New 86,000-Ton Carnival Spirit,
Variety of
New Programs Highlight 2001 Season
The debut of the new 86,000-ton Carnival Spirit, record "Camp
Carnival" participation and a host of new and expanded programs, including Carnival's
first "Fall Foliage" cruises, highlight the company's 2001 cruise season.
The 2,124-passenger Carnival
Spirit will usher in a new era in "Fun Ship" cruising when it debuts on
a 16-day Panama Canal cruise April 29, 2001. Following its inaugural voyage, the Carnival
Spirit will operate Carnival's Alaska and Hawaii programs - the first new
"Fun Ship" to be deployed to those markets - along with a one-of-a-kind
eight-day "exotic" Caribbean cruise schedule from Miami. The Carnival
Spirit represents the first in a new series of vessel for the line and will
feature a host of innovative amenities and facilities. These include Carnival's first
wedding chapel, a large conference center, a reservations-only supper club, a spectacular
wrap-around outdoor promenade and the highest percentage of ocean view and balconied
staterooms in the "Fun Ship" fleet.
Carnival will increase capacity
on its West Coast departures by 41 percent when the 2,052-passenger Ecstasy
begins year-round three- and four-day Baja Mexico cruises from Los Angeles May 18, 2001,
becoming the newest and largest ship to operate "short" cruises from that port.
The 2,052-passenger Fascination
will become Miami's newest "short" cruise option when it launches a year-round
program of three-day Bahamas and four-day western Caribbean voyages from that port May 4,
2001.
And beginning June 2, 2001, the
1,452-passenger Holiday will reposition to San Juan to operate the
industry's only six-port, seven-day Caribbean itinerary featuring a different tropical
island each day.
In the coming year, Carnival's
"Fun Ships" are expected to host a record 300,000 children - a 200 percent
increase from just six years ago. Kids can enjoy a variety of fun, supervised activities
and a host of toys and games through the line's popular fleetwide program, "Camp
Carnival." Vessels also house such amenities as outdoor playground equipment,
arts-and-crafts and computer labs, and indoor climbing mazes. Recent "Camp
Carnival" enhancements include updated children's menus and a turn-down service
providing kids with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies at bedtime.
From Sept. 8 through Sept. 29,
2001, the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory will offer Carnival's first
"Fall Foliage" cruises, consisting of a series of seven-day voyages to New
England and eastern Canada operating round-trip from New York. The convenience of sailing
round-trip, versus typical fall foliage itineraries, which operate one-way north or
southbound, make these voyages particularly attractive.
Carnival Spirit Fitted With
Cruise Industry's
First Smokeless Diesel Engines
In a working partnership between Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL) and the Finnish
marine power systems supplier Wartsila Corporation, the new 86,000-ton cruise ship Carnival
Spirit will be fitted with the cruise industry's first smokeless diesel engines.
The Carnival Spirit, the first ship in a new class for Carnival Cruise
Lines, is currently under construction at Kvaerner Masa-Yards Inc. and is expected to
enter service in late spring 2001. Its inaugural season will include two Panama Canal
sailings, a series of Alaska and Hawaii voyages, and a new eight-day schedule from Miami.
Initially, two of the ship's six Wartsila 9L46D engines will be modified with the new
"smokeless" engine technology. The new modified engines represent the
culmination of a year-long project between Carnival and Wartsila to develop a new
"earth-friendly" power system, dubbed project EnviroEngine. The modified
engines, part of a diesel-electric propulsion system, represent one of the most
environmentally friendly power plants ever made available for cruise ships, exceeding the
international standards for emissions set out in MARPOL Annex VI.
"We are very pleased to install these state-of-the-art engines in the Carnival
Spirit and look forward to the many environmental benefits provided by this
important new technology. Carnival's cooperation and support has been very important to
us," said Ole Johansson, President and CEO of Wartsila Corporation.
The two Wartsila 46 EnviroEngines use a common rail fuel injection system which enables
injection pressures to be kept sufficiently high at all engine speeds -- even at the
lowest levels -- to ensure clean combustion with no visible smoke emissions. The
EnviroEngines will be particularly beneficial for use in port, as they produce no visible
emissions even when lightly loaded for producing energy for lighting, air conditioning and
other hotel systems.
The EnviroEngine design is expected to be used for other vessels currently under
construction, including 86,000-ton ships by Carnival Cruise Lines and for sister companies
Holland America and Costa. Existing ships can be refitted by replacing the current fuel
injection pumps with common rail components.
Wartsila Corporation is the leading global ship power supplier and a major provider of
solutions for decentralized power generation and supporting services. In both areas, it
places a strong emphasis on minimizing environmental impact.
