This would have really appealed to me on a Spirit Class ship, but I have no desire to sail a Conquest Class ship through Europe. Too many people and a poor ship design.

None the less, I'm glad Carnival is expanding into other areas. I think it's time.

Ernie

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NEW CARNIVAL LIBERTY TO OPERATE FIRST-EVER PROGRAM OF 'FUN SHIP' MEDITERRANEAN VOYAGES IN SUMMER 2005

New 12-Day 'Grand Mediterranean' Cruises On The Newest and Largest Ship Operating in Europe

MIAMI (June 14, 2004) - For the first time, Carnival Cruise Lines will offer a series of Mediterranean voyages featuring extended visits to some of Europe's most charming and historic ports of call beginning in summer 2005.

The program will be offered on the new 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty, which will be the newest and largest ship operating in Europe. It will encompass eight 12-day cruises operating round-trip from Rome (Civitavecchia) July 20 - Oct. 12, 2005. Featured ports include Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy (two-day call); Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain;
Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy.

According to Carnival President and CEO Bob Dickinson, the new seven-port, 12-day Mediterranean cruises are designed to provide consumers with a comprehensive European vacation experience and feature a wide diversity of shoreside experiences, all while enjoying the many "resort-style" amenities
and facilities of Carnival's newest and largest class of "Fun Ship."

"For our first-ever Mediterranean cruises, we've assembled a terrific itinerary with extended port calls that offer guests excellent tour opportunities to experience the rich history and outstanding sites at some
of Europe's most popular destinations, including Capri, Taormina, Monte Carlo and Florence, to name just a few," Dickinson said. He noted that the 12-day voyages also include a two-day stay in Venice so that guests can explore everything this great city has to offer.

"With its mega-sized features, huge number of balconied staterooms and acres of open deck space, Carnival Liberty is ideally suited to scenic cruising, and we expect our new 'Fun Ship' Mediterranean voyages will attract both
experienced and first-time Carnival guests," Dickinson added.

Following the 12-day Mediterranean cruises, Carnival Liberty will operate a 16-day transatlantic voyage departing Rome (Civitavecchia) Oct. 24, and arriving in Fort Lauderdale Nov. 9, 2005. Ports of call include Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga, Spain; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal; and St.
Maarten, Netherlands Antilles.

Numerous shore excursion opportunities, as well as pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, will be available in conjunction with all of these departures.

Signature 'Fun Ship' Amenities

Currently under construction in Monfalcone, Italy, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Liberty will offer a host of dining, activity and entertainment venues. Its 13 passenger decks will house 22 lounges, bars
and nightspots, along with a 14,500-square-foot health and fitness facility, a full gambling casino, duty-free shopping mall, and four swimming pools - one with Carnival's famous 214-foot-long water slide. A comprehensive golf program offering professional instruction and opportunities to play top golf courses will also be available.

Its many family-friendly amenities, available within the top-rated "Camp Carnival" program, will include a 4,200-square-foot "Children's World" play area, and an "Action Alley" teen recreation center with a high-tech video arcade, dance club, and a "mocktail" lounge offering non-alcoholic specialty
drinks.

Of the ship's 1,487 staterooms, 60 percent will offer an ocean view with 60 percent of those featuring private balconies.

Myriad Dining Options

Carnival Liberty will also offer consumers the widest variety of dining options at sea. In addition to two full-service dining rooms with extensive menus, including new low-carb items, the ship will also house a 1,400-seat casual restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner alternatives, as well as 24-hour pizza and ice cream, a deli, a grille, a rotisserie, an upscale seafood station and Asian and American specialty areas.

Also featured is a reservations-only supper club offering prime aged beef and other gourmet cuisine, along with one of the finest wine lists afloat. A patisserie, sushi bar, and complimentary 24-hour room service are also available. All of these options comprise Carnival's Total Choice Dining (SM), cruising's most comprehensive dining program.

Pricing and Reservations

Carnival will begin accepting reservations effective June 22 for the Carnival Liberty's 12-day European cruises and 16-day transatlantic voyage. Prices for the 12-day cruises begin at $1,499 per person, based on double occupancy; the 16-day transatlantic voyage starts at $1,099 per
person.

Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom and optional round-trip air transportation from a variety of North American gateways are also available.

Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the world's most popular cruise line with 20 "Fun Ships" operating voyages ranging from three to 16 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada and New England from homeports throughout North America.

For additional information, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, or visit carnival.com.

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[ 06-14-2004: Message edited by: CGT ]

I just don't like the fact they are using a Conquest Class ship. Just a personal preference for a Spirit Class ship, not that anything is wrong with the Conquest Class except the amount of people. Of course Costa does it with great success (using Destiny Class ships), and I'm sure Carnival will as well. It also makes sense as LIBERTY is being built in Italy, so rather then come directly to the US she can include a full European Season. Of course this was also tried with CARNIVAL LEGEND, but there were only a few cruises offered. It's my understanding they were sold out. I have no doubt Carnival will achieve great success with this venture.

