Carnival Cruise Lines is launching a new promotion offering “cash back” of up to $240 per stateroom for a wide range of “Fun Ship” departures this summer.

            The new promotion is available in conjunction with virtually all three- to eight-day summer departures, including voyages to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico from 14 convenient North American homeports. Bookings must be made between March 9 – May 10, 2009, to qualify for the promotion, which is valid with the line’s “Fun Select” advance purchase discount fares.

            The cash back option is provided in the form of a shipboard credit that can be redeemed once on board.  Guests will receive a $100 per stateroom shipboard credit on three- and four-day cruises; $150 per stateroom shipboard credit on five-day voyages; and $240 per stateroom shipboard credit for six-, seven- and eight-day sailings. 

            The shipboard credit is automatically applied on guests’ Sail & Sign accounts when they board their cruise and can be redeemed toward shore excursions, spa treatments, supper club reservations, gift shop items and a variety of other shipboard purchases. Any unused funds at the end of the cruise will be returned to guests on debarkation day in the form of a check.

           The new promotion is capacity controlled and applies to new individual bookings for stateroom categories 4A to 11. Guests must request fare code OCB when making the reservation.

Early Saver rates will be available beginning January 12, 2009 and offered up to three months prior to sailing date for cruises of five days or less and up to five months prior to sailing date for longer length voyages, subject to availability.  Early Saver fares include all stateroom types, including suites.

The Early Saver rate protection feature provides that if a lower Carnival advertised rate becomes available after the booking is made, a rate adjustment can be requested and the cruise line will issue the difference in the form of a non-refundable shipboard credit.  The lower fare must be for the same ship, sailing date, stateroom category and number of guests.

“Early Saver is a fantastic savings opportunity for those who are able to plan ahead and book early,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience.  “It is designed to provide consumers with complete confidence that the fare they are booking is the lowest Carnival rate available and that in the event they find a lower fare later, they need simply submit a rate protection request and we will provide a shipboard credit equal to the difference.”

When booking an Early Saver fare, consumers are able to choose a specific stateroom. The standard required deposit is immediately non-refundable at time of booking.  Any changes in ship or sailing date outside of Carnival’s standard penalty period require a $50 change fee.  For changes inside the penalty period, normal penalties apply.

To request a price adjustment, a rate protection form must be completed and emailed to Carnival. Consumers can access the form via the cruise line’s web site at carnival.com or their travel agent may complete the form via the cruise line’s travel agent web portal.  The lower rate must be available at the time the form is submitted and rate adjustments will be processed within two business days. Rate adjustment requests can be submitted up to two business days prior to the cruise departure date.

Early Saver fares are available for both individual and group reservations.

The Early Saver fare program will be available on virtually all Carnival ships and itineraries, which include voyages ranging from three to 18 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Europe, Bermuda and South America.  The fares are subject to availability and certain restrictions apply.

To book an Early Saver rate, consumers may contact a travel agent, call 800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

          The new “Endless Summer Celebration” offers sales promotions on a wide range of three- to 12-day “Fun Ship” cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Europe in 2008-09, with a different promotion featured each week.

          Upcoming offers for the “Endless Summer Celebration” sales event include shipboard credits; stateroom upgrades; special rates for third and fourth guest in a stateroom; holiday offers and regional savings; and discounts on a variety of fall, winter and spring departures.

          The promotion is capacity controlled and not combinable with any other discount offer. Applies to new individual bookings only. Certain other restrictions apply.

         For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

            With six departures ranging from three to five days available over the May 11, 2008, Mother’s Day holiday, Carnival’s “Fun Ships” will offer moms of all ages an opportunity to visit a variety of warm, tropical destinations in Mexico, The Bahamas, or Caribbean. And with an array of shipboard amenities designed to appeal to the entire family, mom won’t be the only one having fun.

