correctly. There are usually issues right up to the delivery, which I’m sure is normal for such a complex project. Basically all of the architecture is manufactured in Italy. We have sub-contractors in or around Milan, Monfalcone, Trieste, and Venice.
WaterWorks
9. You have been working with Carnival for many years. With regard to what you do, what has been the single biggest change in the world of ship's architecture? My first work for Carnival was on the Carnivale, Carnival’s second ship, in 1975 while I was working for the architect Morris Lapidus. The next project, which was under my name this time, was the conversion of the T.S.S. Festivale in 1977. This was a seminal ship in my view as it formed the beginning of the concept of “entertainment architecture” and was the first ship where the concept of the ship being the destination occurred. In other words, she was the ship where this concept began and the precursor of what all major cruise ships have become over the years. Basically, this is the biggest change, as it has become an ongoing change that has not stopped. Of course, the ships are bigger and the facilities onboard greater still, which all plays to the overall sophistication which has occurred in the market over these 30-plus years. As cruising’s popularity has grown and, even more importantly, the experience of the guests has broadened substantially, the ships’ designs have had to evolve as well. I feel very proud that I have had a big role in this development. It all goes back to my statement about this ship in the beginning of my answers: the people who are booking a cruise on this ship are buying a dream. I will do my best to deliver that to them, especially since the ship’s name is Carnival Dream.
10. We would like to congratulate you on a very special award, can you tell us about it? Thanks very much John. I was actually stunned when I was approached for this Distinguished Alumnus Award. The University of Florida, where I studied and earned my architectural degree, honors graduates from time to time who have either done something exemplary for the university or who excelled in the field for which they received their degree. In my case, it’s the latter. There were two other honorees, one of which was a US Senator. My family and I had dinner at the university president’s house followed the next day by a commencement ceremony where the award was officially presented. It was quite emotional, I can tell you. I even was able to find two professors I had while a student and had wonderful conversations with both. I graduated in 1967. Talk about closure. Many thanks Joe. As always, I appreciate it very much.
Posted: Jan 06 2009, 9:02 AM by Andrew | with
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