CARNIVAL’S 2,056-PASSENGER CARNIVAL FANTASY OFFERS YEAR-ROUND FIVE- TO SEVEN-DAY CRUISES FROM CHARLESTON, S.C.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 70,000-ton Carnival Fantasy will launch a new schedule of five- and seven-day voyages from Charleston, S.C., May 18 – the first year-round cruise program from that port.

On this route, five-day voyages departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will call at Nassau and Freeport. Seven-day voyages depart Saturdays and will feature Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.  

Following a 28-day scheduled dry dock in September 2008, Carnival Fantasy emerged with a host of new amenities and facilities as part of the line’s $350 million “Evolutions of Fun” ship refurbishment initiative for its eight Fantasy-class vessels.  New features include a Carnival WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long water slide, dual-racing slides and water spray apparatus; Serenity, an adults-only area located aft with two whirlpools; and a redesigned resort-style main pool on Lido Deck.

The namesake vessel in the line’s Fantasy-class, the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy offers a diversity of themed lounges, bars and nightspots, myriad full-service and casual dining choices, an on-board health and fitness facility, supervised programs for kids and teens, a comprehensive golf program and spacious accommodations.  

PUBLIC ROOMS AND AREAS
Designed by Carnival’s award-winning architect Joe Farcus, Carnival Fantasy’s interior features an abstract décor that varies greatly throughout the various public rooms and areas. Highlights include the Cleopatra piano bar, which pays homage to ancient Egypt with sarcophagi, life-size Egyptian sculptures and hieroglyphics, and the Cats Lounge, inspired by the hit Broadway musical and offering guests a unique “cats eye view” with a décor of oversized cans, kitchen utensils and food containers.

The ship’s library, the Pavilion, offers a traditional setting of mahogany-and-glass bookcases and walls adorned with original artwork, while the refined Majestic Bar, a popular spot for before- or after-dinner cocktails and people watching, features a grand marble staircase and gilt-trimmed columns leading down to the Jubilee Dining Room.

Other public areas include Electricity, a pulsating dance club with a state-of-the-art sound and light system; the Universe Lounge, a multi-level theater showcasing Las Vegas-style performances; and Via Marina, a Roman-themed promenade providing easy and convenient access to the ship’s various lounges and bars.

DINING OPTIONS
With dining such an important part of the Carnival vacation experience Carnival Fantasy offers a wide variety of formal and casual options, including the full-service Celebration and Jubilee formal dining rooms and the poolside Windows on the Sea Bar & Grill, a casual eatery serving full breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and a 24-hour pizzeria.  All Carnival Fantasy’s dining venues feature delicious vegetarian dishes and children’s menus, as well as Spa Carnival Fare, delicious health-conscious menu items that are lower in fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories. The ship also features a patisserie, a Mongolian wok and rotisserie, as well as complimentary 24-hour room service. 

ON-BOARD PROGRAMS
CAMP CARNIVAL, CIRCLE ‘C,’ CLUB O2 – Building upon Carnival’s distinction as the family cruise leader carrying 670,000 children annually fleetwide, Carnival Fantasy offers organized programs for three different age groups – Camp Carnival for 2- to 11-year-olds, Circle “C” for 12- to 14-year-olds, and Club O2 for 15- to 17-year-olds – with supervised activities and expansive, modern facilities for each. 

CARNIVAL WATERWORKS – A signature element of the Fantasy-class upgrades is Carnival WaterWorks, a fun-filled aqua park located on Verandah Deck. Designed with an all-ages appeal, WaterWorks encompasses a 300-foot-long twisting, turning water slide – among the longest and most elaborate at sea – along with dual-lane 82-foot-long racing slides, and a wide variety of water spray toys.

In addition, Carnival Fantasy’s main pool on Lido Deck – which includes a swimming pool and two large whirlpools – features a distinct resort-style ambiance. Vibrant oversized umbrellas, thatched roofing and colorful tile work that creates a decidedly tropical feel

ADULTS ONLY RETREAT- Another new feature on the Carnival Fantasy is Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat located aft on Promenade Deck. With design elements that include teak-style decking, large umbrellas and thatched roofing, Serenity provides an ocean-going oasis for relaxation and comfort.  Guests can enjoy icy cocktails and frozen drinks while relaxing in plush chaise lounges and chairs. 