I also think the transatlantic cruise sounds wonderful, and notice how the ship will end up in Ft. Lauderdale and not Miami. Could LIBERTY then partake in longer cruises to the Caribbean out of Ft. Lauderdale? Maybe 10 or 11 days? Stay tuned!

Ok Costa Fortuna visits three italian ports in just a week, but mainly to embark passengers from various part of Italy.

Another observation.

Why hasn't Carnival planned a stop at Savona, a port managed by Costa Cruises, to offer excursions to Portofino ?

In the flow of a vacation, the trip round the heel Italy is better the beginning and end ? And when they are in the Adriatic, why not stopping in Olympia ?

It doesn't seem balanced to me, but I may be wrong. Europe or even the Med is more than Italy.

quote:

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Originally posted by Commodore:
Crappy designs? They may not be excellent but compare them to the Spirit class and they shine!

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I don't agree. Having sailed on both designs there is no comparison. The Spirit Class is far more spacious, better laid out, better deck areas, less crowded, etc. I could go on and on. Basically everything is superior over the Conquest Class, which suffers from a disjointed layout, poor deck areas, miniscule swimming pools, overcrowding, several dead ends, and a horrible Promenade Deck with only one entrance on each side (the entire length) for a passenger to go in and out.

There are worse ships to be sure, but compared to the Spirit Class the Conquest Class pales.

Ernie

This itinerary is clearly aimed at American's who want to explore the Mediterranean on a floating ‘slice’ of America. Still it represents more choice and I’m all for that!

quote:

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Originally posted by CGT:
It has seemed as if Costa was becoming/being positioned as the Carnival of Europe. Now this. Aren't they competing with themselves here then?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:

Few American's would be brave enough to cruise in Europe with 'Costa'. They like to travel, surronded by their own kind, eating 'Prime Rib' and then listing to 'New York, New York' in a broadway style show.

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Malcolm,
I think you are right. I have to be honest, I have little desire to sail Costa, but not because I want Prime Rib and America the Beautiful sung at night, but because I don't know if I could deal with all the smoke and those five languages over the PA day and night. It might drive me crazy. Cruises to Europe are just too expensive for me to take the risk of hating the experience. There is also the language barrier and feeling of alienation. A big part of cruising for me is socializing. I'm ashamed to say I only speak English, and I certainly don't want or expect anyone on Costa to go out of their way to speak my language, so that could mean a very lonely cruise.

Besides, the new Costa ships are now the same as Carnival, so why not go with the original? Anymore, Costa is just the European arm of Carnival Cruise Lines offering middle class European's a chance to cruise exotic destinations while having a great time. It's the same Carnival formula used in the US, but geared entirely for Europeans. It doesn't surprise me American's might be frightened away, but then again we have so many other choices that cruising on Costa is a non-issue.

I have not sailed a Spirit-class ship ... yet. My comments are based on being on board Carnival Destiny, Triumph, and Conquest. All of which suffer the same horrendous flaw: Terrible lay out and lousy passenger flow.

As far as comparing them with Spirit class ships, all I can say is that that's a bit of a mute point. A crappy design is just that; no matter what it's compared to. And while I haven't heard of folks complaining that a Spirit class ship constantly feels crowded, I've experienced it myself (and heard from others) that a Destiny class ship almost ALWAYS feels crowded.

Besides, I trust Ernie's opinion; if he says the Spirit class ships are better, that's good enough for me.

Russ

[ 06-14-2004: Message edited by: linerguy ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Johan:
A strange itinerary, or am i wrong ?
Starting in Rome, and then going all the way round Italy to stay 2 days in Venice, and back.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Johan:
A strange itinerary, or am i wrong ?
Starting in Rome, and then going all the way round Italy to stay 2 days in Venice, and back.

In the flow of a vacation, the trip round the heel Italy is better the beginning and end ? And when they are in the Adriatic, why not stopping in Olympia ?

It doesn't seem balanced to me, but I may be wrong. Europe or even the Med is more than Italy.

J

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quote:

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Originally posted by eroller:
I have to be honest, I have little desire to sail Costa....but because I don't know if I could deal with all the smoke and those five languages over the PA day and night.

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I agree with you Ernie. Although I might well choose to cruise on a ship of a different culture, I do not like the idea of a 'multi-cultural' ship. I do not think it can really work.

When I cruise on ‘Splendour of the seas’, in the Mediterranean, the guests were English, American, Spanish and Italian – a high percentage of each. This mix did not always work. A ship cannot easily be all things to everyone. 'Bingo' in three languages is really something to be heard.

On the subject of multi-lingual announcements - you can never here them anyway, because whatever language is taking it's turn, the non-speakers of it, talk loudly over it!

