The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest resumed service this week from Galveston, Texas, following an extensive, multi-million-dollar renovation that included the addition of a new Circle “C” club for 12- to 14-year-olds and a massive LED screen on Lido Deck. Eighteen balconies were also added to existing ocean view staterooms.

The Camp Carnival and Club O2 facilities for children and teens, respectively, were also updated.

The 110,000-ton Carnival Conquest operates year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises departing Galveston every Sunday.  In addition to seven-day western Caribbean cruises to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, the ship begins a new weeklong eastern Caribbean option Feb. 15, with calls at Key West, Freeport and Nassau.  The Feb. 15 departure will be the first of 11 eastern Caribbean cruises this year.

Expansive Kid-Friendly Facilities

Carnival Conquest’s extensive renovation included the addition of a Circle “C” facility on Atlantic Deck 8, part of the line’s fleetwide program aimed at 12- to 14-year olds.  The center includes a high-tech sound and lighting system, plasma screen TVs displaying movies and music videos, a touch-screen jukebox, and gaming pods with the latest video games and consoles.

In addition to the new Circle “C” center, the 4,200-square-foot Camp Carnival play area was remodeled with updated gaming stations, while the 1,800-square-foot Club O2 teen center now features new plasma TVs.  Various cosmetic enhancements were made to both rooms, as well.

Carnival’s Seaside Theatre

Carnival Conquest is also the latest “Fun Ship” to feature the line’s popular “Carnival Seaside Theatre,” a massive 270-square-foot LED screen on Lido Deck displaying movies, concerts, sporting events, and other programming, including a “Morning Show” hosted by the ship’s cruise director.  Utilizing the same technology featured in large stadiums and New York’s Times Square, the state-of-the-art entertainment system includes a 70,000-watt sound system, providing concert quality sound, even outdoors.

New Balconies, Other Enhancements

Eighteen staterooms on the Carnival Conquest that previously featured floor-to-ceiling windows have been retrofitted with private balconies, creating expansive 230-square-foot verandah staterooms.  Including these accommodations, Carnival Conquest now has 573 total balcony staterooms – ideal for scenic Caribbean cruising.

Additionally, dozens of individual pieces of exercise equipment were replaced in the ship’s 14,500-square-foot Spa Carnival facility. Carnival Conquest is also the latest “Fun Ship” to offer bow-to-stern Wi-Fi access, enabling guests to use their laptop computers from any location on the ship, including their staterooms.

 

          Carnival Cruise Lines, the Port of Galveston’s only year-round cruise operator, announced today that it will resume service from the Texas port on November 1, 2008 following a temporary cease in cruise operations due to Hurricane Ike last month.

            The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will resume year-round four- and five-day cruises from Galveston with a five-day voyage departing on Saturday, Nov. 1.  The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will begin year-round seven-day service from Galveston Sunday, Nov. 2.

            Up until that time, the ships will continue to operate round-trip from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal where they were shifted temporarily following Hurricane Ike.  The Carnival Ecstasy cruises on October 23 and October 27; and the Carnival Conquest cruise on October 26 will operate round-trip from Houston.

            “We are extremely pleased to be resuming service from the Port of Galveston and extend our congratulations and appreciation to the port and the Galveston community as a whole for enabling us to return so quickly,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. 

            “We would also like to express our gratitude to the Port of Houston for their tremendous efforts in accommodating our ships and being such exceptional partners.  Their support enabled these ships to remain Texas based while Galveston worked through its recovery process,” Cahill noted.

            Carnival launched the first year-round cruise program from Galveston in 2000 and has expanded its presence dramatically over the past eight years.  With the return of its two year-round ships, Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest, the line expects to carry an estimated 350,000 guests annually from Galveston.

            According to Steve Cernak, director of the Port of Galveston, “We took a hit however  we rapidly  rebounded. We had our first cargo ship  in nine days after the storm. Now, six weeks after Hurricane Ike, we are fully operational. The Port, as well as all of Galveston Island, is excited to welcome home both Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Conquest.