‘SPA CARNIVAL’ – Fitness has become an important part of people’s daily lives and guests sailing on the Carnival Fantasy can take advantage of the ship’s newly renovated health and fitness facility, “Spa Carnival.”  Among the largest facilities of its kind, the 12,000-square-foot “floating health club” features new private treatment rooms and updated exercise equipment, as well as a mirrored aerobics room, men’s and women’s locker rooms, steam rooms and saunas, and a sophisticated menu of body and facial treatments, including a number of exotic “European-style” therapies.  Also featured is a one-eighth-mile jogging track, along with a beauty salon offering a variety of hair, nail and make-up services.

INTERNET CAFÉ, WI-FI ACCESS, CELL PHONE SERVICE – Like all “Fun Ships,” Carnival Fantasy offers an Internet café with private workstations featuring flat-screen monitors, along with Wi-Fi access available in virtually all public rooms and areas.  Guests can also make and receive cell phone calls whether the ship is at sea or in port.

SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS
As part of Carnival’s fleetwide stateroom enhancements, all of the Carnival Fantasy’s 1,028 staterooms feature the new “Carnival Comfort Bed” sleep system, featuring plush mattresses, luxurious duvets, fluffy pillows and high quality sheets and linens. All accommodations include terrycloth bathrobes and offer in-cabin amenity kits with a variety of brand-name product samples for men and women. 

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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.   

The new weeklong cruises will depart the Alabama Cruise Terminal May 8 and 15, July 3 and 10, and Oct. 23 and 30, 2010, and feature three tropical Caribbean ports of call:  Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.  

Designed to complement the line’s popular four- and five-day schedule from Mobile, the new seven-day cruises will be offered aboard the Carnival Fantasy, which late last year underwent an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation which included an expansive Carnival WaterWorks aqua park, new Serenity adults-only retreat and redesigned tropical-themed main pool area.            

Carnival Fantasy’s new seven-day itinerary is the latest chapter in the line’s continued expansion at the Port of Mobile, which has garnered excellent consumer feedback since Carnival launched the port’s first year-round cruise program aboard the Holiday in 2004. Carnival Fantasy will replace the Holiday in November 2009, representing a 42 percent capacity increase.

In addition to the new open-deck upgrades, Carnival Fantasy’s suites, along with its 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival facility and formal and casual dining venues, were renovated and cosmetic enhancements were made to virtually every public area. A new “Circle C” facility catering to 12- to 14-year-olds was added, as well.

The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy — which underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation last fall as part of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” product enhancement program — has been earning rave reviews from guests, travel agents and journalists alike.

The MSBNC.com article by Anita Dunham Potter entitled “Some Cruise Ships Get Better with Age” highlights the upgraded features and facilities of the 70,000-ton “Fun Ship.”

          Journalists sailing on the John Heald Bloggers Cruise aboard the Carnival Fantasy hosted a question-and-answer session for more than 150 Bloggers Cruise participants. 

            The panel was comprised of eight journalists, including:  Anita Dunham-Potter of MSNBC.com and expertcruiser.com; David Molyneaux of travelmaven.net; Paul Motter of cruisemates.com; freelance writers Lynn and Cele Seldon; Gene Sloan of USA Today; freelancer Alan Whitt; and Susan Young of southerncruising.com and Travel Agent Magazine.

            Moderated by Heald, the 90-minute session included spirited discussions on topics such as the state of the cruise industry, an overview of the Carnival product, and the future of the media and its role in today’s society.

            The media Q&A panel was one of a wide range of activities for participants in the Bloggers Cruise, which departed from New Orleans on Saturday and ends tomorrow. 

            The cruise gathered together hundreds of fans of Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald, whose popular blog has garnered nearly 4 million views since being launched in March 2007.

            Fans of John Heald’s blog gathered in New Orleans this weekend, to help spruce up a neighborhood park in the Big Easy.  More than 100 bloggers joined in the volunteer service day in advance of the Bloggers Cruise which is being held on a five-day cruise of the Carnival Fantasy.

            Teaming up with the Beacon of Hope Resource Center, a non-profit organization in New Orleans, the park was transformed with the volunteers painting benches, columns and lamp posts, and clearing debris throughout the facility.

