Carnival Offers West Coast Cruise Starting at $43 Per Day

(June 25, 2009) – With Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships returning to Mexico earlier this month, the line is currently offering some exceptionally attractive rates on its shorter itineraries departing from Long Beach and San Diego.

Early Saver rates starting from only $169 per person are available on three- and four-day mid-week voyages aboard the Carnival Elation from San Diego, as well as four-day voyages on the Carnival Paradise from Long Beach. Early Saver rates are available up to three months prior to sailing date for cruises of five days or less and up to five months prior to sailing date for longer length voyages.

The special fares include all stateroom types, including suites, and come with a rate protection feature if rates later drop below what the consumer originally paid.

Attractive rates are also available on Carnival Elation’s new four-day weekend and five-day cruises that begin next month featuring extended visits to the beautiful Mexican resort town of Cabo San Lucas. Unique to this program is the five-day itinerary departing Saturdays that features two full days in Cabo San Lucas.

“Consumers today are seeking strong vacation value and Carnival’s West Coast shorter cruises provide a great vacation at a very affordable price,” said Lynn Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services. “For as little as $43 per day, no other land-based vacation comes close to the value of a Carnival cruise. Plus, with a wide selection of three- to five-day cruises from two convenient homeports, there’s an attractive option for every vacation budget,” she added. Carnival’s West Coast shorter cruise options include:

• Three- and four-day Baja cruises aboard the Carnival Paradise year-round from Long Beach, providing a fun getaway at an excellent value. Three-day cruises departing Fridays call at Ensenada, while four-day voyages departing Mondays visit Ensenada and Catalina Island. Early Saver rates start at $219 per person for three-day cruises and $169 per person for four-day cruises.
• Three-, four- and five-day Baja or Cabo sailings on the Carnival Elation year-round from San Diego. Three-day cruises departing Fridays visit Ensenada. Four-day cruises departing Mondays call at Ensenada and Catalina Island, while four-day weekend cruises depart Thursdays and feature Cabo San Lucas. Five-day cruises departing Saturdays offer two full days in Cabo San Lucas, while five-day cruises departing Mondays stop at Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. Early Saver rates start at $169 per person for three-day and four-day mid-week cruises; $259 per person for four-day weekend cruises; and $299 per person for five-day cruises.

Signature ‘Fun Ship’ Facilities and Features The 70,000-ton Carnival Paradise and Carnival Elation, both of which have undergone multi-million-dollar renovations, offer a variety of facilities and features – a 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival health club, lavish production shows presented in elaborate multi-level theaters, three swimming pools, conference centers, a jogging track, and spacious accommodations. All staterooms feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.Dining options include two main dining rooms, an expansive poolside eatery with 24-hour pizza and ice cream, sushi bars, patisseries and complimentary 24-hour stateroom service.

Both of these ships offer the choice of traditional early or late assigned dining or Your Time dining which allows guests to dine at any time between 5:45 pm and 9:30 pm.

Each ship also features Carnival’s award-winning children’s programs – Camp Carnival for ages 2-11, Circle “C” for 12- to 14-year-olds and Club O2 for ages 15-17, with expansive facilities and dedicated counselors for each group.

An Internet café, ship wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service are available, as well.

Rates are based on double occupancy, reflect category 4 (interior) accommodations for select fall sailings and are subject to change without notice.

Carnival Splendor Begins Cruises From Long Beach California

(April 6, 2009) – Carnival Cruise Lines’ 3,006-passenger Carnival Splendor – the line’s newest and largest ship offering a host of innovations – embarked yesterday on its inaugural seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Long Beach, Calif., building upon the company’s distinction as California’s number one cruise operator.

On its new schedule, Carnival Splendor departs the Long Beach Cruise Terminal every Sunday on weeklong voyages to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas.

Including Carnival Splendor, the company operates four ships from the West Coast which collectively will carry a record 620,000 guests annually from California ports – more than any other cruise line.

In anticipation of the Carnival Splendor’s arrival, the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, owned and operated by Carnival’s parent company Carnival Corporation & plc since 2003, has undergone an $8 million upgrade.

Based on information collected by the Office of Economic Research at California State University, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Long Beach operations have a significant impact on the local economy, with $82.4 million in direct expenditures generating an employment impact of 525 jobs with an annual payroll of $18.2 million. The arrival of Carnival Splendor is expected to generate an additional $14 million in direct annual expenditures – this impact will be immediate.

“Carnival has earned its distinction as the West Coast’s number one cruise operator by offering fun, affordable vacations from two convenient homeports and Carnival Splendor – with its many innovations and features – provides guests with yet another exciting choice for Southern California cruising,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. “We are also very pleased with the renovations to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal, which provides our guests with a comfortable, state-of-the-art venue for embarking and debarking on their cruise,” he added.

Steve Goodling, president & CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said, “The size, capacity and appeal of the Carnival Splendor will give us the opportunity to showcase the revitalization of Long Beach and our beautiful skyline to the many thousands of passengers who will set sail on this incredible ship. We believe that this experience will generate repeat visits by many of these passengers.”

A new class of vessel for the line, the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor offers a wide range of on-board facilities and features, highlighted by a two-level 21,000-square foot health spa – the largest in the fleet – featuring a thalassotherapy pool, an elaborate thermal suite and 17 private treatment rooms. Adjacent to the facility are 68 spa staterooms and suites – a first for Carnival.

Carnival Splendor also offers the most elaborate children’s facilities of any “Fun Ship,” including a 5,500-square-foot children’s play area – the largest in the fleet – along with a water spray park and dedicated facilities for ’tweens and teens. Also featured on Lido Deck is Carnival’s Seaside Theatre, a massive 270-square-foot LED screen displaying movies, concerts, and other programming.

Dining options include four restaurants – two two-level main dining rooms, a 1,400-seat casual poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria, and an elegant reservations-only restaurant. Rounding out the Carnival Splendor’s many diverse features are 22 lounges and bars, a duty-free shopping mall, full casino gambling, and ship-wide Internet access and cell phone service. Reservations are currently being accepted for all of Carnival Cruise Lines’ West Coast departures.