The award, which was presented last month at SITE’s annual conference in Monterey, Calif., recognized Carnival for providing a unique and memorable travel experience, superior product and services during a seven-day Alaska cruise incentive program created by Harith Wickrema of Harith Productions, a full-service meeting, incentive and production company in Philadelphia, and Char McClelland of Alaska Destination Specialists, an Anchorage-based destination management company for  Bristol, Tenn.-based King Pharmaceuticals. 

Partnering together, these companies created customized on-board experiences, including private dinning areas, custom menu items and special in-room amenities. In port, the companies joined forces once again to deliver a one-of-a-kind Alaska experience culminating in a lakeside event with visits from The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and native tribal leaders.

“Carnival is committed to building our brand, our on-board product and guest experience. We are honored that a prestigious organization such as SITE has acknowledged our company with this award, which validates our commitment to providing the business community not only with an award-winning venue but also a true partnership in growing their business,” said Richard Weinstein, Carnival’s vice president of corporate and incentive sales.     

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.

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 October 2009 and June 2011, respectively.       

With more than 2,200 members in 87 countries representing a wide range of travel, tourism and hospitality organizations, SITE is the only international, not-for-profit, professional association devoted to the pursuit of excellence in incentives, providing educational seminars and information services to those who design, develop, promote, sell, administer, and operate motivational programs as an incentive to increase productivity in business.

For additional information on Carnival’s amenities for corporate meetings and incentive sales opportunities, contact the line’s corporate and incentive sales department toll-free at 1-877-278-0388.

Information and reservations on Carnival’s “Fun Ship” cruises are available by calling 1-800-327-9501 (individual) or 1-800-327-5782 (groups) or visiting the line’s travel agent Internet portal, bookccl.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.

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.