Ocean Village to be phased out

Carnival UK has announced that it will be phasing out the Ocean Village brand starting in autumn 2009 as part of a reorganisation of its company portfolio. Both Ocean Village ships are set to be transferred to the P&O Cruises Australia brand, the first in time for Christmas 2009 and the final ship a year later.

Commenting on the move, David Dingle, CEO of Carnival UK and Chair of the Carnival Australia Management Committee, said:

“In reviewing the most effective deployment of our ships, we have recognised the major growth potential in the Australian market and the profit opportunity which awaits. Clearly it is disappointing to wind down our Ocean Village operation which has been superbly created and delivered by an excellent management team, but we must recognise the need to maximise profit performance from our assets. Ocean Village has done much to change the face of British cruising, and all our UK brands have benefited from this. The arrival of new ships for P&O Cruises and Cunard in 2010 and the continuing development of Princess Cruises in Britain will ensure that Carnival UK continues its growth despite the redeployment of the Ocean Village vessels.”

Following the changes Ocean Village will operate a single ship in the Caribbean in winter 2009-10 and the previously published programme will be updated and pre-made bookings amended.

Carnival UK cruise brands include P&O Cruises, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Ocean Village and The Yachts of Seabourn.

Exciting new cuisine on Carnival Cruises

A study by Ciao Surveys has revealed that a third of UK consumers admitted that food is a key aspect of a holiday for them.

The third of Britons mentioned will undoubtedly be pleased to find that for the most part cruise holidays cater for this requirement, especially after Carnival Cruises have announced that they are adding an array of international dishes to their menus this summer.

There will de delicacies such as Mongolian barbeque, fresh sushi and Indian tandoori among the delights that passengers travelling on European cruises can expect in summer 2008.

“Today’s consumers are savvier than ever and when it comes to cuisine they want not only long time favourites but also the opportunity to enjoy new choices they typically wouldn’t try at home,” Natko Nincevic, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations for Royal Caribbean Cruises commented.

Carnival Cruises ship Splendour will be offering passengers on board a selection of multi course meals featuring Indian style chicken, fish kebabs and a Mongolian wok. Guests can choose their own vegetables, seafood, meat and seasonings before it is prepared in front of them.

In addition to new Asian delicacies traditional cuisine will also be available on Carnival’s ships.

Carnival Dream to be based from Port Canaveral

Carnival Cruises newest ship will be the largest “Fun Ship” ever built and will be based at Port Canaveral, Florida from Autumn 2009.

The new ship is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. It will hold 3,652 passengers and will be named Carnival Dream, the first in a new class of ship for Carnival Cruises. The new class will feature a unique interior design, sleek hull and distinctive profile, along with a whole host of innovative facilities, the details of which will be released in the coming months.

Carnival Dream’s deployment to Port Canaveral continues the line’s 18 year relationship with the Canaveral Port Authority, the longest tenure of any cruise line there.

There are another two ships scheduled to join Carnival Dream, the 113,300 tonne Carnival Splendor set to debut in Europe 2 July 2008 and the 130,000 tonne Carnival Magic, for delivery in June 2011.

Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating three- to 18-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Europe and South America.

Carnival Cruises new Eastern Caribbean cruise

Carnival Cruises has added a new 8-day eastern Caribbean cruise option from New York aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle.

Carnival Miracle offers a host of on-board facilities and features: 16 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, an expansive 13,500-square-foot Spa Carnival facility, indoor and outdoor promenades, a wedding chapel, ship-wide Wi-Fi Internet access and cell phone service. Dining options include a two-level formal restaurant, a 1,200-seat casual poolside eatery with a 24-hour pizzeria, and an elegant reservations-only supper club. Three different youth programs – “Camp Carnival” for ages 2-11, “Circle C” for 12- to 14-year-olds, and “Club O2” for older teens – with facilities, activities and counselors specific to their age group are included.

Their new eastern Caribbean Cruise will feature port calls to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, the private island of Half Moon Cay, Nassau and The Bahamas. The new cruise route will be offered approximately once a month from May through September 2009 and will complement the ship’s existing eastern Caribbean cruise schedule from New York featuring stops at San Juan, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., Tortola and the British Virgin Islands.

