Underscoring the increasing popularity of balcony and suite accommodations, Carnival recently completed the construction of two expansive new 750-square-foot suites aboard the Carnival Liberty.  

            The newly completed suites — the largest in the “Fun Ship” fleet — feature a new cabin configuration with a separate bedroom, expansive living area and two bathrooms.

            Located in 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 Carnival Liberty currently offers seven-day Caribbean cruises departing from Miami and in April 2009 will introduce new week-long Western and Exotic Eastern Caribbean itineraries.

          Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that its Miami-based Carnival Liberty, which was originally scheduled to reposition to Europe in May 2009, will instead remain in Miami to operate year-round Caribbean cruises.

            The Carnival Liberty will continue to offer its existing schedule of seven-day Caribbean cruises through next spring and then introduce a new seven-day program from Miami beginning in April 2009. 

            In turn, the Carnival Pride, currently based in Long Beach, Calif., and originally scheduled to shift to Miami for a five-month Caribbean deployment from April through August, will instead launch its Baltimore-based program on April 27, 2009. 

            Prior to its Baltimore deployment, Carnival Pride will operate its previously scheduled Panama Canal cruise from Long Beach, Calif., to Miami March 22–April 5, 2009, as well as a six-day cruise departing April 5 and two seven-day Caribbean cruises departing April 11 and 18, 2009, all operating from Miami. 

            “Based on current market conditions, continued economic uncertainty and high air costs to Europe, we are shifting our focus to an even greater extent toward our core, close-to-home cruise options which are clearly the preference of the vast majority of the mainstream vacation market right now,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. “We are excited that this change in deployment will also enable us to bring the Carnival Pride to Baltimore four months earlier than originally planned to start up that city’s first year-round cruise program, which is proving to be extremely popular based on advanced bookings so far,” he added.

            Cahill noted that Carnival will still offer several European cruises next year when the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream – the line’s newest and largest ship – debuts with a series of three 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) in September and October 2009. Carnival Dream will also operate a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York in late October 2009.

            Cahill said that the company will be offering assistance in finding vacation alternatives to Carnival Liberty guests who were scheduled to sail in Europe, including European cruises on Carnival’s sister companies that have a strong presence in the region such as Holland America and Princess.

             “We understand that our guests who were scheduled to sail in Europe are going to be disappointed by this development and we sincerely apologize to them for this disruption to their vacation plans. Europe remains a desirable vacation choice for many and we will endeavor to help our guests find alternative plans to sail within the region,” he said.

Existing Bookings – Carnival Liberty and Carnival Pride

            Guests booked on the Carnival Liberty Europe cruises will be provided special onboard credit offers toward other 2009 Carnival cruises, including the Carnival Dream European departures. In addition, Carnival will assist guests with the cost of changes/cancellations for non-refundable air transportation.

            Guests who were booked on the Carnival Pride’s Caribbean cruises from April 25, 2009 to August 29, 2009 from Miami will be automatically shifted to the same accommodations on the Carnival Liberty.  The Carnival Liberty will also operate the same itineraries as previously scheduled on the Carnival Pride.     

Carnival Liberty’s New Seven-Day Caribbean Cruises From Miami

            Carnival Liberty will continue its current program of seven-day Caribbean cruises from Miami through April 18, 2009 then assume a new schedule of weeklong cruises to the Western and Exotic Eastern Caribbean beginning Saturday, April 25, 2009, through November 28, 2009.  The new Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruise route will feature Half Moon Cay, a private Bahamian island; St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands.  The western route will visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico

 
Carnival Pride’s New Spring/Summer Departures From Baltimore

            Carnival Pride will launch Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program beginning on April 27, 2009, four months ahead of the original schedule.  From April 27, 2009 to September 6, 2009, the ship will operate a series of six-, seven- and eight-day cruises.  These cruises will visit a wide variety of ports including Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay (a private Bahamian island), Port Canaveral (Orlando) and Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos.

Reservations

            Carnival will begin accepting reservations for the new Carnival Liberty and Carnival Pride programs from Miami and Baltimore beginning October 30, 2008.   For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

   

           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.

          

           At a reception Saturday aboard the Carnival Liberty in Miami, Captain Marco Nogara and the vessel’s crew were presented with the U.S. Coast Guard’s Meritorious Public Service Award by Rear Admiral Steve Branham for rescuing 44 Haitian migrants from a boat that was sinking off the coast of Cuba on Aug. 22.

            The award recognized the Carnival Liberty’s officers, staff and crew for not only rescuing the migrants but also for their humanitarian efforts in providing food, water and medical care to the individuals, who were adrift at sea for 15 days. 

            In addition to the search and rescue efforts, the Carnival Liberty conducted an assessment of the Haitian vessel that resulted in the seizure of more than 25 pounds of marijuana which was turned over to law enforcement officials