Carnival Fun Ship Celebration to Replace Holiday

The Holiday will be redeployed to Mobile, Ala., to operate the first year-round cruise program from that port beginning in October 2004.

The Celebration will join the new 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle and 1,486-passenger Jubilee, both of which will operate from Jacksonville next year. Carnival Miracle will make its inaugural voyage from Jacksonville with a three-day cruise departing Feb. 27, 2004 – the first in a series of 12 three- to six-day departures from that port. The Jubilee, a sister ship to the Celebration, will operate a summer schedule of four- and five-day cruises from Jacksonville May 11 – Aug. 26, 2004.

“Consumer response to ‘Fun Ship’ cruising from Jacksonville has been nothing short of sensational and we’re delighted to deploy the Celebration – simply dazzling following its recent multi-million-dollar makeover – to this fast-growing market,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

Jacksonville’s First Year-Round Cruise Program
The 1,486-passenger Celebration will assume the Holiday’s previously announced program of four- and five-day cruises from Jacksonville beginning Oct. 23, 2004. On its new program, four-day cruises will depart on Thursdays and call at Freeport and Nassau, while five-day cruises will depart Mondays and Saturdays and call at Key West and Nassau.

Prior to the start-up of its year-round deployment, the Celebration will operate two special one-time cruises – a five-day cruise to Freeport and Nassau departing Oct. 12 and a six-day voyage to Cozumel, Calica/Playa del Carmen, and Freeport Oct. 17, 2004.

The 47,262-ton “Fun Ship” recently underwent a 70-day refurbishment and emerged with a newly designed purser’s lobby and promenade featuring new wall coverings, furniture and artwork, creating a more contemporary atmosphere. Each of the ship’s 743 staterooms also received a complete facelift with new curtains, carpeting and wallpaper, upgraded bedding, and remodeled bathrooms.

Cosmetic enhancements to various lounges, bars and restaurants, as well as elevator lobbies, corridors and stair landings, were also completed.

“This extensive, multi-million-dollar makeover made a terrific ‘Fun Ship’ even better and we can’t wait to show off this spectacular SuperLiner to Jacksonville,” Dickinson said.

Signature ‘Fun Ship’ Amenities
In addition to newly refurbished interiors, the Celebration offers a wide range of “resort-style” facilities and features. Housed within the ship’s nine passenger decks are 10 lounges and bars, three swimming pools – one with a cascading 115-foot-long water slide – as well as a health and fitness facility, an Internet café, and a children’s play area, part of the line’s top-rated “Camp Carnival” program.

A variety of fine and casual dining venues are also featured, including two main dining rooms and a casual poolside eatery offering breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives, and a 24-hour pizzeria.

A comprehensive golf program offering professional instruction both aboard ship and during golf excursions is available, as well.

Pricing and Reservations
Carnival will begin accepting reservations on the Celebration’s new program from Jacksonville later this week. Existing reservations for guests who booked cruises on the Holiday from Jacksonville will be switched to the Celebration.

Prices for the Celebration’s four- and five-day cruises from Jacksonville start at $329 per person.

These cruises can also be purchased through Carnival’s “Fun Finance Plan (SM),” which enables consumers to extend their cruise payments over 24 monthly installments. Certain restrictions apply.

Round-trip air transportation supplements from a variety of North American gateways and special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom are also available.

For additional information and reservations contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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