Ship Deployments Press Release

[cruiser fanatic]

CARNIVAL’S MOST INNOVATIVE SHIP YET, CARNIVAL VISTA, TO OPERATE YEAR-ROUND SIX- AND EIGHT-DAY CARIBBEAN CRUISES FROM MIAMI; CARNIVAL BREEZE AND CARNIVAL LIBERTY REPOSITION TO GALVESTON;

 

MIAMI (February 12, 2015) – PortMiami will be the year-round homeport for Carnival Cruise Line’s largest ship to date, the 133,500-ton Carnival Vista, when it launches six- to eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning in December 2016.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Carnival Vista will take cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX® Theatre on a ship; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first water tube slide; and RedFrog Pub, including the line’s first onboard brewery.

Carnival will further bolster its leadership position in Galveston, repositioning Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty to Texas in 2016, joining Carnival Freedom which arrives in Galveston this Saturday. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty will replace Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, respectively, in Galveston. Details on new homeports for Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph, as well as year-round departures from San Juan, will be provided over the coming weeks.

With Carnival Breeze, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom, Galveston will be home to three of the line’s most innovative ships offering the widest array of cruise durations and itineraries to top destinations in Mexico, Belize, Isla Roatan and The Bahamas. These three ships will carry 600,000 passengers annually from Galveston – more than any other cruise operator.

“Miami and Galveston are among our most popular points of embarkation and deploying our newest, most innovative ships to these homeports speaks volumes about our confidence in growing these markets,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president. “These ships not only offer our guests incredible on-board experiences but also provide our valued travel agent partners with exciting new choices to market to their clients,” she added.

 

Island-Intensive Caribbean Cruises from Miami on Carnival Vista

Carnival Vista kicks off its new schedule from PortMiami with a special four-day cruise to Grand Turk departing Nov. 29, 2016. The ship will then launch year-round six- and eight-day cruises beginning with an eight-day voyage departing Dec. 3, 2016. Six-day cruises feature Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, while a mix of different eight-day itineraries visit some of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations, including Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and La Romana (Dominican Republic).

The ship will also offer a combination of one-time voyages, including a five-day cruise departing Dec. 11 and seven-day voyages departing Dec. 17 and 24, 2016, that offer an exciting selection of ports including the Caribbean’s newest destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, as well as Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk, Belize, San Juan, St. Thomas and Cozumel, depending on the itinerary.

In addition to visiting breathtaking Caribbean destinations, guests can experience all the Carnival Vista has to offer – from the colorful Havana area with tropics-inspired staterooms and suites and Family Harbor with special accommodations and a new family concierge to delicious choices like Seafood Shack and new al fresco options at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Cherry On Top, featuring a mixed-to-order premium ice cream bar.

 

Three- to 11-Day Carnival Vista Sailings from the Big Apple

Prior to the start-up of year-round service from Miami, Carnival Vista will operate a pair of voyages round-trip from New York beginning with a three-day cruise November 4-7, 2016, followed by an 11-day voyage departing Nov. 7, 2016, and visiting Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Maarten. Carnival Vista will then offer a spectacular 11-day cruise from New York to Miami Nov. 18-29, 2016, with calls at Grand Turk, Bonaire, Aruba and St. Maarten, an unmatched combination of great destinations not available on any other cruise from New York.

Carnival Vista is slated to operate an inaugural season of European cruises May to October 2016 before repositioning to New York, then launching year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami in November 2016.

 

Exciting New Options in Galveston

Carnival Liberty and Carnival Breeze will shift to Galveston in 2016, providing consumers with Texas-sized fun on departures from the Lone Star State.

Carnival Liberty will launch year-round four- and five-day cruises to Mexico from Galveston beginning March 21, 2016. Four-day “long weekend” cruises depart Thursdays and feature a stop at Cozumel, while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays visiting Cozumel and Progreso. Prior to the start-up of its new Texas-based program, Carnival Liberty will offer a special three-day cruise round-trip from Galveston March 18-21, 2016.

Carnival Breeze – the line’s newest ship – will offer three different week-long itineraries visiting popular ports in the Caribbean, Mexico and Florida beginning Dec. 11, 2016. Western Caribbean voyages call at either Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel or Belize, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan) and Cozumel, while a Bahamas/Florida route includes Nassau, Freeport, and Key West. Carnival Breeze will also offer a special two-day cruise from Galveston Dec. 9-11, 2016, before kicking off its new year-round seven-day schedule.

Carnival Breeze and Carnival Liberty bring exciting new choices to Galveston, each with an array of on-board features. Carnival Breeze offers such innovations as a multi-dimensional cinema experience called Thrill Theater, Bonsai Sushi full-service Asian restaurant and WaterWorks highlighted by a 312-foot-long slide, while Carnival Liberty offers a classic American steakhouse, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar and a 14,500-square-foot spa.