Half Moon Cay offers a variety of exciting activities to choose from while exploring this privately owned paradise. Guests can enjoy horseback riding through the sand and surf, visit the Half Moon Lagoon Aqua Park, hike on the nature trail or simply relax in a private beachfront cabana.

One of the Caribbean’s newest ports, Grand Turk has quickly earned the reputation as a guest favorite. In addition to numerous historic attractions and palm tree-lined powdery beaches, Grand Turk is considered one of the world’s best spots for snorkeling and scuba diving. Cruises stop at the new Grand Turk Cruise Center, which features an 800-foot-long private beach, a swimming pool, and the Caribbean’s largest Margaritaville themed restaurant.

The Bahamian capital of Nassau is an idyllic place with stretches of white-sand beaches and warm, turquoise waters teeming with marine life. In addition to a multitude of water-based options, guests can spend the day shopping for duty-free gifts or take a carriage ride past the city’s historic pastel-colored buildings.

Carnival Miracle also offers hundreds of staterooms with private balconies – perfect for scenic Caribbean cruising. The ship also offers a variety of accommodation categories, all of which feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system, with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.

Carnival Cruises Elvis Presley cruise

The King is alive and kicking!

Well he will be onboard Carnival Fantasy which will be hosting a special Elvis Presley cruise this summer. This will be Carnival Cruises second themed cruise dedicated to the blue suede shoes musical achievements of Elvis.

The four day Elvis Cruise is scheduled to cruise from New Orleans, visiting Cozumel in Mexico on 28 August 2008. The entertainment onboard Carnival Fantasy will include the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest, along with live shows from artists who have performed with Elvis. Some of the other activities planned include autograph sessions with musicians, an Elvis Cruise T-shirt party and Elvis-themed bingo.

The Carnival Fantasy, one of Carnival Cruises “Fun Ships” has an amazing array of onboard activities to make your cruise one you won’t forget in awhile. These include music and dancing in the Piano Bar, Lounge, dance club, a casino, art auctions, golf lessons, bingo, late night comedy shows – the list goes on. Or you may enjoy revitalising mind, body and soul in the Spa Carnival.

Murder Mystery Carnival Cruises

If you are someone who enjoys trying to guess who killed the victim in any of televisions latest detective programmes, then you will certainly enjoy the chance to take part in Carnival Cruises latest venture. A series of ‘Whodunit Cruises’ have been organised in conjunction with Whodunit Productions, the leading organiser of mystery cruises at sea. ‘Whodunit Cruises’ are to be onboard the 2,052 passenger “Fun Ship” Carnival Paradise on a selection of dates this year and 2009 sailing from Long Beach, California.

“Whodunit Cruises” on board Carnival Paradise will include a variety of puzzling activities set to take place throughout the public rooms and areas aboard the 70,000 ton ship, the objective being to solve the mystery by the end of the voyage. Guests participating will be given their own role to play upon embarkation and will be encouraged to use their characters personality traits to find out “Whodunit”.

Guests will also interact with professional actors hired specifically to enhance the atmosphere of suspense and intrigue. There will be a variety of secret clues, maybe a note slipped discreetly under a stateroom door with elusive instructions for a top secret meeting throughout the cruise. “Whodunit Cruise” participants will also enjoy a Super Sleuth cocktail party at the end of the cruise to announce the winner.

CRUISE LINES SEEING CALM FINANCIAL SEAS DESPITE ECONOMIC TIDAL WAVES

With fuel prices going up and the US economy going down, the consensus might be that the cruise industry is facing harder times in 2008. But that's not the case at all.

"The booking picture is quite strong at this time," Howard Frank, the vice chairman of Miami-based Carnival Corp., told investors.

In fact, Frank added, even though Carnival's fleet capacity is expected to rise by 9% in 2008, "we have less inventory left at this time to sell through the remainder of the year."

Analysts say there are a couple of reasons the cruise industry is upbeat despite the strong economic headwinds.

For one, cruise lines are increasingly shifting resources to Europe.

Carnival's capacity in Europe, for example, will grow 21.7% this year; in contrast, its capacity in North America will grow just 3.4%

European cruises can command higher prices and are shielded somewhat from the struggling American economy.

"For those who wrestle with how Carnival could be seeing such strong booking trends when there is so much concern about the US consumer, the answer is: Easy comps and a lower mix of Caribbean deployments," wrote Robin Farley, a cruise industry analyst for UBS, in a note to investors.

