The Grand Turk Cruise Center – closed since the passing of Hurricane Ike last month – today welcomed its first cruise ship, the 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny.

Carnival Destiny guests had an opportunity to swim in the facility’s massive swimming pool, relax on an 800-foot-long private beach, and dine at the on-site Margaritaville restaurant and lounge.  The facility’s various shops were open, as well. 

Numerous shore excursions were also available, including Gibbs Key tour, dune buggy rentals, swimming with horses, and fishing and snorkeling expeditions.  The previously offered hop on/hop off bus tour is currently operating as a post-hurricane island tour.  Guests are charged a nominal fee for the tour and provided with a pledge card should they wish to donate to the United Way’s Grand Turk hurricane relief fund.

Shipboard employees are also participating in a beach clean-up initiative to assist in the island’s recovery.

The $60 million Grand Turk Cruise Center opened in 2006 and has become one of the cruise industry’s most popular Caribbean cruise destinations.  The 13-acre facility serves as a gateway to the pristine island of Grand Turk, which in addition to magnificent beaches, is world renowned for diving, snorkeling, fishing and other watersports.

Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess is the next cruise ship to call at the Grand Turk Cruise Center on Oct. 10.

   

           Underscoring the tremendous popularity of its balcony staterooms, Carnival Cruise Lines will add balconies to a number of cabins on two ships during upcoming dry docks over the next few months.

            Staterooms on the Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph that currently feature floor-to-ceiling windows will be retrofitted with private balconies, creating a total of 48 additional 230-square-foot verandah staterooms on these vessels. 

            Additionally, two new 750-square-foot “deluxe penthouse suites” – nearly double the size of the largest staterooms in the fleet – will be added to the Carnival Liberty.

            “Balcony staterooms continue to be in great demand – in fact, they’re often the first cabin category to sell out,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. “Therefore, we are pleased to incorporate additional balcony staterooms on Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph, which will offer guests their own private, relaxing venue for viewing magnificent ocean vistas and scenery,” he added.

            Like all “Fun Ship” accommodations, the new balcony staterooms on the Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph will offer a host of in-cabin amenities, including the popular Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows. 

            Carnival balcony accommodations also include soft terrycloth robes for guest use during their cruise, as well as satellite television, mini bars, hair dryers, ample closet space, and in-cabin amenity kits with a wide array of brand-name products.

            The two new 750-square-foot “deluxe penthouse suites” on the Carnival Liberty will be largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet by far and feature a new cabin configuration with a separate bedroom, expansive living area, and two full bathrooms, including one with a bathtub tub.

            Located on the ship’s forward section on Deck 9, the deluxe penthouse suites can accommodate up to five guests – rare in cruise industry staterooms – and include two twin beds that convert to a king, a sofa bed and two pull-down upper beds.         

            The 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny began a new program of year-round four- and five-day Caribbean cruises from Miami last week. 

            The 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph will continue its seven-day Caribbean schedule from Miami through next summer then sail on a series of Canada/New England voyages from New York before repositioning to New Orleans to launch year-round four-, five-, and seven-day Caribbean service in November 2009. 

            The 2,974-passenger Carnival Liberty, which currently operates seven-day Caribbean cruises from Miami, will reposition to Europe next summer to operate 12-day voyages to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.  The ship will resume its weeklong Caribbean program from Miami in December 2009.

            The new balcony staterooms on these three vessels will be available for sale on October 3, 2008.

            Carnival Destiny, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Liberty are part of the line’s 22- vessel “Fun Ship” fleet which 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 has two new ships scheduled to enter service between now and 2011.

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

           When the 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny begins a new schedule of four- and five-day cruises from Miami on Saturday, Sept. 27, it will not only provide consumers with an exciting new “Fun Ship” vacation option but will also be the largest ship to be deployed year-round on short cruise itineraries.

            Additionally, the Carnival Destiny offers nearly 500 balcony staterooms and suites – the most of any ship operating a year-round short-cruise program – providing consumers with unprecedented variety in their accommodation choices.

            Carnival Destiny’s deployment to Miami will also further solidify Carnival’s position as the short-cruise leader, with 29 such options from 12 U.S. homeports – the most in cruising.  In total, Carnival’s ships will operate nearly 850 departures of five days or less in length with roughly half of its 22-vessel fleet offering short cruise itineraries.

            On its new Miami-based schedule, Carnival Destiny departs Thursdays on four-day cruises to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico; Mondays on five-day cruises to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands; and Half Moon Cay, a private Bahamian island; and Saturdays on five-day voyages to George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica..         

            In addition to providing a convenient and affordable vacation option, Carnival Destiny offers a host of on-board amenities, including some new features that were installed during a recent two-week dry dock. These include Carnival’s Seaside Theatre, a massive 270-square-foot outdoor LED screen on Lido Deck displaying movies, concerts, sporting events and other programming, along with an expansive new “Circle C” facility catering to the 12- to 14-year-old age group.

            Located on Sun Deck 12, “Circle C” features 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. A variety of cosmetic enhancements such as new carpeting, wall coverings and tile work, were also completed.

Continued Expansion of Short Cruise Market

            The deployment of the Carnival Destiny to Miami is one of several enhancements to the line’s short cruise programs. 

            This past weekend, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination began year-round four- and five-day cruises from Jacksonville, Fla., becoming the newest and largest ship to sail from that port on a year-round basis.  The 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination, which offers such features as a water park and adults-only area – all part of the “Evolutions of Fun” product enhancement initiative – began a new three- and four-day schedule from Miami last week, as well.

            Next year, Carnival will dramatically expand capacity on its short cruise programs from Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans, when the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fantasy and the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph, respectively, launch new programs from those ports in November 2009.

A Spectacular ‘Fun Ship’

            Carnival Destiny — the world’s first 100,000-plus-ton cruise ship — offers a host of resort-style facilities and features: 18 lounges and bars, including a 1,400-seat theater featuring lavish production revues, a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness center, a jogging track, an Internet café, ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service.

            Dining options include two two-level main dining rooms with extensive menus and wine lists, a 1,200-seat poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie serving specialty coffees and sweets, and complimentary 24-hour room service.

            In addition to the new “Circle C” facility for 12- to 14-year-olds, Carnival Destiny offers numerous other family friendly features, including a children’s program, “Camp Carnival,” catering to kids ages two to 11, and “Club O2,” the line’s award-winning teen program for 15- to 17-year olds.

            Carnival Destiny also offers a variety of accommodation categories, including a wide range of balcony staterooms and suites. All staterooms feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Reservations

            Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Destiny’s new four- and five-day cruise schedule from Miami.  For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.