Press Release: Carnival Cruise Lines
April 12, 2001
MIAMI, FL -- Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), yesterday took delivery of its
new $375 million cruise ship, the 88,500-ton Carnival Spirit, during the traditional ``hand- over'' ceremony at
the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland, where the 2,124-passenger vessel was built.
The Carnival Spirit, the 15th vessel in the ``Fun Ship'' fleet and the first in a new class of ship for the line,
will depart Helsinki Thursday, April 12, on its transatlantic crossing and is expected to arrive Miami on Tuesday,
April 24.
Following a two-day pre-inaugural voyage for the travel trade, the Carnival Spirit will begin its inaugural season
with a 16-day Panama Canal cruise departing Miami April 29 and arriving in Los Angeles May 15. The ship will then
host a series of travel agent functions on the West Coast before sailing on a special three-day Pacific Coastal
voyage from San Francisco to Vancouver departing May 20.
The Carnival Spirit will then launch a summer program of week-long Glacier Bay and Glacier Route Alaska voyages,
followed by two 12-day Hawaii cruises, marking the first time that a new ``Fun Ship'' has been deployed in those
markets. The ship will sail on a 14-day Panama Canal cruise departing Oct. 20 from San Diego to Miami, where the
Carnival Spirit is scheduled to operate a unique eight-day ``exotic'' Caribbean program beginning Nov. 3.
The Carnival Spirit offers a host of innovative dining and entertainment options, including the line's first wedding
chapel, a large conference center, a reservations-only supper club bordering the ship's massive winged funnel and
a spectacular outdoor wrap-around promenade. It is also one of the most spacious cruise ships in the contemporary
market and offers the highest percentage of ocean view and balconied staterooms of any ``Fun Ship.''
Dining options also include a two-level formal dining room, an expansive casual poolside eatery and a 24-hour pizzeria.
Also featured are two-level ``Nautica Spa'' health club, four swimming pools, one with a retractable dome, and
a 2,400-square-foot children's play area. A diversity of entertainment venues, ranging from a multi-deck show lounge
housing Las Vegas-style revues to an intimate piano bar and live music clubs, is included, as well.
Carnival currently has six other ``Fun Ships'' with an estimated value of $2.6 billion scheduled for delivery over
the next three years. Included in the company's order book are three additional ``Spirit-class'' ships under contract
with Kvaerner -- the Carnival Pride, which is scheduled to debut Jan. 12, 2002, the Carnival Legend in summer 2002
and the Carnival Miracle in early 2004.
SOURCE: Carnival Cruise Lines