The blog of Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald – which has attracted 3.6 million visits since being launched two years ago – has been named “Best Cruise Line Blog” in Porthole Magazine’s 2009 Editor-In-Chief Awards. In his popular blog, Heald provides readers with a unique behind-the-scenes look at “Fun Ship” cruising while sharing his humorous and insightful observations on a wide range of topics. Read the full story

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. Read the full story

The Grand Turk Cruise Center, which is operated by Miami-based Carnival Corporation & plc, and located on the island of Grand Turk, has scheduled an Oct. 8, 2008 re-opening date, following the passage of Hurricane Ike. Read the full story

GRAND TURK, B.W.I. (April 8, 2008) – Grand Turk Cruise Center, one of the Caribbean’s newest cruise destinations, has announced an increase in both the number of ship calls as well as the opening of additional retail stores in 2008.

In addition to vendors selling local crafts and souvenirs, the facility also features such recognizable names as Margaritaville, Little Switzerland, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Bruno Fine Art, Goodmark Jewelers and the cruise center’s anchor retail tenant, duty-free giant, Dufry.

Officials at the Grand Turk Cruise Center expect more than 200 cruise ship calls accounting for 400,000 passengers in 2008, up from 180 calls and 380,000 passengers last year.

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