30th Sep 2005 14:10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PREVIOUSLY ORDERED 112,000-TON CRUISE SHIP ASSIGNED TO CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES BY CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC New 3,006-Passenger Vessel Scheduled to Enter Service in Spring 2008 MIAMI (Sept. 30, 2005) - Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK)today announced that it has assigned a previously ordered 112,000-ton cruiseship to its Carnival Cruise Lines brand.The 3,006-passenger ship, to be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, isexpected to enter service in spring 2008.Representing a new design for Carnival Cruise Lines, the as-yet-unnamed vesselwill offer a host of innovative on-board amenities, including the largest spaand children's facilities in the Carnival fleet.The vessel was part of a five-ship agreement with Fincantieri announced inSeptember 2004 that also included the 116,000-ton Emerald Princess for PrincessCruises, the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom for Carnival Cruise Lines, and the116,000-ton Ventura for P&O Cruises, and a significant redesign of CunardLine's previously ordered Queen Victoria."Originally, we envisioned this ship would be designated for one of ourEuropean brands. However, Carnival Cruise Lines continues to perform at a veryhigh level and based on the tremendous consumer demand for its products, we nowbelieve that this specific tonnage would be best utilized for Carnival's NorthAmerican market," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman andCEO.Arison noted that the new ship extends Carnival Cruise Lines' newbuildingprogram into 2008 and will build upon the line's distinction as the "Number OneChoice for Caribbean Cruising."Among the new vessel's highlights will be a 17,800-square-foot spa that willencompass two forward decks and include an elaborate thermal suite, a varietyof health and beauty treatment rooms, and Carnival's first thalasso therapypool. Encircling the upper level of the spa will be a winter garden that willinclude a ceremonial tea house. A 5,500-square-foot children's playroom -- the largest in the Carnival fleet --will be located mid-ship. Above the facility will be a new water play area - afirst for the line.The mid-ship pool - one of four on board - will be enclosed by two full decksof glass walls. The area will be covered with a two-deck-high retractable domethat can be closed during inclement weather. A large balcony will encircle theupper deck of the pool area.A new sports deck will be located aft and feature bleacher-style seating forgames and other events, while a reservations-only supper club will be locatedatop the poolside Lido restaurant, providing diners with magnificent oceanvistas.The ship will also house 1,503 staterooms, 60 percent of which will offer anocean view with 60 percent of those featuring private verandahs.Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world,with a portfolio of 12 cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia,comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises,Seabourn Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, CunardLine, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and P&O Cruises Australia.Together, these brands operate 79 ships totaling more than 137,000 lower berthswith 12 new ships scheduled for delivery between January 2006 and April 2009.Carnival Corporation & plc also operates the leading tour companies in Alaskaand the Canadian Yukon, Holland America Tours and Princess Tours. Traded onboth the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is theonly group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100indices. ### MEDIA CONTACTS US Carnival Corporation & plc Tim Gallagher 1 305 599 2600, ext. 16000 UKBrunswick GroupSophie Fitton44 (0) 20 7404 5959INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTUS/UKCarnival Corporation & plcBeth Roberts1 305 406 483244 7956 436 104ENDCARNIVAL PLCRelated Shares:
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