Carnival Cruise Lines to Introduce New Seven-Day Eastern Caribbean Cruise Itineraries from Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla., in 2011.

Carnival Cruise Lines will introduce new seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise itineraries from Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla., in 2011. The cruises will be offered on the Carnival Legend from Tampa and Carnival Fascination from Jacksonville both of which are currently based at those ports but have never before offered these itineraries.

From Jacksonville, the recently renovated 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination will offer a series of six week-long Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruises to Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, and Nassau, complementing the ship’s popular four- and five-day Bahamas/Key West departures. Departure dates include April 30, May 7, July 23 and 30, and Sept. 17 and 24, 2011.

From Tampa, the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend will add five new seven-day Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruises featuring Half Moon Cay, Nassau and Key West to its existing week-long western Caribbean cruise schedule. The new week-long Exotic Eastern Caribbean cruises will be offered May 1, June 26, July 24, Aug. 7 and Oct. 16, 2011.

Half Moon Cay is a crescent-shaped island offering magnificent beaches, a children’s water park, private cabanas and a variety of shore excursion opportunities. Grand Turk is an eight-square-mile island paradise with beautiful white-sand beaches, the Caribbean’s largest Margaritaville restaurant and centuries-old historical sites. Known for its perpetually laid back ambiance, Key West has a character all its own, with numerous bars and lounges lining historic Duval Street and myriad watersports opportunities. The Bahamian capital of Nassau offers gorgeous beaches and a host of shops, restaurants and boutiques.

Like other “Fun Ships,” Carnival Fascination and Carnival Legend offer a variety of on-board facilities and features: myriad formal and casual dining options, expansive facilities and programming for children in three age groups, full casino gambling, and a host of live music and entertainment venues. Both ships also offer acres of open deck space and the line’s signature Twister Water Slide. Reservations are currently being accepted for the new week-long Caribbean programs aboard the Carnival Fascination and Carnival Legend.

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Carnival Fascination Sails from Jacksonville after $34 Million Dollar Refit

(February 1, 2010) – The 2,052-passenger Carnival Fascination resumes its year-round four- and five-day schedule from Jacksonville, Fla., today following a $34 million dry dock that included the addition of an expansive new water park, exclusive adults-only retreat, redesigned main pool area and 98 balconies to existing staterooms.

These renovations are part of the line’s $350 million “Evolutions of Fun” refurbishment program for its eight 70,000-ton Fantasy-class vessels. The Carnival Fascination is the sixth ship in the series to receive the extensive upgrades.

Carnival Fascination operates Jacksonville’s only year-round cruise schedule, carrying approximately 170,000 passengers a year. On this program, four-day cruises departing Thursdays visit Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas; five-day cruises departing Mondays call at Key West, Fla., and Nassau; and five-day voyages departing Saturdays visit the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau.

“Our Jacksonville-based cruises are a great option for those seeking a convenient, high quality vacation at a tremendous value and these new features will enhance the Carnival Fascination’s already strong appeal with consumers,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.

Added Rick Ferrin, JAXPORT's CEO, “The Fascination has proved to be a tremendous draw for cruise passengers from throughout the southeastern U.S. with the ship typically sailing at 100 percent capacity. This package of new amenities will refresh the experience for repeat customers and enhance the experience for first-time cruisers. It's a win-win situation for all of us.”

Exciting Top Deck Features
Carnival Fascination’s multi-million dollar refurbishment included a total transformation of its open decks, which now feature a massive new WaterWorks aqua park on Verandah Deck. This sprawling, all-ages facility includes an enclosed 300-foot-long Twister water slide full of exhilarating twists and turns, two 82-foot-long racing slides, and a splash zone for kids. The ship’s Lido Deck pool was also renovated with a colorful tropical theme featuring oversized umbrellas, vibrant tile work, thatched roofing and huge stylized palm trees, creating a relaxing resort-style ambiance.

New Balcony Accommodations
Ninety-eight balconies were also added to existing accommodations during the dry dock, creating spacious 230-square-foot balcony staterooms that provide the ideal vantage point for viewing the tropical scenery. Sixty-two of the new balcony staterooms are located aft with several of these featuring extended balconies, while 24 are located mid-ship and 12 near the stern. Several suites were also retrofitted with larger, extended balconies.

New Adults-Only Retreat
Another popular “Evolutions of Fun” element added during the dry dock was an adults-only retreat called Serenity, which is located on Promenade Deck aft, providing magnificent ocean vistas. Designed as an oceangoing oasis for relaxation, this area features a tropical design with teak-style decking, colorful umbrellas, and thatched roofing, along with two oversized whirlpools. Guests can relax in comfortable chaise lounges and chairs while enjoying frozen drinks and other icy concoctions.

Dining Enhancements
Delicious new dining options were added to the ship’s casual poolside restaurant, Coconut Grove Bar & Grill. These include a Mongolian wok venue where guests can select their favorite meat, sauce, vegetables and other ingredients and watch as a chef creates their custom-designed stir fry dish, and a rotisserie featuring roasted chicken and traditional side dishes.

Additionally, the Sensation and Imagination main dining rooms were refurbished with new carpeting, upholstery and other cosmetic enhancements. The Sensation dining room, located forward, was also reconfigured for Your Time Dining providing guests the option of open seating between 5:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. nightly.

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