CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES TO OFFER NEW ‘FUN SHIP’ CRUISE VACATION OPTIONS FROM MIAMI
Carnival Imagination to Operate Three and Four-Day Cruises; Carnival Destiny Offers Four- and Five-Day Cruises Beginning in Sept. 2008
MIAMI (August 20, 2007) – Carnival Cruise Lines will expand its short cruise offerings from Miami with the 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination and 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny operating new itineraries beginning next fall.
The 70,000-ton Carnival Imagination – which will become the first Carnival ship to be completely remodeled under the line’s “Evolutions of Fun” enhancement program this fall – will sail on year-round three- and four-day cruises from Miami beginning Sept. 22, 2008.
Additionally, the Carnival Destiny will be the industry’s only 100,000-plus-ton-cruise ship to offer year-round four- and five-day cruises when it launches this program from Miami Sept. 27, 2008. This 100,000-ton “Fun Ship” will offer a one-of-a-kind vacation experience that will include four-day weekend cruises and five-day trips to exciting destinations. Plus, the Carnival Destiny will offer a wide selection of affordable balcony staterooms -- a feature not widely available on other ships in the short cruise market.
These new deployments represent the latest enhancements to Carnival’s highly popular three- to five-day cruise programs which comprise roughly half of the line’s departures. Carnival is the industry leader in three- to five-day vacations, with 25 different itineraries departing from 10 different U.S. homeports.
“With an unmatched combination of convenience, value and affordability – and more departure points than ever before – our three- to five-day cruises continue to be in high demand,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and marketing. “‘Fun Ship’ cruising is all about choice and Carnival Destiny and Carnival Imagination – each of which offers unique on-board facilities and features – provides today's busy consumers with exciting new cruise getaways on two popular Miami-based cruise programs,” she added.
Carnival Imagination’s New Itinerary, ‘Evolutions of Fun’ Upgrades
Carnival Imagination’s new program begins Sept. 22, 2008, and encompasses three-day cruises departing Fridays and overnighting in Nassau, The Bahamas, and four-day cruises departing Mondays and calling at Key West and Cozumel, Mexico.
In addition to a variety of all-inclusive dining, entertainment and activity options, Carnival Imagination will undergo an extensive renovation this fall, with the addition of the new Carnival WaterWorks aqua park featuring a massive 300-foot-long cascading waterslide and double-lane racing waterslide, along with a redesigned resort-style pool area and a new Serenity adults-only deck area.
Carnival Imagination’s “extreme makeover” will also include fully remodeled staterooms and suites including new bathrooms, flat-screen televisions in staterooms and select public areas, an atrium lobby bar, updated sound and lighting systems in various lounges and clubs, coffee bar, nine-hole miniature golf course, new art and photo galleries, New York-style deli in the Lido restaurant and purpose-built conference facilities.
These upgrades are part of Carnival’s $250 million “Evolutions of Fun” program, cruising’s most ambitious ship refurbishment and product enhancement initiative that is resulting in a dramatic transformation of Carnival’s eight Fantasy-class vessels.
Carnival Destiny’s New Four- and Five-Day Program
On its new four- and five-day schedule beginning Sept. 27, 2008, the 101,000-ton Carnival Destiny will depart Thursdays on four-day “long weekend” cruises to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico. Five-day cruises departing Mondays visit Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau, The Bahamas. Five-day cruises departing Saturdays visit George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Carnival Destiny will also offer a special one-time six-day cruise from Miami on Sept. 21, 2008, calling at Key West, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios.
Carnival Destiny will feature four swimming pools, Carnival’s signature “Twister Waterslide,” a duty-free shopping mall, a 15,000-square-foot health club, and 18 lounges and bars, including a three-deck-high theater showcasing lavish revues.
Expansive facilities and activities for children and teens – part of the line’s “Camp Carnival” and “Club O2” programs, respectively – along with a variety of dining options, including two formal restaurants, a casual poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service, are also available.
Reservations
Carnival will begin accepting reservations for the new Carnival Destiny and Carnival Imagination itineraries on August 24, 2007. For additional information and reservations, 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.