Carnival Splendor, which is under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri, Italy, was ‘floated out’ from its drydock facility and towed to a new location at the yard over the weekend. Construction on the 113,300-ton ship, the largest in the Carnival fleet, will continue through next June with the vessel scheduled to enter service on July 13, 2008.

The 3,006-passenger “Fun Ship” will feature a host of innovations, including a 21,000-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, 68 spa staterooms and suites, a two-level 5,500-square-foot children’s play area, and the Carnival Seaside Theatre giant outdoor movie screen. Dining options will include twin two-level main dining rooms, a casual poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria, deli, a traditional Indian Tandoori oven, an upscale seafood venue and numerous other choices, as well as an elegant reservations-only supper club offering prime quality beef and other gourmet cuisine.

Carnival Splendor will start service on July 13, 2008 and introduce Carnival’s first 12-day Northern European cruise program, followed by a series of 12-day Mediterranean departures through Oct. 17, 2008. The ship will then sail on a transatlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Oct. 29, continuing with a series of seven-day Caribbean voyages from that port beginning Nov. 22, 2008.

Carnival Splendor will then operate three special South America departures in 2009 -- a 17-day, six-port cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jan. 31-Feb. 17; a 14-day, six-port voyage from Buenos Aires to Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile, Feb. 17-March 3, and an 18-day, six-port South America/Mexican Riviera cruise from Santiago (Valparaiso) to San Francisco March 3-21. That will be followed by the launch of year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., beginning in March 2009.

Carnival is currently taking reservations for all Carnival Splendor departures. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL. Information is also available at www.carnival.com.

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