             Carnival Ecstasy’s four- and five-day cruise schedule encompasses four-day voyages departing Thursdays to Cozumel, Mexico, and five-day cruises departing Mondays and Saturdays to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival Conquest’s seven-day   western  Caribbean cruise  program  includes  week-long  voyages  departing  every Sunday to  Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cozumel; and George Town, Grand Cayman as well as a new 2009 itinerary option that visits Key West, Freeport and Nassau.

Carnival Conquest, Carnival Ecstasy to Arrive at Houston’s Bayport Terminal Later This Week

As a result of the closure of the Port of Galveston due to damage from Hurricane Ike, Carnival Cruise Lines’ two Galveston-based ships, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy, are scheduled to operate their regular cruise programs from the Port of Houston’s Bayport Cruise Terminal effective with this weekend’s departures.

The 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will resume its four- and five-day Mexico schedule from the Port of Houston starting with a five-day cruise departing Saturday, Sept. 20.  Beginning with the departure of Sunday, Sept. 21, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will depart Houston on seven-day cruises to the western Caribbean.

Both vessels are currently docked in New Orleans where they were deployed following the closure of the Port of Galveston. Carnival Conquest will arrive at the Port of Houston on Thursday, Sept. 18, and Carnival Ecstasy on Friday, Sept. 19, to disembark those guests who opted to remain aboard the vessels following their previous voyages.        

“We are pleased to continue our Texas operations from the Port of Houston, which will be a convenient option for guests who have already made travel arrangements for previously scheduled Galveston departures,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.  “We are especially grateful to the Port of Houston for their responsiveness.  Many of their personnel involved in making this happen were dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike but set that aside to work with us on very short notice to assure that these vessels would continue to have a Texas homeport and with minimal disruption to our guests,” he added.

Cahill indicated that the company plans to return to Galveston as soon as the necessary repairs to the port facilities are completed.  “The Port of Galveston has been a valued and important partner since we launched year-round cruising from there in 2000.  We look forward to bringing both the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy back to the city as quickly as we can.  We have enjoyed an outstanding relationship with Galveston over the years and our thoughts and prayers are with the people of this wonderful city during this difficult time,” he said.

Carnival’s two Houston-based ships will operate the same itineraries as they did from Galveston. Carnival Conquest will sail seven-day western Caribbean voyages departing Sundays to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Carnival Ecstasy will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel, and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Progreso.

The Port of Houston’s newly opened Bayport Terminal is an $81 million state-of-the-art facility with 96,000 square feet of space.  It is conveniently accessed from both of the city’s airports, and a variety of fine restaurants and shops are located nearby.   The Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy will be the first cruise ships to utilize the new facility.

Carnival’s 22-vessel fleet operates three- to 18-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe and South America. The line currently has two new ships scheduled to enter service between now and 2011.

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

First-Ever Northern Europe Cruises Aboard Carnival Splendor – For its inaugural 2008 season, the new 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor will operate an exciting schedule that will include the line’s first-ever Northern Europe cruise program, as well as Carnival’s popular Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean & Greek Isles voyages. The Northern Europe cruises will operate July 13 – Aug. 30, 2008, round-trip from London (Dover), visiting Copenhagen; Warnemunde (Germany); Helsinki; St. Petersburg; Tallin (Estonia); and Amsterdam.

Carnival Dream to be Based in Port Canaveral, Fla. – The largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed, the 3,652-passenger Carnival Dream, will be homeported in Port Canaveral, Fla., beginning in fall 2009. Currently under construction at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard, Carnival Dream is the first in a new class of ship with a unique interior design, sleek hull and distinctive profile, along with a host of innovative facilities and features which will be released in the coming months.  The deployment of Carnival Dream to Port Canaveral continues the line’s 18-year relationship with the Canaveral Port Authority, the longest tenure of any cruise line there.

Carnival Earns Nine ‘Best of Cruising’ Awards from Fodor’s – Carnival – a relative newcomer in European cruising, entering the market just three years ago – is well represented in the Fodor’s Complete Guide to European Cruises, garnering nine “Best of Cruising” designations, more than double the number of any other cruise line. Carnival’s nine awards include: Best Regular Dining Room Cuisine, Best Specialty Restaurants, Best Cruise Line For Families, Best Regular Cabins, Best Beds, Best Entertainment, Best Sports and Fitness Centers, Best Shops, and Best Fun & Funky Activities.