But skyrocketing fuel costs still pose a threat. UBS analysts projected that Carnival's fuel costs per day will rise nearly one third from a year ago.

Cruise lines are also counting on consumers to shoulder more of the expense. Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and most other cruise companies -- with the exception of Disney Cruise Line -- have announced new fuel surcharges that will cost passengers an extra $5 per day.

Report by David Wilkening

CARNIVAL TO RAISE EUROPEAN CAPACITY BY 22%

Carnival Corporation is to raise capacity in Europe by 22% next year on the back of record 2007 profits of $2.4 billion.

The US cruise giant's annual net profits were up from $2.3 billion in 2006 as earnings in the fourth quarter ending November 30 were held back by increased fuel costs and higher dry dock outlay.

Net profits for the final three months of the company's financial year dropped by almost 14% or $58 million to $358 million, blamed on "significantly higher" costs of fuel.

Chairman and CEO Mickey Arison said the group's European brands – which incorporate the Carnival UK business of P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Ocean Village – enjoyed another record year "absorbing substantial new capacity and driving significant improvement in unit operating profit".

Overall capacity will grow by nine per cent in 2008, mainly driven by the introduction of five new ships across five brands.

Advance bookings for the first half of next year are "well ahead" with those for the second half "shaping up in a similar fashion".

"While our North American brands will grow capacity at a moderate rate of three per cent, our European brands will increase capacity by 22% next year, including the full year operation of our new Spanish cruise line, Ibero Cruises," said Arison.

"As we grow our European brands, we will be able to achieve economies of scale which will have a favourable impact on our unit costs and profitability."

Fuel expenses are expected to rise by $409 million in 2008.

by Phil Davies

CARNIVAL TO EXPAND GERMAN CRUISE FLEET

Carnival Corporation has responded to rival Royal Caribbean's joint cruise venture with TUI AG by ordering two more ships for its German brand AIDA Cruises.

The two 2,174 passenger ships will cost 380 million euros and 385 million euros respectively and are due to enter service for summer 2011 and 2012.

Another ship pencilled in for AIDA is to be enlarged to match the size of the two 71,000-ton new orders and is to be delivered in 2010 at a cost of 350 million euros.

The two newbuilds means that Carnival cruise lines has ordered six new ships dedicated to the German market in the past three years.

The vessels will operate an informal 'club resort' concept marketed exclusively to German-speaking passengers and will be aimed at younger, more active passengers.

The new ships will join the 68,500-ton ADIAbella due to enter service next April and a sister ship due to be delivered in April 2009. The first in this series, AIDAdiva, was introduced earlier this year.

Carnival chairman and CEO Micky Arison said: "With the interest in cruise vacations among Europeans continuing to grow significantly, we are committed to investing in our European brands."

by Phil Davies

CARNIVAL UK SIGNS FOR NEW SOUTHAMPTON CRUISE TERMINAL

A purpose-built cruise terminal is to be built in Southampton for almost £20 million to open in 2009.

The new terminal comes as part of a 20-year deal between Carnival UK and Associated British Ports for the multi-brand cruise giant to continue sailing from Southampton.

The £19 million terminal will be built at Ocean Dock, opposite the site of the old Ocean Terminal.

The agreement also gives Carnival UK priority use of the port's QEII and Mayflower Terminals. The cruise company's brands include P&O Cruises, Cunard, Ocean Village and Princess Cruises.
Carnival UK CEO David Dingle said: "Our brands are inextricably linked with Southampton and the port's maritime history.

"The signing of this agreement and the construction of our new headquarters building in the city together underpin our commitment to retaining Southampton as our long-term home.

"The new terminal agreement comes as we prepare to base further new ships in Southampton including Cunard Line's Queen Victoria, which was named in the city on Monday, and P&O Cruises' Ventura which will be home-ported here from next April.
"Our new ships are testament to the growth of the cruise industry, the strength of its links with Southampton and its massive economic contribution to the region, and it is fitting that they will sail from a new state-of-the-art terminal in the city."

by Phil Davies

CARNIVAL DESTINY TO OPERATE NEW SIX-PORT CARIBBEAN CRUISE PROGRAM FROM SAN JUAN IN MARCH 2008

Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny will launch a seven-day cruise program from San Juan to the southern Caribbean featuring extended calls at six tropical destinations – St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Thomas/St. John.

