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I received this press release from Carnival and thought it would be of
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Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
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Carnival, JAXPORT Announce Significant Expansion of Cruise Operations
From Jacksonville
Carnival Fascination to Replace Celebration on Year-Round Four- and
Five-Day Cruises Beginning in September 2008; Represents 38 Percent
Capacity Increase
MIAMI, Aug. 14
Carnival Cruise Lines and the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT)
today announced a significant increase in capacity for Jacksonville's
cruise operations when the 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination
replaces the 1,486-passenger Celebration on four- and five-day cruises
year-round from Jacksonville beginning Sept. 20, 2008.
Carnival is the only cruise operator to sail year-round from
Jacksonville and the Carnival Fascination represents a 38 percent
increase in capacity over the Celebration. With the deployment of the
Carnival Fascination - the newest and largest ship ever homeported in
Jacksonville on a year-round basis - Carnival is expected to carry
170,000 guests annually from JAXPORT.
"Jacksonville has proven to be a very successful homeport based on the
convenient and affordable cruise options that it offers to consumers
from across the Southeastern U.S.," said Vicki Freed, Carnival's
senior vice president of sales and marketing. "These voyages are
especially attractive to first-time cruisers, providing them with an
opportunity to experience Carnival's unique vacation environment and
wide-ranging product upgrades - all at an outstanding value," she
added.
"We at JAXPORT are thrilled to be able to serve an even greater number
of guests and allow them to enjoy the kind of quality customer care we
have always offered," said Tony Orsini, JAXPORT's senior director of
cruise operations. "We also thank Carnival for this clear sign of its
commitment to the future of Jacksonville as a cruise homeport."
In conjunction with the redeployment of the Carnival Fascination to
Jacksonville, the ship will offer a new five-day itinerary departing
Saturdays and featuring daylong calls to award-winning Half Moon Cay,
a private Bahamian island, and Nassau, The Bahamas. The five-day
cruises departing Mondays will visit Key West and Nassau and the
four-day weekend voyages departing Thursdays will call at Freeport and
Nassau.
Carnival Fascination currently operates three- and four-day cruises
from Miami and will continue that program through Sept. 15, 2008. The
Celebration will remain in Jacksonville through its departure date of
April 14, 2008. Future deployment plans for that vessel will be
announced at a later date.
"Our Jacksonville-based cruises generate some of the highest guest
satisfaction ratings in our fleet and we believe that this will only
be enhanced when the Carnival Fascination starts service next fall,"
Freed said.
'Evolutions of Fun' Upgrades
The 70,000-ton Carnival Fascination underwent a multi-million-dollar
renovation last year, the first phase in the line's extensive
"Evolutions of Fun" shipboard enhancement initiative for its eight
"Fantasy-class" vessels. The refurbishment included a new nine-hole
miniature golf course, a patisserie, an atrium lobby bar, conference
center, and expansive new facilities for children and teens, part of
the line's top-rated "Camp Carnival" and "Club O2" programs,
respectively.
In addition to a completely renovated spa, all 1,026 staterooms aboard
the Carnival Fascination were upgraded with flat screen TVs, an
entirely new décor and completely remodeled bathrooms. Two new lavish
production shows, Fiesta Latina and Far From Over: the 80s, were
added, as well.
Future "Evolutions of Fun" upgrades for the Carnival Fascination -
scheduled to be completed in 2009 -- include an expansive Carnival
WaterWorks aqua park, a new design style and features for the mid-ship
pool area, and a new "Serenity" adults-only deck area, all part of a
dramatic transformation of the ship's open decks.
Pricing and Reservations
Reservations will be accepted for the Carnival Fascination's new four-
and five-day schedule from Jacksonville beginning August 22, 2007.
Prices for the four-day cruises begin at $269 and five-day cruises
start at $289, based on double occupancy.
Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same
stateroom and round-trip air supplements from dozens of North American
gateways are also available. Carnival Fascination cruises can also be
combined with a pre- or post-cruise land stay in Jacksonville.
For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent. |