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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 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc(NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) today announced that it has assigned a previouslyordered 112,000-ton cruise ship to its Carnival Cruise Lines brand.
The 3,006-passenger ship, to be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri,is expected to enter service in spring 2008.
Representing a new design for Carnival Cruise Lines, the as-yet-unnamedvessel will offer a host of innovative on-board amenities, including thelargest spa and 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 forPrincess Cruises, the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom for Carnival Cruise Lines,and the 116,000-ton Ventura for P&O Cruises, and a significant redesign ofCunard Line'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, wenow believe that this specific tonnage would be best utilized for Carnival'sNorth American market," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairmanand CEO.
Arison noted that the new ship extends Carnival Cruise Lines' newbuildingprogram into 2008 and will build upon the line's distinction as the "NumberOne Choice for Caribbean Cruising."
Among the new vessel's highlights will be a 17,800-square-foot spa thatwill encompass two forward decks and include an elaborate thermal suite, avariety of health and beauty treatment rooms, and Carnival's first thalassotherapy pool. Encircling the upper level of the spa will be a winter gardenthat will include a ceremonial tea house.
A 5,500-square-foot children's playroom -- the largest in the Carnivalfleet -- will be located mid-ship. Above the facility will be a new waterplay area -- a first for the line.
The mid-ship pool -- one of four on board -- will be enclosed by two fulldecks of glass walls. The area will be covered with a two-deck-highretractable dome that can be closed during inclement weather. A large balconywill encircle the upper deck of the pool area.
A new sports deck will be located aft and feature bleacher-style seatingfor games and other events, while a reservations-only supper club will belocated atop the poolside Lido restaurant, providing diners with magnificentocean vistas.
The ship will also house 1,503 staterooms, 60 percent of which will offeran ocean view with 60 percent of those featuring private verandahs.
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in theworld, with a portfolio of 12 cruise brands in North America, Europe andAustralia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, PrincessCruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises,Cunard Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and P&O CruisesAustralia.
Together, these brands operate 79 ships totaling more than 137,000 lowerberths with 12 new ships scheduled for delivery between January 2006 and April2009. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates the leading tour companies inAlaska and the Canadian Yukon, Holland America Tours and Princess Tours.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.
SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc
CONTACT: Media: US: Tim Gallagher, Carnival Corporation & plc,
+1-305-599-2600 ext. 16000; UK: Sophie Fitton, Brunswick Group,
+44-20-7404-5959; Investor Relations: US/UK: Beth Roberts, Carnival
Corporation & plc, +1-305-406-4832, or +44-7956-436-104M/p>
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