 

New Value-Packed 12-day Cruises Offer Exciting Destinations

In preparation for their new deployments, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Breeze will each operate a unique 12-day cruise in 2016, visiting a variety of exotic Caribbean destinations. These departures have been created especially for those guests who are looking for a longer-length cruise vacation providing more time to enjoy the ships’ wide range of amenities while visiting less frequently traveled islands throughout the Caribbean.

Carnival Liberty will offer a 12-day cruise from San Juan to Galveston March 6-18, 2016, calling at St. Thomas, Barbados, Tobago, Grenada, Aruba and Grand Cayman. Carnival Breeze will operate a 12-day cruise departing Miami Nov. 27, 2016, and arriving in Galveston Dec. 9, 2016. Featured ports on this one-time voyage include St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Curacao, Aruba and Cozumel.

 

Additional Information and Reservations

Reservations are currently being accepted for these new deployments. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

Additional information on the Carnival Vista is available at http://www.carnival.com/carnivalvista with regular Twitter updates @CarnivalVista

[Jeads323]

So excited!!!

[rok233]

Glad the Vista will be in Miami but I can't even begin to think about a ship that won't be there for almost 2 years from now. I'll definitely sail on the Vista from Miami but won't even be booking it for another year and a half.

[cruiser fanatic]

Glad the Vista will be in Miami but I can't even begin to think about a ship that won't be there for almost 2 years from now. I'll definitely sail on the Vista from Miami but won't even be booking it for another year and a half.

 

I know. I will be booking Freedom and maybe Triumph soon. I can't even think about Breeze and Liberty right now.

Edited February 12, 2015 by cruiser fanatic

[Stinger-pr]

Soooo....that means that San Juan, PR either gets the Triumph (blah..) or Magic (YEY!!!!). Fingers crossed for the Magic. It would seem logical that the we get the Magic since sailings from San Juan are always close to sold out almost year round. A bigger capacity ship makes sense.

[cruiser fanatic]

Soooo....that means that San Juan, PR either gets the Triumph (blah..) or Magic (YEY!!!!). Fingers crossed for the Magic. It would seem logical that the we get the Magic since sailings from San Juan are always close to sold out almost year round. A bigger capacity ship makes sense.

 

I doubt it will get the Magic. I am betting Triumph. They don't sell out at a price to need the Magic.

[djcass4199]

I think Magic to Canaveral

[jwalk03]

I doubt it will get the Magic. I am betting Triumph. They don't sell out at a price to need the Magic.

 

I agree with this. San Juan cruises may sell out most of the time, BUT most of the time it is the cheapest (or close to the cheapest) 7-day offering available on any Carnival ship. Its an awesome cruise, but I think a lot of people avoid it becuase of the airfare to San Juan.

 

I doubt the Magic will go to San Juan. Likely Triumph. But maybe they will have Triumph and another ship there? Doing 2 differnt cruises? THIS WOULD BE AWESOME! San Juan gives you soooo many more choices of islands to visit within 7 days. This would be my dream scenario, so I could book another cruise from San Juan w/o going to the same 5 islands I visisted last time. (I doubt this happens though, for the same reasons I doubt Magic will go there. No reason to increase capacity in a port that already sells cheaper than most other Carnival homeports.)

[jwalk03]

I think Magic to Canaveral

 

I think this is the most likely outcome. Canaveral is a popular port, and could support a Dream class ship with all the bells and whistles. Move Magic to Canaveral and move one of the Canveral ships to Port Everglades which seems like a port that could support move capacity as well.

Edited February 12, 2015 by jwalk03

[cruiser fanatic]

I think Magic to Canaveral

 

I agree. Port Canaveral can use extra capacity since most of the time the ships sell out at a good price for Carnival.

[PittsburghGirlee]

Sorry for the Double Thread. I did not see this posting until it was too late:eek:!!

[lollylew]

I just hope that Carnival hurries up and releases the rest of the itineraries for Sept 2016! There are like seriously, 12:mad::mad: I am just ready to book:p Guess I just have to be patient a little longer :D

[bigboatrider]

Guess I'll check back in a few weeks when Carnival decides to tell everyone what's in store for Magic and Triumph, as if they don't "have a plan in place" before sending Magic and Liberty to TX! Kinda irks the hell out of me that they string out the information, sometimes for months. They should know damn well, the peeps that are gonna cruise are gonna cruise!! Those on the fence are likely to be turned off by the smoke and mirror games that the marketing group (or beards) play. I mean seriously, how hard is to tell us that Charleston is S.O.L. getting a larger boat and better itins??!!

[cruiser fanatic]

Guess I'll check back in a few weeks when Carnival decides to tell everyone what's in store for Magic and Triumph, as if they don't "have a plan in place" before sending Magic and Liberty to TX! Kinda irks the hell out of me that they string out the information, sometimes for months. They should know damn well, the peeps that are gonna cruise are gonna cruise!! Those on the fence are likely to be turned off by the smoke and mirror games that the marketing group (or beards) play. I mean seriously, how hard is to tell us that Charleston is S.O.L. getting a larger boat and better itins??!!

