<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Mobile&rsquo;s newest cruise ship, Carnival  Cruise Lines&rsquo; 2,052-passenger Carnival  Elation, will arrive at the Alabama Cruise Terminal tomorrow, May  15, to launch year-round four-, five- and seven-day western Caribbean  cruises.&nbsp;&nbsp;<span></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Tomorrow&rsquo;s voyage &ndash; a seven-day western  Caribbean&nbsp;cruise to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel &ndash; is the  first of the Carnival Elation&rsquo;s 74 annual departures from Mobile.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Carnival is the only cruise line to sail year-round from Mobile and  Carnival Elation will carry an estimated 170,000 passengers annually  from the port.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Carnival  Elation replaces the Carnival Fantasy, a sister ship of the same  size which is repositioning to Charleston, S.C., to launch that port&rsquo;s  first year-round cruise program May 18.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">In addition to upcoming seven-day voyages taking place in July and  October, Carnival Elation will operate four-day cruises to Cozumel  departing Thursdays and five-day voyages to Cozumel and Calica or  Progreso, Mexico, departing Mondays and Saturdays.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">&ldquo;Carnival pioneered year-round cruising from Mobile in 2004 and has  since carried hundreds of thousands of satisfied guests, primarily  residents of the southeastern U.S., who greatly value the ease and  convenience of cruising from this charming southern port city,&rdquo; said  Gerry Cahill, Carnival&rsquo;s president and CEO.&nbsp; &ldquo;The modern Alabama Cruise  Terminal combined with exceptional partnership from the local community,  including area travel agents who have strongly supported our Mobile  cruise program, have led to our ongoing growth and success in Mobile,&rdquo;  he added.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Commented Mobile Mayor Sam Jones, &ldquo;We are excited about the arrival  of the Carnival Elation into Mobile. Having this ship homeported here is  going to be a tremendous asset to our waterfront and for tourism.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Carnival Elation entered service in 1998 and offers a wide range of  on-board facilities and features: 12 lounges and bars, including a  1,300-seat theater showcasing lavish revues, a 12,000-square-foot health  spa, a conference center, a jogging track, and organized programs for  children in three age groups &ndash; Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle &ldquo;C&rdquo; (12-14)  and Club O2 (15-17).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Also featured is Serenity, a secluded adults-only retreat with  teak-style decking, colorful umbrellas and comfortable chaise lounges  and chairs.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">Dining options include two formal restaurants, a 700-seat casual  poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie and  complimentary 24-hour stateroom service. Cell phone service and  ship-wide Internet access are also available.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; color: #000000;">All of the Carnival  Elation&rsquo;s 1,026 staterooms&nbsp;feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep  system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens  and pillows.</span></p>