            In addition to the “sweat equity” provided by the Bloggers Cruise volunteers, Carnival Cruise Lines donated $5,000 to the Beacon of Hope Resource Center to help fund future hands-on community service projects throughout the city.

            The John Heald Bloggers Cruise gathers together fans of the senior cruise director’s popular blog, which has attracted nearly 4 million views since being launched in March 2007.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gImenBhkcm4

As part of Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Give Fun Back” radio promotion – which awarded deserving New Orleans residents with free “Fun Ship” cruises – Larenzo Carter, a detective for the New Orleans Police Department, was the guest of honor aboard the Carnival Fantasy, which operates four- and five-day cruises from New Orleans.

Carter, whose VIP treatment included a multi-course lunch and a personal tour of the ship, is pictured here in Carnival Fantasy’s seven-deck-high atrium with Hotel Director Mark Hoffman.

Carnival partnered with five New Orleans radio stations on the “Give Fun Back” promotion in which listeners could submit nominations for those individuals who deserve a Carnival vacation.

Carter, a resident of Kenner, La., was one of five winners selected to receive a free cruise.

           Participants in the second “John Heald Bloggers Cruise” – taking place aboard the newly refurbished Carnival Fantasy from New Orleans in February 2009 – will not only enjoy five fun-filled days sailing with the popular senior cruise director, but they can also make a difference in the lives of local residents.

            The “Bloggers Cruise Community Service Day” will take place in New Orleans on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, the day prior to the departure of the second annual cruise – a five-day voyage to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico, operating Feb. 7-12, 2009.

            Partnering with the city’s Beacon of Hope Resource Center, “Bloggers Cruise Community Service Day” participants will clear debris and plant trees, helping to spruce up a neighborhood in New Orleans that sustained significant damage from Hurricane Katrina.

            Carnival is also partnering with Maison St. Charles Hotel & Suites to provide one- and two-night pre-cruise land stays at special rates for “Bloggers Cruise Community Service Day” participants.

            “I invite everyone to join me in helping the people of New Orleans and we look forward to working with the Beacon of Hope Resource Center in helping to beautify this magnificent city,” Heald said. “Once on board, we’ll enjoy Carnival Fantasy’s ‘Evolutions of Fun’ upgrades, as well as special events and shows just for my blogging friends. It’s going to be a brilliant cruise and I can’t wait to see you there,” he added.

            Added Heather Huth, director of volunteers for the Beacon of Hope Resource Center, “Our goal is to create an environment that encourages our residents to return home.  Although we are proud of how far we’ve come, there is still a long way to go. We are always in need of volunteer service and truly appreciate Carnival’s role in New Orleans’ continued recovery efforts.”

            Following the hands-on charity activity, “Bloggers Cruise Community Service Day” participants will be the guests of honor at a cocktail reception hosted by Heald which will serve as a kick-off event for the voyage.

            During the five-day cruise on Carnival Fantasy, Heald will host a number of exclusive events, including a Welcome Aboard reception, trivia contests, question-and-answer sessions and even an exclusive “Tea Time with John” session. 

            Special photo opportunities with Heald will be available as well. A variety of special giveaways and logo items also will be provided to all “Bloggers Cruise” participants, and Heald will, of course, be submitting posts to his blog throughout the voyage.  

            Carnival Fantasy was selected as the venue for the second “Bloggers Cruise” as it is the latest “Fun Ship” to undergo all phases of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” refurbishment program, which has resulted in a total transformation of the 2,056-passenger SuperLiner.

            The upgrades include a “Carnival WaterWorks” aqua park with a 300-foot-long water slide, dual-lane 82-foot-long racing slides and various water spray apparatus, along with “Serenity,” an adults-only retreat located aft and featuring comfortable chaise lounges and chairs and two oversized whirlpools.

            The mid-ship pool was renovated and now offers a distinctly tropical ambiance, with thatched roofing, colorful umbrellas and other design elements. These renovations complement the first phase of the program, which included extensive refurbishments to a variety of public areas, as well as all staterooms and suites.

            Reservations are currently being accepted for the Bloggers Cruise aboard the Carnival Fantasy Feb. 7-12, 2009, as well as the pre-cruise land stay at the Maison St. Charles Hotel & Suites. Participants must request fare code CPBL/FPBL when booking the cruise to be included in the 2009 Bloggers Cruise events.

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