 

They know exactly what they are doing. IMO I don't think Charleston is S.O.L.. The Fantasy has filled up every week at higher prices then some other ports. I see a bigger ship heading there. Don't know about itineraries though.

[KatieCharlotte]

Guess I'll check back in a few weeks when Carnival decides to tell everyone what's in store for Magic and Triumph, as if they don't "have a plan in place" before sending Magic and Liberty to TX! Kinda irks the hell out of me that they string out the information, sometimes for months. They should know damn well, the peeps that are gonna cruise are gonna cruise!! Those on the fence are likely to be turned off by the smoke and mirror games that the marketing group (or beards) play. I mean seriously, how hard is to tell us that Charleston is S.O.L. getting a larger boat and better itins??!!

 

All I want to know is where Magic is going (kids want to sail on her again and Galveston isn't very convenient), so naturally that information won't be provided for a few more weeks, even though they obviously already know. :rolleyes: I'm not going to book anything that far in advance, but I could plan out my vacations over the next few years easier if I knew that Magic was going to be on the east coast (I can dream) or convenient to a trip to see family in Orlando.

[bigboatrider]

They know exactly what they are doing. IMO I don't think Charleston is S.O.L.. The Fantasy has filled up every week at higher prices then some other ports. I see a bigger ship heading there. Don't know about itineraries though.

 

LOL, yeah, I'm just venting a lil. I too think Charleston is in line for a larger ship. As you stated, they know exactly where and when everything in this round of moves will happen. While we love Fantasy, and Charleston being our closest port, we've had enough of Nassau and Freeport. We've decided to do a week in St Thomas this year for our anniversary, and prob won't cruise at all unless Charleston gets some new itins, whether they're on Fantasy or not. Heck, if time permits, we may finally look at another cruise line, while Carnival plays their lil games.

[cruiser fanatic]

LOL, yeah, I'm just venting a lil. I too think Charleston is in line for a larger ship. As you stated, they know exactly where and when everything in this round of moves will happen. While we love Fantasy, and Charleston being our closest port, we've had enough of Nassau and Freeport. We've decided to do a week in St Thomas this year for our anniversary, and prob won't cruise at all unless Charleston gets some new itins, whether they're on Fantasy or not. Heck, if time permits, we may finally look at another cruise line, while Carnival plays their lil games.

 

Look at the new 7 day itineraries on the Fantasy, it will go to a new port, Amber Cove.

[DJW8385]

Carnival should have a dream class ship out in Los Angeles,Ca. Each coast would have a dream class; Florida will have the Magic and the new vista(even though its not a dream class), Texas would have the breeze , LA should have the Dream and NY (even though it's not a dream class) to keep the Splendor for the time being. Since those ships are the largest ships, it would make sense to do something similar to that.

[cruiser fanatic]

Carnival should have a dream class ship out in Los Angeles,Ca. Each coast would have a dream class; Florida will have the Magic and the new vista(even though its not a dream class), Texas would have the breeze , LA should have the Dream and NY (even though it's not a dream class) to keep the Splendor for the time being. Since those ships are the largest ships, it would make sense to do something similar to that.

 

It wouldn't make sense to increase capacity in LA. They don't fill the ships at a good price.

[JillySue]

Carnival should have a dream class ship out in Los Angeles,Ca. Each coast would have a dream class; Florida will have the Magic and the new vista(even though its not a dream class), Texas would have the breeze , LA should have the Dream and NY (even though it's not a dream class) to keep the Splendor for the time being. Since those ships are the largest ships, it would make sense to do something similar to that.

 

 

Alas, west coast getting anything Dream class, is only a dream :/ maybe someday...

[karenh1127]

The one thing lacking with all the shifting is itinerary. Whatever ships are in Galveston still go to the same ports. Been there, done that. Some repositioning cruises look nice but they are always at a bad time (teacher here). Luckily my sons sail for the ship, not the ports so guess it's all good.

[AngAndBoys]

Well, this Houston Texas girl, who has been on Triumph about 8 times now and Magic twice, could not be more excited! I have new ships! Woohoo!!!!!

 

I'm beside myself with joy! I was going to bite the bullet and pay the airfare to get on the Breeze next year and now it is coming to me!!! Oh happy day!!

 

The Liberty looks awesome too! I cannot wait til they get here!

[bigboatrider]

Look at the new 7 day itineraries on the Fantasy, it will go to a new port, Amber Cove.

 

Yeah, I saw that. Along with HMC and GT, that does look like an inviting itin. After our week in St Thomas, we may have to give that some serious consideration.

[ccruisequeen]

Looks like long beach had nothing new

[Topo Gigio]

I doubt it will get the Magic. I am betting Triumph. They don't sell out at a price to need the Magic.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if San Juan gets the Magic, since rumors are that Royal Caribbean is going to send Freedom of the Seas over there!