<p>The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy has resumed its popular four- and five-day cruise schedule from New Orleans following a 28-day dry dock that included the addition of an expansive new water park, exclusive adults-only area,&nbsp; redesigned main pool and a new &ldquo;Circle C&rdquo; facility for 12-to 14-year-olds.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p><p>The ship&rsquo;s suites and dining venues were also renovated and new dining options such as a Mongolian wok and rotisserie were added. </p><p>The new features are part of the line&rsquo;s $250 million &ldquo;Evolutions of Fun&rdquo; refurbishment program for its eight Fantasy-class ships.</p><p>In conjunction with the Carnival Fantasy&rsquo;s resumption of service from New Orleans, the company has partnered with five New Orleans-based radio stations on a promotion called &ldquo;Give Fun Back,&rdquo; which kicks off Oct. 20 and is designed to reward deserving individuals with a &ldquo;Fun Ship&rdquo; cruise vacation. Based on nominations submitted by listeners, five winners will be selected, with each receiving a complimentary cruise on the Carnival Fantasy for up to four guests. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Exciting New Top-Deck Enhancements </p><p>A signature element of Carnival Fantasy&rsquo;s new &ldquo;Evolutions of Fun&rdquo; upgrades is Carnival WaterWorks, an expansive aqua park towering over Verandah Deck. Designed with all-ages appeal, the sprawling, open-air facility includes a 300-foot-long spiral water slide &ndash; the longest at sea &ndash; along with twin 82-foot-long racing slides and various water spray apparatus.&nbsp; </p><p>Located aft on Promenade Deck and offering magnificent ocean views is &ldquo;Serenity,&rdquo; an exclusive new adults-only retreat.&nbsp; Intended as an oasis for relaxation and comfort, &ldquo;Serenity&rdquo; offers plush chaise lounges and chairs, colorful oversized umbrellas, and two large whirlpools.&nbsp; Here, guests can sip a variety of icy cocktails and frozen drinks or enjoy a light meal or snack from the nearby Lido restaurant. </p><p>The third element of the &ldquo;Evolutions of Fun&rdquo; top deck upgrades is a totally redesigned &ldquo;resort-style&rdquo; pool located mid-ship on Lido Deck featuring thatched roofing and large faux palm trees. Vibrant oversized umbrellas, comfortable deck chairs and a colorful tiled &ldquo;beach&rdquo; encircling the pool&rsquo;s edge enhance the decidedly tropical ambiance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>New Dining Upgrades, &lsquo;Circle C&rsquo; Center, Updated Suites </p><p>The ship&rsquo;s Celebration and Jubilee main dining rooms, as well as the causal poolside Windows on the Sea Bar &amp; Grill, have been renovated with striking new interiors, and updated carpeting, tile work and furniture.&nbsp; Windows on the Sea also features a new Mongolian wok where guests can select their choice of meat, vegetables, and noodles and have the dish prepared before their eyes. A rotisserie has been added, as well, with roasted chicken, beef, and lamb, along with a variety of side dishes and accompaniments. </p><p>A new &ldquo;Circle C&rdquo; facility catering to the 12- to 14-year-olds has also been incorporated into Atlantic Deck forward. The center features a high-tech sound and lighting system, plasma-screen TVs displaying movies and music videos, a touch-screen jukebox, and gaming pods with the latest video games and consoles. </p><p>Cosmetic enhancements were also made to other shipboard areas, including renovated guest corridors and public bathrooms, a brand new d&eacute;cor and technical enhancements to the Electricity dance club, a host of new artwork, and updated furniture and fixtures in many staterooms. </p><p>Additionally, all of the ship&rsquo;s 54 suites were remodeled with updated wall coverings, carpeting, tile work and lighting fixtures, as well as new bathrooms.&nbsp; A number of connecting staterooms were incorporated, as well. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Future Plans </p><p>The namesake vessel of the 70,000-ton Fantasy-class, Carnival Fantasy currently operates four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans.&nbsp; On this route, four-day cruises depart Thursdays and visit Cozumel while five-day voyages depart Mondays and Saturdays and call at Cozumel and Progreso.&nbsp; </p><p>Carnival Fantasy will sail from New Orleans through Nov. 5, 2009, then reposition to Mobile, Ala., to operate a special six-day cruise departing Nov. 10 followed by the launch of year-round four- and five-day service from that port Nov. 16.&nbsp; Carnival Fantasy will be replaced in New Orleans by the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph in Nov. 2009. </p>