CARNIVAL WINS BIG IN PORTHOLE CRUISE MAGAZINE’S ANNUAL ‘READERS CHOICE AWARDS,’ TAKING HOME HONORS IN NINE CATEGORIES

 Line Earned an Unprecedented 101 Awards Over the Past Nine Years

             MIAMI (November 13, 2008) — Carnival Cruise Lines led the way once again in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Reader Choice Awards,” winning in nine different categories, including two new categories – Best Web Site and Best Mexican Itineraries.

            Porthole Cruise Magazine’s “Readers Choice Awards” are determined by thousands of the publication’s readers who vote on their favorite cruise line in a wide variety of categories. Since the awards were established in 1999, Carnival has taken home an unprecedented 101 “Readers Choice Awards” – the most of any cruise line. 

Carnival’s 2008 “Readers Choice Awards” include:

  • Best Megaship (Carnival Freedom)
  • Best Children’s Programs
  • Best Value-for-the-Money
  • Best Short-Duration Cruise
  • Best Shore Excursions
  • Best Web Site
  • Best Main Dining Room Cuisine
  • Best Entertainment
  • Best Mexican Itineraries

            “Carnival is truly honored by the consistent recognition over the past nine years by the readers of Porthole Cruise Magazine,” said Lynn Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services. “Winning so many awards – in so many different categories – is a wonderful validation of our efforts to provide guests with fun and memorable vacations at affordable prices.”

            “Carnival Cruise Lines continues to shine in categories that run the gamut,” said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine. “Whether on board or on shore, Carnival is a leader in the cruise industry, and our readers clearly recognize that. I congratulate them on all of their much-deserved wins.”            

            Established in 1993, Porthole Cruise Magazine is a consumer publication offering readers a variety of information about cruising including ship reviews, news, details on popular ports of call and travel tips.

            Carnival is the world's largest and most popular cruise line, with 22 "Fun Ships" operating voyages of three to 18 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe and South America.  The line currently has two 130,000-ton ships on order — Carnival Dream, set to debut Sept. 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.

For more information on Porthole Cruise Magazine, visit www.porthole.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.