NEW FOUR- AND FIVE-DAY DEPARTURES TO CABO SAN LUCAS ADDED TO CARNIVAL ELATION’S EXISTING SCHEDULE FROM SAN DIEGO

             MIAMI (March 25, 2009) – A new four- and five-day cruise option featuring day-long calls at Cabo San Lucas will be added to the Carnival Elation’s existing schedule from San Diego in July 2009, complementing the ship’s popular three- and four-day Baja program. 

            Carnival Elation – which emerged from a multi-million-dollar renovation last week with a host of new features -- will operate the West Coast’s only three-, four- and five-day schedule, expanding upon the line’s industry-leading short cruise offerings.  Roughly half of the “Fun Ship” fleet offers voyages of five days or less in length.

            On its new schedule, Carnival Elation will operate a year-round series of four- and five-day cruises for a two-week period followed by another two weeks of three- and four-day Baja departures.

 Four- and Five-Day Cruises to Cabo San Lucas

            Beginning July 2, 2009, Carnival Elation’s four-day “long weekend” cruises will depart Thursdays and visit Cabo San Lucas. Two different five-day itineraries will also be offered. Five-day cruises departing Saturdays will feature the industry’s only itinerary that includes two full days in Cabo San Lucas, providing guests with a unique opportunity to enjoy one of Mexico’s most spectacular destinations. Five-day cruises departing Mondays will feature both Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada.

New Departure Days for Three- and Four-Day Cruises

            The Carnival Elation’s three- and four-day cruises which currently depart on  Thursdays and Sundays, respectively, will be changed to Fridays (three-day cruises) and Mondays (four-day cruises) starting with the July 20, 2009, four-day departure.  These new departure dates offer guests an even more convenient option on these popular short cruise itineraries from San Diego.

             “We’re always looking for ways to diversify our itinerary offerings to provide our guests with the widest variety of experiences ashore,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. “Carnival Elation’s new three-, four- and five-day cruise schedule and new itineraries visiting Cabo San Lucas offer our guests a truly unique selection of memorable vacation choices, all at a very affordable price,” he added.

            The 70,000-ton Carnival Elation – the only cruise ship operating year-round from San Diego – offers a host of new facilities and features following an extensive renovation, as part of the line’s product enhancement program for its eight 70,000-ton Fantasy-class vessels. 

            Carnival Elation’s refurbishment included the addition of Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a new Circle “C” club geared to 12- to 14-year-olds, and expanded Lido-area dining options, including a new Mongolian Wok custom stir-fry station and an updated deli and dessert station.  The Carnival Elation’s suites were also remodeled and cosmetic enhancements were made to a variety of shipboard areas. 

            These features complement the ship’s myriad resort-style amenities, including 12 lounges and bars, three restaurants, four swimming pools, a 115-foot-long water slide, a 12,000-square-foot health and fitness center, an Internet café, and ship-wide Wi-Fi access.

            Reservations are currently being accepted for all of the Carnival Elation’s three-, four- and five-day sailings from San Diego.  For additional information and reservations, call 1-800-327-9501 (individual) or 1-800-327-5782 (groups) or visit the line’s travel agent Internet portal, bookccl.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.