Carnival Miracle To Offer Year-Round Eight-Day Caribbean/Bahamas Cruises From New York Beginning in April 2012

MIAMI, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Cruise Lines will launch a year-round program of eight-day cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas from New York beginning in April 2012 – the line's first year-round sailings from that port.

On this schedule, Carnival Miracle will offer three uniquely different eight-day itineraries that visit a diversity of beautiful islands throughout the Caribbean and Bahamas. The itineraries include:  

• Eastern Caribbean departures to San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk, offered on a rotating basis April through October
• Bahamas sailings featuring stops at the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Nassau, offered on a rotating basis April through October
• Bahamas/Florida cruises with port calls to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Nassau and Freeport, offered November through April

While these Caribbean itineraries are uniquely different, each offers beautiful white-sand beaches, excellent shopping and dining experiences, world-famous landmarks, historical sites and attractions, and myriad sightseeing and shore excursion opportunities, including snorkeling, scuba-diving, and water sports.

These cruises also offer the convenience and affordability of sailing from New York on a year-round basis. Residents throughout the Northeast can simply board the Carnival Miracle in New York and start their vacation right away.  This program also represents a tremendous savings in airfare cost for these consumers who avoid the inconvenience often associated with air travel today.  

In addition to extended visits to sunny, tropical islands, guests on these voyages can experience Carnival Miracle's wide variety of on-board amenities and facilities -- delicious dining choices, captivating entertainment, extensive spa and children's facilities, and fun-filled top-deck amenities, including the line's signature Twister Waterslide.

According to Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill, Carnival has offered seasonal voyages from New York for more than a decade but the convenience of sailing from the Big Apple on a year-round basis, combined with its unique appeal as a pre- and post-cruise destination, strongly influenced the decision for the new year-round program.  

"New York is one of the highest-rated homeports for 'Fun Ship' cruising. Carnival Miracle's new year-round eight-day departures offer consumers the best of both worlds -- a choice of three attractive year-round Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary options with the opportunity to depart from one of the world's great cities," he said.

"The cruise industry continues to be an economic boon for the City, and today's announcement that the Carnival Miracle will start offering year-round cruises from New York City will do even more to stimulate our economy, bringing additional visitors and generating nearly $13 million in direct spending," said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky.

Added George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, the city's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, "New York City's five boroughs offer a diversity of experiences for our visitors—we hope with the announcement of the Carnival Miracle's year-round service out of New York that even more cruise passengers will plan a pre- or post-stay right here in the City."

Carnival Miracle will operate its current eight-day Caribbean program from New York through October 2011.  The ship will then reposition to Fort Lauderdale for a series of eight-day Caribbean voyages before heading back to New York to begin its year-round deployment in April 2012.

Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Miracle's new year-round sailings from New York. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.  

Carnival also can be found on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise

Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival

Flickr:  www.flickr.com/photos/carnivalcruiselines/

Journalists also can visit Carnival's media site, www.carnivalpressroom.com.

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

SOURCE Carnival Cruise Lines