<p>Carnival Cruise Lines, the world&rsquo;s largest cruise operator, will introduce the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston, S.C., with the deployment of the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in May 2010.<span></span></p>
<p>Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages to The Bahamas and Key West, Fla., from the Passenger Terminal in historic downtown Charleston beginning May 18, 2010.</p>
<p>On Carnival Fantasy&rsquo;s new Charleston-based cruises, Carnival is expected to carry more than 140,000 passengers annually from the port.&nbsp; Including Charleston, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 20 North American homeports in 2010, with 12 year-round departure points &ndash; the most in cruising.</p>
<p>The new year-round departures from Charleston dramatically expand upon Carnival&rsquo;s decade-long relationship with the port. Previously, Carnival has operated seasonal voyages from Charleston, including two five-day departures on the Carnival Triumph this year and two on the Carnival Glory next year. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Charleston&rsquo;s centralized location within the southeastern U.S., as well as the city&rsquo;s strong appeal as a tourist destination, were key factors in the decision to launch year-round service aboard the Carnival Fantasy.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Charleston is an extraordinary city within easy reach of millions of U.S. residents who will now have convenient access to Carnival&rsquo;s fantastic and affordable cruise vacation options year-round,&rdquo; said Gerry Cahill, Carnival&rsquo;s president and CEO.&nbsp; &ldquo;Our past experience with the Port of Charleston, which has a very efficient and conveniently located cruise terminal, has been outstanding.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Carnival and this vessel fit perfectly with the internationally acclaimed Charleston tourism market, which draws cruise passengers from across the Southeast and beyond,&rdquo; said Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina State Ports Authority.&nbsp; &ldquo;We have enjoyed a successful, long-standing relationship with Carnival, and we are very pleased to significantly expand that relationship with a year-round calendar.&nbsp; This commitment by Carnival underscores Charleston&rsquo;s cruise development potential.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>New Year-Round Departures from Charleston</strong></p>
<p>On its new Charleston-based program, Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages on a variety of departure days beginning May 18, 2010.</p>
<p>Five-day voyages departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will call at Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas. Six-day voyages departing Saturdays will visit Freeport, Nassau and Key West, Fla.&nbsp; Seven-day voyages depart Saturdays and will feature Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, and Nassau.</p>
<p>Each of these tropical destinations has a character all its own and offers a wide range of snorkeling, fishing and water sports opportunities, as well as beautiful beaches and a distinctive island ambiance.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Carnival Elation to Mobile </strong></p>
<p>Carnival Fantasy is currently based in New Orleans and is scheduled to transfer to Mobile for a program of four- and five-day cruises that will operate from that port from Nov. 10, 2009 through May 10, 2010. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Replacing the Carnival Fantasy in Mobile will be its sister ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, which will reposition from San Diego to launch year-round service from that port May 15, 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition to four- and five-day cruises from Mobile, Carnival Elation will operate a series of seven-day Western Caribbean voyages in spring, summer and fall 2010.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Prior to the start-up of its new Mobile-based program, Carnival Elation will sail on a 15-day Panama Canal cruise departing from San Diego April 30. Guests will have the option of debarking the vessel in Tampa on May 14 or in Mobile on May 15. &nbsp;&nbsp;Featured ports will include Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; and Puntarenas, Costa Rica; followed by a Panama Canal transit; and visits to Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman.</p>
<p><strong>Truly a &lsquo;Fun Ship&rsquo;</strong></p>
<p>The namesake vessel in Carnival&rsquo;s 70,000-ton Fantasy-class, the Carnival Fantasy offers a host of on-board amenities and facilities:&nbsp; a 12,000-square-foot health spa, extensive children&rsquo;s facilities for kids in three age groups &ndash; Camp Carnival (2-11), Circle &ldquo;C&rdquo; (12-14) and Club O2 (15-17), a variety of formal and casual dining options and 12 lounges and bars.</p>
<p>Also featured is Carnival WaterWorks, an expansive, all-ages aqua park featuring a 300-foot-long water slide, 82-foot-long dual racing slides and a splash zone.&nbsp; Carnival Fantasy also offers Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat, and a resort-style main pool area.</p>
<p>An Internet caf&eacute; with ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service are also available.</p>
<p>The ship also offers a variety of spacious accommodations, all of which feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.</p>