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Carnival Corporation & plc's Puerta Maya Cruise Center in Cozumel Set to Re-open Oct. 16

Carnival Ecstasy, Carnival Fantasy First Ships to Call at Rebuilt Facility

MIAMI, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc's(NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) pier at Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Mexico -- closedsince being damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005 -- will officially re-open whenthe 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy and 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasyvisit the facility on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Representing an investment of more than $50 million, the new two-berthpier has been specifically constructed to withstand a threshold category 5hurricane and can accommodate any ship among Carnival Corporation & plc'svarious cruise brands.

In addition to the newly rebuilt pier, Puerta Maya's nine-acre cruisecenter, which features a wide variety of shops and restaurants, will alsore-open, along with a four-acre transportation hub capable of accommodatingdozens of taxis and tour buses. Four rental car facilities will be available,as well.

The Oct. 16 calls by the Carnival Fantasy and Carnival Ecstasy will be thefirst of 550 cruise-ship visits at Puerta Maya over the next year. Inaddition to calling at Puerta Maya, vessels from Carnival Corporation & plcbrands will continue to utilize the other two piers in Cozumel.

Collectively, these ships will bring an estimated 1.5 million visitorsannually to Cozumel, who are expected to spend $126 million on the island eachyear.

"Epitomizing the 'fun in the sun' landside experience that is so closelyassociated with Caribbean cruising, Cozumel is the region's most visitedcruise ship destination by far. Its gorgeous beaches, a variety of retailoutlets and restaurants, and excellent watersports opportunities are enhancedonly by the gracious hospitality of its residents," said Giora Israel,Carnival's vice president of strategic planning and port development. "There-opening of Carnival's pier at Puerta Maya will provide cruise ship guestswith easy and convenient access to all the wonders of this fascinatingdestination, along with unique on-site shopping and dining experiences," headded.

Puerta Maya's expansive cruise center houses 42 different outlets offeringapparel, fine jewelry, artwork and other merchandise from such recognizableretailers as Goodmark Jewelers, Del Sol, Piranha Joe's, Dufry, and DiamondsInternational. The facility also features 15 stand-alone carts where localmerchants market colorful handmade crafts, costume jewelry and souvenirs.

On-site dining options within the Puerta Maya complex include the TresAmigos Bar, a new theme restaurant inspired by the 1986 hit movie starringSteve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short. The waterfront eatery -- the firstof its kind in the Caribbean -- offers traditional Mexican fare, along with anextensive beverage menu.

Also featured is Pancho's Backyard, a new franchise from the populardowntown Cozumel eatery featuring magnificent ocean views, as well as FatTuesday, a waterfront bar offering frozen drinks and light snacks, along witha DJ and dance floor.

Other retail outlets at Puerta Maya include a pharmacy, convenience store,and international pay phones. There is also a newly constructed shoreexcursion pier, separate from the main pier, which allows for quick andconvenient access to all water-bound excursions, as well as water-basedtransportation to and from the facility.

The Puerta Maya pier and cruise center is located on the southwestern partof Cozumel, approximately five miles south of San Miguel, the island's largestcity.

Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in theworld, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe andAustralia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, PrincessCruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line,Ibero Cruises, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.

Together, these brands operate 88 ships totaling more than 167,000 lowerberths with 18 new ships scheduled to be delivered between October 2008 andJune 2012. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Tours andPrincess Tours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon.Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation &plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and theFTSE 100 indices.

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