Miami – (April 29, 2009 – 10:30 a.m.)  There are currently no reported cases of swine influenza on Carnival ships or in any of the ports that we normally visit in Mexico. We are consulting closely with public health officials and government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Homeland Security to monitor the situation.

Nonetheless, we have decided to cancel calls at Mexican ports for all current sailings.  Additionally, we will cancel calls in Mexico for all voyages departing Thursday, April 30 through Monday, May 4.  In many cases, we will be able to substitute the cancelled call with an alternative port and are currently working on those itineraries. Full details will be available by 5 p.m. today.  Guests who do not wish to sail on a modified itinerary will be given the option to re-schedule their cruise for a later date.

Updates will be posted on our website at www.carnival.com.

Carnival enforces the highest of standards for cleaning and sanitation on all of our ships to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We have well trained medical staff and expansive reporting capabilities on board. Working with U.S. public health officials in the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program, we have extensive practices and procedures that are effective in mitigating illness aboard our ships.

For further information on swine influenza, visit the CDC’s web site at www.cdc.gov.

To mark the launch of Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride, Carnival Cruise Lines held a special invitation-only reception aboard the vessel attended by more than 200 community leaders, travel agents and VIPs.   Carnival Pride will operate 50 voyages annually, carrying 115,000 passengers a year from Baltimore. Read the full story

Preparations are already underway for Carnival Cruise Lines’ Fun City: Baltimore event which takes place tomorrow in the city’s Inner Harbor. Read the full story

With five months until the debut of what will be the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed — the new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream is beginning to take shape at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.  

The 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, which will be based at Port Canaveral, Fla., will offer a host of innovations, including the largest spa and children’s facilities in the fleet, a new indoor/outdoor entertainment area offering magnificent ocean vistas, and the longest water slide at sea, part of the sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park.  A variety of accommodation categories – including a two-bathroom configuration that will be ideal for families, as well as “cove” balcony staterooms closer to the water line – will be available, as well.

Following a series of three 12-day European voyages beginning in Sept. 21, 2009, Carnival Dream will reposition to New York for a pair of eight-day cruises before launching year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Fla., Dec. 12, 2009.

Earlier today, Carnival Cruise Lines began accepting reservations for a new series of seven-day western Caribbean voyages from Mobile, Ala., taking place next year.    Read the full story