New Itineraries for Carnival Conquest, Carnival Miracle – The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will offer a new seven-day itinerary from Galveston, Texas, that will include port calls to Key West, Fla., and Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas, beginning in February 2009.

Additionally, a new eight-day eastern Caribbean cruise option from New York featuring port calls to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private island of Half Moon Cay; and Nassau, The Bahamas, will be added to the Carnival Miracle’s itinerary beginning in May 2009. Both of these new programs will complement the ships’ existing cruise schedules.

New Deployments for Miami-Based Ships – The 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination and 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny will operate new year-round itineraries from Miami starting this fall.

Carnival Imagination – which has undergone a dramatic transformation as part of Carnival’s “Evolutions of Fun” enhancement program – will sail three-day Bahamas and four-day western Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2008, while Carnival Destiny will become the industry’s only 100,000-plus-ton-cruise ship to offer year-round four- and five-day Caribbean cruises when it launches this program from Miami Sept. 27, 2008.

New South America Cruises Aboard Carnival Splendor – Carnival Splendor will operate the line’s first-ever South America cruises January – March 2009, visiting magnificent and historic destinations in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru.

The voyages include a 17-day, six-port cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jan. 31-Feb. 17; a 14-day, six-port voyage from Buenos Aires to Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile, Feb. 17-March 3; and an 18-day, six-port South America/Mexican Riviera cruise from Santiago (Valparaiso) to San Francisco March 3-21.

Following these voyages, Carnival Splendor will launch year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., continuing the line’s expansion of its West Coast operations.

Luxurious “Cloud 9 Spa” Aboard Carnival Splendor – Representing a new class of “Fun Ship,” Carnival Splendor will also feature the “Cloud 9 Spa,” a luxurious 21,000-square-foot health and fitness center – the largest in the Carnival fleet. The modern facility will feature the line’s first thalassotherapy pool covered by a glass dome and an elaborate thermal suite. Adjacent to the facility will be 68 exclusive “spa staterooms” – also a first for Carnival.

The new 113,300-ton SuperLiner is slated to debut from Europe in July 2008.

Significant Expansion on Jacksonville-Based Cruises – Carnival will increase capacity by 38 percent on its Jacksonville-based cruises when the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination replaces the 1,486-passenger Celebration on year-round four- and five-day departures beginning Sept. 20, 2008.

Carnival is the only cruise operator to sail year-round from Jacksonville and, with the deployment of the Carnival Fascination – the newest and largest ship ever homeported year-round in Jacksonville – the line is expected to carry 170,000 guests annually from that port.

$250 Million ‘Evolutions of Fun’ Product Enhancement Strategy – Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination are the first of the line’s eight Fantasy-class ships to undergo an “extreme makeover” with the new “Evolutions of Fun” ship enhancement program. In addition to the new “Carnival WaterWorks” aqua parks featuring 300-foot-long corkscrew water slides, water spray park and double-lane racing slides, the initiative includes a new design for the main pool areas, and a “Serenity” adults-only deck area. Other features, many of which are already in place, include nine-hole mini golf courses, atrium lobby bars, conference centers, and new children’s play rooms.

“Evolutions of Fun” upgrades are expected to be completed over the next few years, with the Carnival Fantasy next in line to undergo the extensive renovations this fall.

Second ‘John Heald Bloggers Cruise’ Aboard Carnival Fantasy – Following the tremendous success of the inaugural “John Heald Bloggers Cruise” earlier this year, the popular senior cruise director will host a second cruise for readers of his popular blog – this time aboard the Carnival Fantasy from New Orleans Feb. 7-12, 2009.

The five-day voyage, which will visit Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico, will feature a number of exclusive events and activities hosted by Heald, whose blog has attracted more than two million visitors since being launched in March 2007.

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, and South America. The line has three new ships scheduled to enter service between now and 2011.

For additional information on Carnival’s “Fun Ship” vacations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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.