<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, will operate seven-day <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises from <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> beginning <span class="xn-chron">Nov. 14, 2011</span>, becoming the largest cruise ship based at the port year-round. &nbsp;Additionally, the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph will reposition from <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> to <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> to operate year-round four- and five-day <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises from that port beginning <span class="xn-chron">Oct. 6, 2011</span>. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Homeporting the Carnival Magic and Carnival Triumph in <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> represents the largest-ever capacity commitment by a cruise line to <span class="xn-location">Texas</span>. &nbsp;With these deployments, Carnival expects to carry more than 450,000 guests annually from <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> &ndash; a 28 percent increase over the current year. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In turn, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest and 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy, both of which are currently based in <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span>, will reposition to <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> to operate year-round departures from that port, returning the line to pre-Katrina capacity levels there. &nbsp;With Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy, the line is expected to carry nearly 340,000 passengers annually from <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> &ndash; the most of any cruise operator. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Deploying the new Carnival Magic to <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> and increasing capacity on our popular short cruise program with the Carnival Triumph is a clear indication of the tremendous appeal and growth of this key homeport, which consistently earns high marks from our guests," said <span class="xn-person">Gerry Cahill</span>, Carnival president and CEO. "At the same time, we are very pleased to return to pre-Katrina capacity levels in <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> with the Carnival Conquest and Carnival Ecstasy &ndash; a wonderfully positive indicator of the city's continued growth and recovery," he added. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Carnival Magic, Carnival Triumph from <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carnival Magic, which is slated to debut in <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> in <span class="xn-chron">May 2011</span> with a host of innovative facilities and features, will offer two different week-long itineraries<span class="xn-location">Galveston</span>, including seven-day western <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> voyages to <span class="xn-location">Montego Bay</span>, <span class="xn-location">Grand Cayman</span> and <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span>, and week-long eastern <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises to <span class="xn-location">Nassau</span>, <span class="xn-location">Freeport</span>, and <span class="xn-location">Key West</span>. </span> from</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carnival Magic will offer many exciting amenities including a spectacular water park, an exclusive adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship's sides, and expansive spa and children's facilities. &nbsp;Also featured will be a variety of stateroom choices, including deluxe ocean view &nbsp;accommodations with two bathrooms, some of which feature five berths and hold particular appeal for families; cove balcony cabins located closer to the water line; and spa staterooms that provide special access and benefits. &nbsp;A number of new innovations are scheduled to be announced in the near future. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Prior to launching year-round <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> service from <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span>, Carnival Magic will operate a series of seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona <span class="xn-chron">May 1 to Oct. 16, 2011</span>; followed by a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing from <span class="xn-location">Barcelona</span> to <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> departing <span class="xn-chron">Oct. 28, 2011</span>.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also being deployed to <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> is the Carnival Triumph which will operate year-round four- and five-day western <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises beginning <span class="xn-chron">Oct. 6, 2011</span>, becoming the newest and largest ship to operate a year-round short cruise program from that port. &nbsp;Four-day cruises depart Thursdays to <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span>, while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays and visit <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span> and <span class="xn-location">Progreso, Mexico</span>. &nbsp;Carnival Triumph offers many guest-pleasing features and amenities, including nearly 500 balcony staterooms which are very popular among consumers and typically not available on short cruises. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Expanded Capacity from <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carnival Conquest will reposition to <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> for year-round seven-day <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises beginning <span class="xn-chron">Nov. 13, 2011</span>. &nbsp;The ship will offer three different week-long Caribbean options from <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span>: a new western <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> program featuring <span class="xn-location">Montego Bay</span>, <span class="xn-location">Grand Cayman</span> and <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span>, an eastern <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> itinerary to <span class="xn-location">Key West</span>, <span class="xn-location">Freeport</span> and <span class="xn-location">Nassau</span>, and exotic western <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> cruises to <span class="xn-location">Belize</span>, Roatan and <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span>. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carnival Ecstasy will operate year-round four- and five-day western <span class="xn-location">Caribbean</span> voyages from <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span> beginning <span class="xn-chron">Sept. 22, 2011</span>. The ship underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation last year that added an expansive water park, tropical-style main pool area, adults-only retreat and 98 balconies to existing staterooms. &nbsp;On the Carnival Ecstasy's new itinerary, four-day cruises departing Thursdays visit <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span>, while five-day cruises departing Mondays and Saturdays call at <span class="xn-location">Cozumel</span> and <span class="xn-location">Progreso, Mexico</span>. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Reservations &nbsp;</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reservations are currently being accepted for Carnival's various four- to seven-day departures from <span class="xn-location">Galveston</span> and <span class="xn-location">New Orleans</span>.</span></p>