NEWS TO USE FROM CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
MIAMI – From the introduction of the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed and the launch of Baltimore’s first year-round cruise program to significant capacity increases from Mobile, Ala., New Orleans and Jacksonville, Fla., Carnival Cruise Lines has a number of exciting developments on tap in the coming months:
130,000-ton Carnival Dream – Largest ‘Fun Ship’ Ever Constructed – The largest Carnival Cruise Lines ship ever constructed, the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream, will usher in a new era of “Fun Ship” cruising when it debuts in September 2009, offering a host of innovations. Carnival Dream’s many features will include The Piazza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; the most elaborate children’s facilities at sea, including expansive play areas and a huge Carnival WaterWorks aqua park; “scenic whirlpools” that extend over the ship’s beam; and a variety of new stateroom categories, including those specifically catering to families. Following its debut in Europe and a series of voyages from New York, Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral, Fla., Dec. 5, 2009.
First Year-Round Schedule from Baltimore – Carnival will launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning Sept. 13, 2009. It is expected that the Carnival Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the Port of Baltimore. Including its new Baltimore-based program, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 17 North American departure points, including 11 year-round homeports – the most of any cruise operator.
Carnival Fantasy to Mobile – Carnival – which operates Mobile, Ala.’s only year-round cruise program – will expand capacity at the port by 42 percent when the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy assumes the popular four- and five-day cruise program of the 1,452-passenger Holiday beginning in November 2009. On this route, four-day cruises depart the Alabama Cruise Terminal Thursdays and call at Cozumel while five-day cruises depart Mondays and Saturdays to Cozumel and Calica or Progreso. This fall, Carnival Fantasy will undergo an extensive renovation that will include the addition of a water park, adults-only area and redesigned main pool, all part of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” product enhancement initiative.
Carnival Triumph to New Orleans – The 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph will replace the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in New Orleans in 2009, representing a 34 percent capacity increase from the Big Easy. Additionally, Carnival Triumph will introduce two new seven-day eastern and western itineraries from the port, complementing the line’s popular four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises. Carnival is the only cruise line to operate year-round from New Orleans and the Carnival Triumph is expected to carry approximately 200,000 passengers annually from the Crescent City – the most of any cruise line.
Significant Expansion on Jacksonville-Based Cruises – Carnival will increase capacity by 38 percent on its Jacksonville-based cruises when the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination begins year-round four- and five-day departures Sept. 20, 2008. Carnival is the only cruise operator to sail year-round from Jacksonville and, with the deployment of the Carnival Fascination – the newest and largest ship ever homeported year-round in Jacksonville – the line is expected to carry 170,000 guests annually from that port.
Carnival Sensation to Undergo Next Phase of ‘Evolutions of Fun’ – In January 2009, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Sensation will undergo a multi-million-dollar refurbishment that will include the installation of a water park, an adults-only retreat and tropical-themed mid-ship pool area, as well as renovations to 1,000 staterooms, all part of the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” product enhancement initiative for the line’s eight Fantasy-class vessels. Carnival Sensation will be the fourth ship to be retrofitted with these features, with Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration already completed and Carnival Fantasy to be refurbished this fall.
Carnival Launches New On-Line Store – Carnival has launched the cruise industry’s most extensive on-line store, www.carnivalfunshop.com, offering a wide variety of “Fun Ship”-branded merchandise. The new site provides consumers and cruise enthusiasts with a one-stop-shop for purchasing items that were previously only available in the line’s shipboard gift shops, with everything from hats, polo and T-shirts and other apparel to travel gear, tote bags, backpacks, and toys, including, of course, the ever-popular “Fun Ship” Freddy toy.
New Itineraries for Carnival Conquest, Carnival Miracle – The 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will offer a new seven-day itinerary from Galveston, Texas, that will include port calls to Key West, Fla., and Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas, beginning in February 2009. Additionally, a new eight-day eastern Caribbean cruise option from New York featuring port calls to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private island of Half Moon Cay; and Nassau, The Bahamas, will be added to the Carnival Miracle’s itinerary beginning in May 2009. Both of these new programs will complement the ships’ existing cruise schedules.
Carnival Elation to Shift to Three- and Four-Day Cruises from San Diego – The 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation will begin a new short cruise program from San Diego Feb. 12, 2009, departing Thursdays on three-day cruises to Ensenada and Sundays on four-day cruises to Ensenada and Catalina Island. Carnival Elation’s new San Diego-based schedule complements a similar program aboard the Carnival Paradise from Long Beach, Calif., with those departures occurring Fridays and Mondays. With Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, consumers are provided with two convenient Southern California embarkation points and four departure days each week from which to choose.
‘Seaside Theatre’ Concept Expanded to Five Additional ‘Fun Ships’ – “Carnival’s Seaside Theatres” — jumbo-sized LED screens currently featured poolside on five Carnival “Fun Ships” — will be expanded to an additional five vessels over the next year. Carnival Destiny and Carnival Triumph will be retrofitted with the massive 270-square-foot screens later this year while the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory are set to receive the screens next year. A Seaside Theatre will also be included on the new Carnival Dream when it debuts in fall 2009.
South America Cruises Aboard Carnival Splendor – Following a series of European and Caribbean voyages, Carnival Splendor will operate the line’s first South America cruises Jan. – March 2009, visiting historic destinations in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Chile and Peru. The voyages include a 17-day cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jan. 31-Feb. 17; a 14-day voyage from Buenos Aires to Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile, Feb. 17-March 3; and an 18-day South America/Mexican Riviera cruise from Santiago to San Francisco March 3-21. Following these voyages, Carnival Splendor will launch year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif., continuing the line’s expansion of its West Coast operations.
Second ‘John Heald Bloggers Cruise’ Aboard Carnival Fantasy – Following the tremendous success of the inaugural “John Heald Bloggers Cruise” earlier this year, the popular senior cruise director will host a second cruise for readers of his popular blog – this time aboard the Carnival Fantasy from New Orleans Feb. 7-12, 2009. The five-day voyage, which will visit Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico, will feature a number of exclusive events and activities hosted by Heald, whose blog has attracted 2.5 million visitors since being launched in March 2007. Heald’s blog is available at www.johnhealdsblog.com.
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, and South America. The line has two new 130,000-ton ships on order – Carnival Dream, set to debut September 21, 2009, and Carnival Magic, scheduled to enter service in June 2011.
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.