The new schedule begins March 2, 2008. St. Thomas is one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean and is included on many Caribbean itineraries. The other islands are less visited and feature interesting architecture and Caribbean customs, as well as spectacular scenery.

CARNIVAL CRUISES ANNOUNCES “UNIQUE” ITINERARY

Carnival Cruise Lines' 2,642-passenger Carnival Destiny will launch what it calls a "unique seven-day cruise program" from San Juan featuring extended calls at six tropical destinations – St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, and St. Thomas/St. John.

"Carnival Destiny's new seven-day program offers consumers the unmatched opportunity to visit six different Caribbean destinations including rarely visited ports and some of the Caribbean's most popular islands, each offering unforgettable and unique experiences ashore," said Vicki Freed, Carnival's senior vice president of sales and guest services.

Featured on the new itinerary is a day-long stop at St. Kitts, an island offering a landscape of rugged mountains and dense rainforest, which serves as a dramatic backdrop to beaches that range in colour from black to golden. The island also offers examples of West Indian and Creole architecture, as well as centuries-old fortresses and plantations.

Another stop, Antigua, at 108 square miles is the largest of the Leeward Islands and known for a multitude of beaches, some 365 of them, in fact, or "one for every day of the year." Antigua also features a variety of historical sites.

The Carnival Destiny houses 18 lounges and bars, including a sports bar, wine bar, piano bar, and a multi-level theatre showcasing lavish revues. Its family friendly amenities include "Camp Carnival" and "Club O2," with facilities and activities for children and teens, respectively.

The new schedule begins next March 2.

Report by David Wilkening

WHY CRUISE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO GROW: VAST CHOICES

Cruise travel continues to grow for several reasons, including the fact that many cruisers can drive to their ship, says Cruise Line International Association (CLIA).

Two other reasons: the growing availability of spas and the ability to explore exotic Caribbean destinations.

"One of the important things is no matter what you think you want to do on a vacation, or no matter what you have done and like, you can probably replicate that experience on a cruise," said Bob Sharak, executive vice president of marketing for CLIA.

Twelve ships are taking maiden voyages this year — with several embarking from Southeast ports — and eight new vessels are scheduled to debut next year, according to CLIA.

In the next five years, 40 ships will be introduced, increasing the number of beds from 265,000 to 335,000.

Some of the newest ships offer activities ranging from ice skating to surfing.

Costa and Carnival Cruise Lines as well as Celebrity's new Azamara Cruises brand, have suites next to spas, with perks such as in-room services and restaurants.

CARNIVAL UK CLAIMS SOUTHAMPTON PASSENGER RECORD

A record of more than 28,000 passengers on seven Carnival UK ships passed through the port of Southampton the weekend before last.

Between Friday, August 31 and Sunday, September 2, the company handled a total of 28,319 passengers in the port, breaking previous records.

These included a call by QE2 on the Friday and three ships each on the Saturday (Oriana, Sea Princess, Oceana) and on Sunday (Aurora, Arcadia, Grand Princess.)

Carnival UK CEO David Dingle said: "This is a spectacular result, both for our cruise brands and for the port of Southampton and seals Southampton's rightful place as the home of UK cruising. With some of our passengers less than a year old it also demonstrates the popularity of cruising across the generations.

"With the launch of P&O Cruises Ventura sailing from Southampton from
next April and the launch of Cunard's Queen Victoria this December, these numbers can only increase.

"It is further evidence that cruising has become a mainstream holiday choice and with the crowds and delays at airports people are recognising the benefits of ex-UK cruising."

by Phil Davies

CARNIVAL’S SPANISH JOINT CRUISE BRAND TO LAUNCH WITH THREE SHIPS

The Iberocruceros joint venture combines the two vessels run by Spanish partner Orizonia and a vessel from the Carnival group – the 1,486-capacity Celebration.

The fleet will consist of Orizonia's 1,244-passenger Grand Mistral and 834-passenger Grand Voyager, with Celebration scheduled to enter service in late spring 2008 after a refurbishment. Itineraries will be announced shortly.

The details emerged as Orizonia, Spain's largest travel company, and Carnival finalised agreements for the previously announced multi-ship cruise brand serving the Spanish market.

Carnival will own three quarters of the joint venture and Orizonia the remaining 25%.