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Page 1: Carnival Cruise Lines To Deploy Newer, Larger Cruise …portno.com/CMS/Resources/press releases/06.27.13 carnival cruise... · Thursday, June 27, 2013 . Contacts: Matt Gresham . 504-528-3255

Thursday, June 27, 2013 Contacts: Matt Gresham 504-528-3255

Carnival Cruise Lines To Deploy Newer, Larger

Cruise Ships To New Orleans Carnival To Increase Seven-Day Sailing Capacity 22 Percent By April

New Orleans—Citing strong performance and growing consumer demand, Carnival Cruise Lines today announced its’ largest and newest line of ships will sail from the Port of New Orleans beginning in April 2014. First, Carnival will deploy the 3,006-passenger Carnival Sunshine to New Orleans Nov. 18, replacing the current 2,984-passenger Carnival Conquest. The Carnival Sunshine recently underwent a massive $155 million transformation. The Carnival Sunshine will sail regular seven-day western and eastern Caribbean itineraries from New Orleans through April 2014 – when Carnival will reposition the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream from Port Canaveral, Fla. The 130,000-ton Carnival Dream is from the line’s newest and largest class of ships and offers an array of on-board facilities and features. It will sail year-round seven-day itineraries from the Port of New Orleans. In turn, the Carnival Sunshine will reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., in April. The 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation will continue to sail year-round four- and five-day itineraries to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. Carnival is the only cruise line to operate two, year-round ships from New Orleans and will carry more than 400,000 guests annually from the Port of New Orleans. “These deployment changes will enable us to offer our guests even more exciting Carnival cruise vacation choices from Central Florida and the Gulf region and significantly enhance our leadership positions in the Port Canaveral and New Orleans markets,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. Carnival’s announcement comes on the heels of a recently signed three-year extension of its berthing agreement with the Port of New Orleans, which will keep two Carnival cruise ships sailing year-round from New Orleans through at least Feb. 12, 2016. “Carnival Cruise Lines has shown tremendous commitment to the Port of New Orleans and to Louisiana,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “Carnival is a true partner and has worked alongside Port officials to help shape New Orleans into a world-class cruise port.” LaGrange also congratulated New Orleans native Arnold W. Donald, who will assume the role of Carnival Corp. CEO July 3. “We have worked closely with Carnival Corp. for decades and congratulate a fellow New Orleanian in his new role as CEO,” LaGrange said. “We look forward to working with Mr. Donald to continue to grow a robust cruise industry in Louisiana.”

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Page 2: Carnival Cruise Lines To Deploy Newer, Larger Cruise …portno.com/CMS/Resources/press releases/06.27.13 carnival cruise... · Thursday, June 27, 2013 . Contacts: Matt Gresham . 504-528-3255

A recent study by Cruise Lines International Association found the cruise industry accounted for $280 million in direct spending in 2011, up 35 percent compared to 2010. The study also found the industry generated 5,512 jobs and $211 million in income in Louisiana. A study commissioned by the Port in 2012 found cruise passengers in New Orleans stay an average of 1.8 nights in area hotels either before or after their cruise and spent another $27.9 million on lodging, food, beverage and incidental spending. Carnival Dream to New Orleans Beginning April 20, 2014, Carnival Dream will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises from New Orleans. The 3,646-passenger vessel will mark a significant increase in seven-day capacity for this popular cruise program from the Big Easy. There will also be a unique nine-day cruise departing April 5, 2014 from Port Canaveral to New Orleans with calls in Aruba, Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman and Cozumel, along with a six-day cruise round-trip from New Orleans departing April 14, 2014, visiting Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel. On its regular schedule from New Orleans, Carnival Dream will offer three distinctly different three-port, seven-day eastern and western Caribbean options. Reservations Reservations are currently being accepted for all of these exciting new Carnival vacation

choices. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-

CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

Carnival can also be found on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/carnivalcruiselines/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/carnivalfunships Journalists also can visit Carnival’s media site, www.carnival-news.com or follow the line’s PR department on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

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Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World’s Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com

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