Carnival Expects to Carry Record Number of Passengers

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http://www.carnival.com/CMS/Articles/2005_overview.aspx

 

Capacity Increases in Five U.S. Homeports, New Year-Round Embarkation Ports, Fleetwide Product Enhancements Add Up to Anticipated Record-Breaking Year

 

MIAMI (February 7, 2005) – With capacity increases in five U.S. homeports, new year-round programs from Mobile, Ala., and Jacksonville, Fla., and its first-ever Mediterranean cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines expects to carry a record 3.3 million passengers and operate an unprecedented number of voyages in the coming year.

 

Newer, larger “Fun Ships” have been deployed in Miami; Tampa; New Orleans; Galveston, Texas; and Long Beach, Calif., representing an average capacity increase of 31 percent over the vessels they replaced.

 

In total, Carnival will operate more than 1,300 cruises aboard 20 “Fun Ships” departing from 18 different North American homeports – the most in cruising – during 2005.

 

The unprecedented number of cruise offerings, combined with a high quality shipboard experience influenced by the line’s wide-ranging “Today’s Carnival” product enhancement strategy, adds up to an anticipated record-breaking year for guests carried, according to Carnival President and CEO Bob Dickinson.

 

“From new itinerary and homeport choices to expanded dining, activity and entertainment options, Carnival has a variety of exciting developments on tap for the coming year,” he said. “Consumers are encouraged to book early to not only get the best price but also the itinerary and stateroom of their choice,” Dickinson added.

 

Capacity Increases in Five U.S. Homeports

 

Carnival has recently expanded capacity in five different U.S. homeports, deploying newer, larger tonnage on a variety of three - to eight-day itineraries.

 

These include the 2,974-passenger Carnival Valor, the largest “Fun Ship” ever based in Miami, operating week-long Caribbean voyages. Carnival also continued its dramatic growth in New Orleans and Galveston by deploying 2,052-passenger “Fantasy-class” vessels in those markets. The 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle also became Tampa’s largest “Fun Ship,” while the 2,052-passenger Inspiration was deployed on four- and five-day cruises from that port, providing a fresh new alternative on this popular itinerary. The 2,052-passenger Paradise was redeployed to Long Beach to become the newest cruise ship to operate short cruises from the West Coast.

 

First-Ever Mediterranean Cruises, Transatlantic Voyages

 

Carnival Liberty will also operate a series of 12-day, seven-port cruises round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) July 20 – Oct. 12, 2005, calling at Naples, Dubrovnik, Venice, Messina, Barcelona, Cannes, and Livorno. Following this program, Carnival Liberty will operate a 16-day transatlantic voyage departing Rome (Civitavecchia) Oct. 24, and arriving Fort Lauderdale Nov. 9, 2005, calling at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, Funchal (Madeira), and St. Maarten.

 

New Year-Round Programs from Mobile, Jacksonville

 

2005 also marks the first full year of new “Fun Ship” cruise programs from Mobile and Jacksonville – the only year-round schedules from those ports.

 

From Mobile, the 1,452-passenger Holiday departs Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel, and Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Playa del Carmen or Costa Maya.

 

From Jacksonville, the 1,486-passenger Celebration departs Thursdays on four-day cruises to Freeport and Nassau and five-day cruises to Key West and Nassau.

 

‘Today’s Carnival’ Product Upgrades

 

Carnival has revamped virtually every aspect of the “Fun Ship” cruise experience over the last few years, everything from dining options and shore excursions to children’s programming and spa facilities.

 

New activities have been added to the line’s top-rated “Camp Carnival” program, including art, music, science, and reading programs, while shore excursions now feature more active “adventure-type” tours. A new youth spa program has added to the line’s expansive Spa Carnival health and fitness facilities.

 

The new Carnival Valor is the first cruise ship to offer “100 percent bow to stern” Wi-Fi capabilities, complementing the line’s fleetwide Internet cafes and Wi-Fi services.

 

Dining options now include a greater variety of casual choices such as fleetwide 24-hour pizzerias and delis and upscale offerings like reservations-only supper clubs on select vessels.

 

Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 20 “Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 16 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England and Europe. The line currently has two 110,000-ton SuperLiners – Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom – with a collective estimated value of $1 billion scheduled to enter service between now and February 2007.

 

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