Carnival Cruise Lines' Tropicale
To Be Transferred to Costa Cruises
Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL) has announced that its Carnival Cruise Lines unit will
transfer its 1,022-passenger Tropicale to sister company Costa Cruises in
February 2001.
Prior to its delivery to Costa, the 36,674-ton vessel will complete its current
schedule of 10-day Panama Canal cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which end February 10,
2001. After that, Costa will immediately reposition the Tropicale to Genoa,
Italy, for an extensive refurbishment and refit before placing the vessel into European
service. Once the work is complete, the vessel will assume the physical characteristics
and on-board ambiance of a typical Costa ship.
"We've said all along that Costa will be our primary platform for expanding our
European business and the transfer of the Tropicale is consistent with that
strategy," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation chairman and CEO.
As a result of its transfer to Costa, the Tropicale will not operate its two-
and three-day Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., scheduled to begin March 26,
2001. Guests booked on those cruises are being contacted by Carnival and will be offered
full refunds plus a $100 per cabin future cruise certificate redeemable on any of the
line's three-, four- or five-day voyages in 2001.
The transfer of the Tropicale to Costa is just the latest effort by
Carnival to expand the Italian cruise operator's fleet. Since Carnival's acquisition of a
50 percent interest in Costa in 1997 (increased to 100 percent ownership earlier this
year), Costa has added the 86,000-ton Costa Atlantica and will expand
capacity with the launch of another 86,000-ton vessel and two 105,000-ton cruise ships
between now and 2004. "The addition of the Tropicale is part of our
overall expansion plans for Costa and we will continue to explore new ways to increase the
company's presence in the fast-growing European market," said Arison.
The Tropicale entered service in 1982 as the first new cruise ship built
in nearly a decade and served as the prototype on which Carnival's three Holiday-class
vessels were based. Many of the Tropicale's features, such as Carnival's
trademark red, white and blue winged funnel and some of the largest cabins in contemporary
cruising, are employed in the line's new ship projects today.
Carnival Earns Top Cruise Line Honors
In Southern Living Readers' Poll for Third Year In A Row
For the third consecutive year, Carnival Cruise Lines has been voted the number one
cruise vacation choice in Southern Living magazine's annual Reader's Choice Awards.
The awards were based on the publication's annual survey distributed to Southern Living's
more than 2.75 million subscribers who were asked to choose their favorites in a broad
range of categories, from cruise lines, resorts, museums and attractions to restaurants,
historic sites, golf courses and vacation destinations.
In the "favorite cruise line" category, Carnival received more votes than any
other cruise operator. The results of the survey are included in Southern Living's
November 2000 issue.
"We are very proud to earn this award for three consecutive years as it speaks
volumes about the high quality, value-packed vacation experience that 'Today's Carnival'
provides," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. "'Fun Ship' cruising has
changed dramatically in recent years and this award serves to validate our strategy of
continually upgrading our on-board product offerings while still maintaining the
unmistakable brand of 'fun' that has earned Carnival its leadership position in the
vacation industry," he added.
Added Morgan Murphy, Southern Living's travel editor, "The cruise industry
is more competitive than ever with an unprecedented variety of on-board amenities, choices
and innovations and for Carnival to earn this recognition three years in a row is a
wonderful reflection of the 'Fun Ship' product."
New 86,000-Ton Carnival Pride
to Be Based in Port Canaveral Year-Round Seven-Day Caribbean Cruises Offered
Carnival Cruise Lines will position its new 86,000-ton Carnival Pride on
year-round alternating seven-day eastern and western Caribbean departures from Port
Canaveral, Fla., beginning in January 2002.
Carnival Pride will offer the only western Caribbean cruise program from
Port Canaveral. It will feature two ports rarely offered on cruise itineraries -- Belize
City, Belize; and Progreso/Mérida, Mexico. Other featured ports on the western Caribbean
route include Key West, Fla.; and Playa del Carmen/Cozumel, Mexico.
Belize City is highlighted by its rugged mountainous landscape and numerous eco-tourism
opportunities, while Progreso/Mérida, an unspoiled Mexican paradise only recently opened
to cruise visitors, offers outstanding beaches and is conveniently located near the
region's vast archaeological sites, including the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza.
The Carnival Pride will also be the first Carnival ship to call at a
private island, which will be featured on all eastern Caribbean sailings. From April to
October, the Carnival Pride will call at Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas. The
rest of the year, the itinerary will feature Salt Cay, also a Bahamian private island
which will be accessed via tender service from Nassau, where the ship will dock.
Guests will spend a full-day at Half Moon Cay or Salt Cay, both of which offer
spectacular white-sand beaches, modern facilities and a host of water sports, from
snorkeling and scuba diving to kayaking, parasailing and "aqua-cycling."
