Carnival Cruise Lines presented a check for $5,000 to MUSC Children’s Hospital in Charleston, S.C., during a reception aboard the Carnival Fantasy commemorating the ship’s new cruise program from Charleston – the first year-round schedule from that port.

Monies were raised during the recent Cooper River Bridge Run Finish Festival in which participants and spectators could pay $1 to ride down a giant 40-foot-high inflatable slide with all proceeds going to the hospital.

Pictured here at the check presentation ceremony on board are (from left):  Carnival’s Business Development Director for South Carolina Joanie Field, MUSC’s Director of Development Barbara Rivers; and Carnival’s Vice President of Sales – Southeast Region Rob Huffman.

The first call reception was held to commemorate the launch of Carnival Fantasy’s five-, six- and seven-day cruises to the Bahamas and Key West, Fla., which began May 18.  Carnival Fantasy will also operate six six-day Bermuda cruises from Charleston in 2011 – the only such voyages from the Holy City.

Carnival Fantasy is expected to carry 140,000 passengers annually from Charleston.