           Carnival’s three- to five-day cruises departing over Mother’s Day weekend include:

Carnival Fantasy departing on a four-day cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel Thursday, May 8

Carnival Paradise departing on a three-day cruise from Long Beach, Calif., to Ensenada Friday, May 9

Carnival Fascination departing on a three-day cruise from Miami to Nassau departing Friday,     May 9 

Carnival Imagination on a five-day cruise from Miami to Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios Saturday, May 10

Carnival Inspiration departing on a five-day cruise from Tampa to Grand Cayman and Cozumel Saturday, May 10

Carnival Sensation departing on a four-day cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Freeport and Nassau Sunday, May 11.    

            Mom and the entire family can enjoy white-sand beaches and azure waters while creating a lifetime of wonderful memories as they cruise around the Caribbean and Mexico. Treat mom to unforgettable experiences such as swimming with stingrays, climbing Ocho Rios’ famous Dunn’s River Falls or exploring ancient Mayan ruins. Shop-aholics also can experience incredible duty-free bargains at the various ports.

            Aboard ship, moms can indulge at Spa Carnival with a pampering massage or facial or relax in the sauna or steam room.  Dining options abound, with delicious full-service meals in elegant main dining rooms, a variety of casual choices in expansive poolside eateries, or even breakfast in bed, compliments of Carnival’s 24-hour stateroom service. 

            Carnival ships offer numerous shipboard amenities including a variety of entertainment options, multiple nightclubs and lounges and, on the Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration, the new Serenity adults-only retreat. 

            Cruise-only rates begin at $349 per person for three-day cruises, $399 per person for four-day cruises, and $449 per person for five-day cruises, based on double occupancy.

            For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

The largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed, the 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor makes maximum use of its size, featuring the widest variety of formal and casual dining options at sea with delicious, palate-pleasing offerings from around the world.

In addition to multi-course meals served in spectacular two-level main dining rooms, a diversity of global choices await diners in The Lido restaurant, which boasts a tandoori oven offering Indian-style chicken, fish kebobs, breads and other delicacies, a Mongolian wok where guests can select vegetables, seafood, meat and spices and have it prepared right before their eyes, and the ever-popular 24-hour pizza with seven kinds of pies and calzone. Carnival’s successful supper club concept will also be taken to new heights with The Pinnacle serving the finest dry-aged U.S.D.A. prime steaks and other dishes in a refined atmosphere.

“Today’s consumers are savvier than ever when it comes to cuisine, and they want not only longtime favorites but also the opportunity to enjoy new choices they typically wouldn’t try at home,” said Natko Nincevic, Carnival’s senior vice president of hotel operations. “Carnival Splendor’s size has enabled us to explore different culinary options for our guests’ enjoyment and raise the bar on our ocean-going cuisine,” he added.

Main Dining Rooms Offer Carnival Favorites
In keeping with the theme of culinary diversity, Carnival’s main dining rooms, the Golden Pearl, located aft, and the forward Black Pearl, offer guests a choice of six different appetizers and soups, two salads, and six entrees, and the ever-popular Broiled Lobster Tail served once each voyage, Additionally, Carnival Classics – a selection of popular appetizers, entrees and desserts — is available daily.

A variety of decadent desserts, including Carnival’s legendary Chocolate Melting Cake, and an extensive wine list, featuring a number of reserve selections, will also be available.

Reservations-Only Supper Club

For those seeking a more intimate meal, there’s The Pinnacle, a reservations-only supper club, which will offer the finest cuisine in elegant and memorable surroundings that include a glass dance floor suspended over a mini-atrium that’s sure to be a conversation starter.

Modeled after New York’s top steakhouses, The Pinnacle’s menu includes a nine-ounce filet, 14-ounce strip loin, and a 24-ounce porterhouse, along with lobster tail, veal and lamb chops, Dover sole and surf and turf with seared lobster and grilled filet mignon. Traditional steakhouse accompaniments such as creamed spinach, wasabi mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms, will also be available. Impeccable, leisurely-paced service, the finest china and stemware, and one of the most extensive wine lists afloat – hand selected by the line’s master chefs to match the cuisine – make dining at The Pinnacle a truly unforgettable experience.