Other ports on the eastern Caribbean itinerary will include St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.
Virgin Islands; and St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles. The Carnival Pride
will be the only "Fun Ship" visiting St. Maarten, whose beautiful beaches and
excellent scuba diving, snorkeling and sport fishing attract visitors the world over.
"We are extremely excited about offering seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral for
the very first time and have put together two terrific itineraries for the Carnival
Pride, which will be a magnificent new vessel offering a spectacular array of
features," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. "We are pleased to be basing
a third 'Fun Ship' at Port Canaveral year-round, and positioning the world's most popular
cruise line as the largest cruise presence at Port Canaveral," he added.
Carnival Pride will kick off its seven-day Port Canaveral-based schedule
with an eastern Caribbean voyage departing Jan. 12, 2002; the first western Caribbean
sailing will depart Jan. 19, 2002.
Currently under construction at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland, the
2,124-passenger Carnival Pride will be the second in the line's
"Spirit-class" and the 17th vessel in Carnival's "Fun Ship" fleet.
The 960-foot-long ship will feature 12 passenger decks housing a variety of themed
bars, lounges and nightspots, along with a two-level health and fitness facility, a large
conference center and an enclosed play area, "The Fun House," part of the line's
complimentary "Camp Carnival" children's program.
A multi-deck glass-enclosed atrium, four swimming pools and expansive open deck areas
offering ample opportunities for sunning and relaxing will be featured, as well. Dining
venues will include a single main dining room, an expansive Lido-area eatery offering
breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives and a 24-hour pizzeria, and a new
reservations-only supper club bordering the ship's massive winged funnel.
The Carnival Pride will also offer a wide range of stateroom categories
and a huge number of ocean view and balconied staterooms. Eighty percent of the ship's
1,062 staterooms will feature an ocean view with 80 percent of those offering private
balconies. Several levels of deluxe accommodations will be featured, as well.
Carnival to Offer New
'Environmentally Friendly'
Dry Cleaning Service for Guests
Carnival cruise Lines recently installed the cruise industry's first 'earth friendly'
clothes laundering system on its cruise ship Paradise via an innovative
liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) technology that offers professional
quality dry cleaning without endangering the environment.
According to Carnival president Bob Dickinson, for 28 years the cruise line chose not
to offer dry cleaning services on its ships because it was unable to find a vendor that
could dry clean clothes effectively, yet in an environmentally safe manner.
The new system, which is manufactured by Ripon, Wisconsin-based Alliance Laundry
Systems and marketed under the GeneSys brand, combines patented liquid carbon dioxide
technology with environmentally safe detergents to create an innovative "green"
alternative to dry cleaning.
The GeneSys system also allows the LCO2 to be recycled for use
in the next load. Additionally, no heat is used in the cleaning process, saving energy and
prolonging the life of the garment. "This new 'green' technology offers the best of
both worlds, providing guests with a terrific value-added service while protecting the
earth's most important natural resource," Dickinson said.
He added that while the service is currently in the evaluation stage aboard the Paradise,
GeneSys systems could eventually be employed fleetwide and possibly replace existing
washers and dryers. "With a cycle time considerably less than standard washers,
combined with the fact that garments are completely dry after cleaning, the new system
offers numerous environmental and guest benefits and will allow us to minimize the use of
existing on-board washers and dryer," he said.
Carnival Joins International
SeaKeepers Society Announces Plans to Install State-of-the-Art Ocean
Monitoring Device Aboard Carnival Triumph
As part of an innovative alliance with the International SeaKeepers Society, Carnival
Cruise Lines' 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph will soon be equipped with a
tracking device that collects a variety of scientific data to monitor the overall health
of the world's oceans.
The installation of the device is the result of Carnival's recent membership into
SeaKeepers, a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean preservation. During the past
year, SeaKeepers has installed similar devices on more than 20 private yachts throughout
the world.
According to Tom Houston, president and CEO of the SeaKeepers Society, "The
installation of the monitoring device on the Carnival Triumph represents a
breakthrough for SeaKeepers and offers an innovative approach in our research efforts. We
are pleased to join forces with Carnival and applaud their commitment to protecting our
fragile ecosystems."
The monitoring device, which was developed under the direction of scientists at the
University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, will track a
broad range of data, including water temperature and salinity, pH, oxygen and redox
levels, as well as air temperature, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, barometric
pressure and relative humidity. Future devices are expected to have the ability to monitor
heavy metal concentrations, CO2 levels, toxic algae blooms and
other data critical to helping protect the environment.
The ships' ocean monitoring device will be mounted in the bow and will collect
information 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the vessel's various sailings
throughout the Caribbean.
