Readers of Ocean & Cruise News – the publication of the World Cruise & Ocean Liner Society, an organization comprised of highly experienced cruise enthusiasts — named Carnival “Best Cruise Value” in the superior four star category for the 14th consecutive year. The line also took home top honors in the “Short Cruise” category.

During the ninth annual Reader’s Choice Awards conducted by Travel Weekly magazine, Carnival was named “Best Domestic Cruise Line,” while the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit was named “Best Overall Individual Ship.”  Also, for the third consecutive year, Carnival’s business development managers were recognized for providing the cruise industry’s “Best Sales and Service.”

Carnival also received the prestigious “Best Cruise Line” honor from highly popular Southern Living Magazine, within that publication’s 2008 Readers Choice Awards.

Carnival’s incentive programs were recognized by the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE), receiving one of the organization’s “Most Outstanding Travel Reward Program” awards.

Among a wide variety of other accolades received throughout the year, Carnival was honored with nine Readers Choice Awards from Porthole magazine, including “Best Children’s Program,” “Best Entertainment” and “Most Value-for-the-Money.”

Meanwhile, Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald was named “Sea Going Employee of the Year” by Seatrade Insider.

Carnival was also honored by readers of TravelAge West magazine during the magazine’s annual WAVE (Western Agents Votes of Excellence) Awards, which named Kirk Neal, Carnival Cruise Lines’ business development director for the Sacramento region, “Favorite Individual Cruise Line Sales Representative,” while Harry’s Supper Club aboard the 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty was named “Best Alternative Dining Facility.”

Cruise One/Cruises Inc. named Carnival “Most Improved Cruise Line” for its efforts to continue to offer its guests an exciting, value-packed vacation experience and particularly for recent initiatives such as the new $250 million “Evolutions of Fun” ship refurbishment program for its Fantasy-class vessels, currently completed on the Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Imagination. 

Also, Carnival Cruise Lines’ parent company, Carnival Corporation & plc, was honored at the recent World Travel Awards with the “Leading Cruise Brand” designation for 2007, as voted by travel agents in more than 190 countries around the world. 

“Carnival strives to exceed guests’ expectations in all areas of the cruising experience – from our relationship with the travel agent community to our onboard services and programs – and receiving these various recognitions is truly gratifying,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival senior vice president of sales and guest services.

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, the Greek Isles and South America.

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

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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.

The annual awards are based on surveys available to the publication’s 15 million readers who are asked to designate their number one choice in a variety of travel-related categories. Carnival was cited as the preferred cruise line more than any other cruise operator.

Carnival’s “Fun Ships” were recognized for providing excellent activities and entertainment options, an exceptional array of fine quality cuisine, and convenient Southern U.S. departure points, with 17 ships departing from eight ports throughout Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana.   “The convenience is a real winner and a great reason to keep going back again for more of what their ships have to offer,” said Wanda McKinney, Southern Living’s associate travel editor. 

“We take a great deal of pride in providing our guests with wonderful vacation memories and have made a tremendous investment in continually updating and enhancing the ‘Fun Ship’ vacation experience. To have these efforts acknowledged by the discerning readers of Southern Living is extremely gratifying,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services. 

Over the past five years alone, Carnival launched five new 110,000-ton “Fun Ships” – the largest in its fleet – and rolled out the $250 million “Evolutions of Fun” shipboard refurbishment program that includes extensive renovations for its eight Fantasy-class ships.  New amenities for these vessels include the Carnival WaterWorks aqua parks, Serenity adults-only areas and totally redesigned main pool areas.

“With exciting new ship projects and guest-driven initiatives such as ‘Evolutions of Fun,’ Carnival is more committed than ever to providing our guests with fun, high quality, memorable vacations – all at an incredible value,” Freed added.

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, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Greek Isles and South America.

The line currently has three new ships on order, including the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor, set to launch Carnival’s first Northern European cruise program July 13, 2008, and the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic – to be the largest “Fun Ships” ever constructed when they enter service in June 2009 and October 2011, respectively.

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

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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.