Increased Casual Offerings
Continuing Carnival’s efforts at expanding the quality and variety of its casual dining choices, Carnival Splendor’s poolside restaurant, The Lido, will offer a wide range of breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives served buffet-style.

In addition to Indian tandoori and Mongolian barbecue venues, The Lido will include a New York–style deli with piled-high sandwiches and popular sides, a 35-item salad bar, pasta and meat-carving stations, and a grill serving hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken and steak sandwiches.   

Carnival Splendor will also feature a rotisserie upstairs on Panorama Deck, serving rotisserie chicken with the cruise line’s signature spice rub, along with traditional accompaniments.

Carnival Splendor’s culinary choices don’t end there. The ship also features The Coffee Shop, offering espressos, lattes and cappuccinos and decadent sweets; California Roll, a sushi bar offering complimentary Asian specialties prior to dinner each evening; and El Mojito, which, like the name implies, will offer different variations of the classic cocktail, along with a selection of wines and martinis.

There’s also 24-hour stateroom service – complimentary, of course – where guests can have freshly made hot and cold sandwiches, salads and other fare delivered to their cabin any time of the day or night. Late-night buffets with a different theme each night, including the Gala Midnight Buffet and Chocolate Extravaganza, will be featured, as well.

Carnival Splendor will also offer the popular “Fountain Fun Card,” offering unlimited soft drinks throughout the voyage for a one-time fee. Adult and children’s versions of the card will be available.

Carnival Splendor is set to debut July 2, 2008, with an eight-day voyage from Genoa followed by the launch of 12-day Northern Europe cruises from London (Dover) July 13, 2008. The ship will be deployed to Rome (Civitavecchia) for 12-day voyages to the Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey then reposition to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for seven-day Caribbean departures. Following a series of 14- to 18-day South America voyages, Carnival Splendor begins year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera voyages from Long Beach, Calif., March 29, 2009.

For additional information and reservations on Carnival Splendor’s various European, Caribbean, South American and Mexican Riviera cruises, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

For those seeking a more affordable way to see Europe this summer, Carnival Cruise Lines is offering special cruise/air packages for its 12-day “Grand Mediterranean” and “Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey” cruises aboard the 2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom, with rates starting at $2,399 per person.

The special rates are available in conjunction with nearly 40 different North American gateway cities and eight different “Grand Mediterranean” and “Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey” voyages departing June through August.  Both itineraries operate round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia). 

“With today’s high euro/dollar exchange rates, a ‘Fun Ship’ cruise is already one of the most affordable ways to experience and explore Europe’s fascinating history, culture and architecture, and these new cruise/air packages make the value greater than ever,” said Lynn C. Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services.

The special cruise/air packages are available in conjunction with Carnival Freedom’s 12-day “Grand Mediterranean” cruises departing June 3 and 27, July 9 and 21 and Aug. 2 and 26, 2008.  These voyages visit seven ports: Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice (two-day call), Italy; Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy. 

On these cruises, guests can visit Capri, Taormina, Monte Carlo, Florence and Pisa, home to centuries-old landmarks and celebrated museums.  The two-day Venice call offers myriad opportunities to view that city’s stunning architecture and visit magnificent museums and cathedrals.  

Cruise/air packages are also available in conjunction with Carnival Freedom’s 12-day “Mediterranean, Greece & Turkey” voyages departing June 15 and Aug. 14.  These voyages feature eight ports: Naples, Italy; Marmaris, Turkey; Izmir (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey; scenic cruising of the Dardanelles; Athens (Piraeus) and Katakolon, Greece; and Livorno, Italy; and an overnight call in Rome (Civitavecchia). 

Highlights include Greece’s legendary Acropolis and the ancient settlements of Olympia, Priere, Didyma, and Miletus. Guests can also visit Istanbul’s fabled Blue Mosque, and tour the Coliseum or Vatican City during the overnight call in Civitavecchia.