"Carnival is proud to house one of SeaKeepers' state-of-the-art ocean monitoring
modules and hopes that others in the industry follow our lead," said Bob Dickinson,
Carnival president. "Carnival owes its livelihood to the sea and we are looking
forward to working with SeaKeepers in helping to preserve the world's most important
natural resource," he added.
Installation Complete of Carnival
Cruise Lines'
First Internet Café on Carnival Triumph Fleetwide Implementation Expected by Year's End
Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN), the leader in maritime communications, has
installed Carnival Cruise Lines' first Internet Café on the Carnival Triumph.
The Internet Café unites Digital Seas International`s (DSI) unique and exciting Internet
product with the latest in high-speed Internet satellite communications from Maritime
Telecommunications Network. Carnival's 14 other "Fun Ships" are expected to have
Internet Cafés installed by the end of the year.
MTN has revolutionized satellite delivery of the Internet for the cruise lines and the
US Navy by providing ShipNet, an asymmetric Internet service which delivers high-speed
connectivity and cost-effective use of satellite space. This technology is making MTN the
largest Internet service provider (ISP) in the maritime industry.
Guests sailing aboard the Carnival Triumph will now be able to surf the
web 24-hours-a day, seven-days-a-week week to obtain stock prices, daily news, travel
arrangements, weather, check e-mail and even send electronic "video postcards"
back to their loved ones, all while sailing on the high seas. The Internet Cafés feature
the latest "flat-panel" computer screen technology, which is connected by MTN's
high-speed satellite Internet link.
Carnival Positions New Ship in Alaska
for 2001 Carnival Spirit Designed to Offer Ultimate Alaska
Experience
Carnival Cruise Lines will position its new 84,000-ton Carnival Spirit in
Alaska on a series of 18 seven-day cruises from Vancouver and Seward/Anchorage, beginning
in May, 2001. A spectacular wrap-around outdoor promenade, a heated pool with retractable
dome and a huge percentage of ocean view, balconied staterooms are among the many features
that will make the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit the ultimate way to
experience the pristine beauty of the 49th state.
The Carnival Spirit, currently under construction at Kvaerner Masa-Yards
in Helsinki, will also feature a number of technical improvements, including modified
engines and new waste treatment and disposal systems, making it one of the most
environmentally friendly cruise ships at sea.
"The Carnival Spirit is ideally suited for Alaska, offering an array
of exciting public spaces, innovative environmental and design features and a large number
of private verandahs -- perfect for viewing the region's spectacular natural beauty,"
said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.
The Carnival Spirit is the first in a new series of vessels for the line
and will set a new standard for ocean view staterooms and verandahs. Eighty per cent of
accommodations on the Carnival Spirit will offer an ocean view with 80 per
cent of those featuring private balconies. Several levels of deluxe accommodations will be
featured, as well. The Carnival Spirit will also offer one of the highest
space ratios of any ship sailing in Alaska.
Guests can customize their Alaska vacations with a variety of land packages, available
in three- or four-day increments. The land segments, when combined with a seven-day Alaska
cruise, allow guests to create comprehensive 10- or 11-night CruiseTour packages.
Carnival's New In-Room Amenities
Baskets
Feature Array of Brand Name Products
Gift baskets, now provided in every stateroom, feature brand name toiletry items and
even candy. The line has been experimenting with the concept, trying out a variety of
different products over the past several months. Having found what it believes is the
ideal mix, Carnival is officially rolling out this unique gift enhancement.
"Rather than supply the customary generic shampoo and conditioner with our logo on
it, we wanted to offer a diverse array of high quality products that our guests would be
familiar with," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. "The selection of
amenities featured in Carnival's gift baskets represents a wide spectrum of well-respected
brand name products that we believe guests will use and genuinely enjoy."
He added, "Unexpected touches like these amenities baskets contribute toward
creating an overall positive experience."
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The 2,124-passenger Carnival
Spirit will usher in a new era in "Fun Ship" cruising when it debuts on
a 16-day Panama Canal cruise April 29, 2001. Following its inaugural voyage, the Carnival
Spirit will operate Carnival's Alaska and Hawaii programs - the first new
"Fun Ship" to be deployed to those markets - along with a one-of-a-kind
eight-day "exotic" Caribbean cruise schedule from Miami. The Carnival
Spirit represents the first in a new series of vessel for the line and will
feature a host of innovative amenities and facilities. These include Carnival's first
wedding chapel, a large conference center, a reservations-only supper club, a spectacular
wrap-around outdoor promenade and the highest percentage of ocean view and balconied
staterooms in the "Fun Ship" fleet. 
Cruise
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