A “floating resort” in every sense of the word, Carnival Freedom features 22 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, a 13,300-square-foot spa, 100 percent “bow-to-stern” wireless Internet access, cell phone service, and “Carnival’s Seaside Theatre,” a 270-square-foot LED screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming.

A wide variety of formal and casual dining options – including twin two-level main dining rooms, a reservations-only supper club and a 1,400-seat casual eatery with 24-hour pizza and ice cream – are also available. Organized activities for kids in three age groups, including “Camp Carnival” for kids 2-11, “Circle C” for 12- to 14-year olds, and “Club O2” for older teens – are among the ship’s numerous family-friendly amenities.

Also featured is a wide selection of spacious staterooms, including hundreds with private balconies – ideal for scenic European cruising.  All Carnival Freedom staterooms include the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Carnival is currently accepting reservations on all of the Carnival Freedom’s various 2008 European departures. Rates are based on interior accommodations for select departure dates and subject to change without notice. Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, as well as pre- and post-cruise land stays in Rome are also available.

For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:  CCL; NYSE:  CUK), is a proud member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines.  Our exclusive alliance also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn.  Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  Together, we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.

The month-long promotion will feature a different booking incentive each week during March, including free stateroom upgrades, shipboard credits, special savings and more. 

The special offers are available in conjunction with a wide variety of “Fun Ship” departures, including select three- to five-day getaways to the Caribbean or Mexico, seven-day voyages to the Caribbean or Mexican Riviera, or longer length sailings to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and South America.

Additionally, each week in March, a drawing will be held awarding a free cruise, along with a number of high quality digital cameras, to those who book any “Fun Ship” voyage that week. 

The weekly cruise giveaway encompasses a four- or five-day western Caribbean voyage in an owner’s suite on the Carnival Imagination from Miami or Carnival Inspiration from Tampa.  These two ships are the first to undergo all phases of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” product enhancement initiative and now feature the Carnival WaterWorks aqua park, Serenity adults-only retreat, resort-style main pool area, and renovated staterooms and spas.

Consumers who book a “Fun Ship” cruise during the promotional period are also automatically registered to win one of 10 Fuji digital cameras to be given away each week during the “Funtennial” celebration – perfect for capturing terrific “Fun Ship” vacation memories. 

“Our new ‘Funtennial’ promotion is a fun and unique way to celebrate our company’s anniversary while providing consumers with some very attractive savings and upgrades, along with some great prizes and giveaways,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience.

Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 18 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, New England, Canada, Bermuda, Europe, the Greek Isles and South America.   The line has three new ships scheduled for delivery between now and 2011.

To obtain information on the “Funtennial” promotion and view official contest rules, visit carnival.com/funtennial beginning March 1. Consumers may enter to win without purchase.

Additional information and reservations on Carnival’s “Fun Ship” vacations are available by contacting any travel agent, calling 1-800-CARNIVAL or visiting carnival.com.

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Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:  CCL; NYSE:  CUK), is a proud member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines.  Our exclusive alliance also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn.  Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  Together, we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.

The sale, which begins today and ends on Friday, December 14, 2007, offers a variety of savings. Here’s how it works…

Each day of the sale, Carnival will be offering a different deal. The deals will be open through the end of day (midnight) everyday. At midnight, the deal will change to the new offer for the following day and so on. In order to take advantage of these spectacular offers, all bookings must be made on the day they are offered.

Today’s offer includes saving up to $100 per stateroom on 3-4 Day Weekend Sailings. For more information, to sign up for daily reminders or to send a fun holiday postcard to a friend visit www.funshipisland.com/12days

With 12 days of offers and lots of surprise deals, you might just get what you have been wishing for!

During this exclusive One Day Sale, you can book a fabulous “Fun Ship” cruise to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and even Europe, and your stateroom upgrade is on us.  Sale ends Thursday.  Find out more here.