I’ve heard stories of passengers being assigned a dinner table with guest of a different language. Neither can communicate with each other – what fun is that? How can you have multi-national entertainment? Maybe you just have instrumental music and ‘mime’ shows?

No I’m not racist and do appreciate that we live in a multi-cultural world, but language and culture are barriers which are not easily transcended, especially on a vacation!

Still, I am quite looking forward to it, curious how it will work out. At least it will be interesting to see how the Spanish are holidaying themselves, and how I will cope with the spanish language. Last year when touring in Andalucia, it went quite well, so I hope this time also.

When English is not your mother-tongue (as mine is Dutch, as some other CT-ers here), as soon as you go over the border (or even an other region as here in Belgium), let alone board a foreign ship, you expect to have to hear and see other languages, to use them, not to be constantly understood etc. With some English (and sometimes French, but this is less the last years, and perhaps German) and good will on both sides, a pleasant communication can be established.

Also, there is a greater freedom of speech, when you think no one can understand you

On board Black Watch Tuesday we were greeted by an International Relations Officer, who was a Belgian, and who had to take care the non-english speaking passengers could understand the necessary information. I think his position solves many problems.

When these two conditions are met *understandable official and necessary information, and
*some goodwill communication (which would horrify some english purists I am afraid) betwee passengers, you can have a pleasant time.

The current smoking prevelance figure for Italy is 25%, 26% for the UK & 24% for the US. Now, I can't see that is going to make a vast difference.
I cannot find an overall Europe current figure, only a rather out of date EU figure from 4 years ago which was 29%, that would be about down to 27% now in line with others. It is below the 20s in some countries, but over 30 in Spain, Germany & Turkey. France, long upheld as a nation of heavy smokers, is now down in the lower league.

I have not been on a Costa ship, but I have not noticed any more smoking on European lines than US lines and can't see why Costa would have more smokers. In fact on land I noticed more smoking in New York and unbelievably LA [where it seemed every time one exited a building one had a curtain of msoke to go through], than anywhere in Europe.
It's countries like Australia who should be patting themselves on the back as they are the lowest. But as with all stats, there are many variations of these figures on the net, depending on what the authors want the end result to say

If all US citizens want a slice of America to float around the Med in, and all Italians want a slice of Italy to sail around the Carribean, and all Brits want a slice of the UK to sail around the US, add in every other country, with n'er the twain meeting, and no mixing 'n matching, it will end up like the ghettos of the world's inner cities. [Exaggerated, yes].

I think it was Robyn? who made a good post a few months ago about sailing the Russian rivers on a Russian ship, Italy on an Italian ship and so on. I agree. I enjoy the mixed nationality & different flavour aspect, and all that comes with it. One just has to have patience with the languages and enjoy the camardarie, not be intolerant of different customs, food & expressions, arm waving included Perhaps I feel this way as I was brought up, lived & went to school amongst many different nationalites, religions, colours, whatever, makes no odds to me.

If it came down to a choice of sailing a Carnival Mammoth or a Costa Slightly Smaller Mammoth, I'd take the Costa [providing everything else was equal]

I think also the Carnival itinerary is quite limiting. With 12 days I'd have included a Greek Island & Turkish port too. I am wondering what the pricing will be like.

However, Pam, what do you mean with the "arm waving"???

Surely in other countries people wave to leaving/arriving/passing ships, and I think it a nice gesture.

J.

[ 06-17-2004: Message edited by: Johan ]

My late wife and I loved multicultural passages. We particularly loved French ships, our late MM and CGT. Outstanding food, complimentary house wines with meals, and ambiance...for which there is no word in English. On QE2 we sought out table partners from other nations, often those we had met in the pre-dinner cocktail lounges.

I assure all, these Americans did not want to travel in a bubble of our countrymen. Not that we were snobs, but we sought interaction with other cultures.

One would find multiple cultures on passages but on cruises, the culture of the line and ports of origin are most likely to prevail.

[ 06-17-2004: Message edited by: Cambodge ]

His comments were pretty simple: He doesn't like the Conquest or Destiny ships, he finds it frustrating to have to listen to multiple language announcements, smoke bothers him, and cruises in Europe are more than he wants to spend. Not once did he refer to any nationality of people in a demeaning or disrespectful manner. If anything, he said that HIS language limitations would make him feel uncomfortable; he was NOT downing Costa, Italians, or Europeans whatsoever.

I've been on Costa although it was years ago. And while I may get shredded for this, I have no desire to sail on them again. Lousy food, rude officers, bad service and pathetic entertainment are the reasons. Perhaps under Carnival's wing it's better; I'm just not willing to put my cash and time on the line to find out. I am thinking of sailing on MSC next year as rates in the Caribbean are attractive.

While I've never met Ernie personally and really don't know him, I've read his posts for years (on this site and a few others) and he is not one to offend people ... intentionally or otherwise.

I only think that the language barrier, or the fact that there are many nationalities among the passengers is a positive thing, I think.

If you want to sail on one of cruises you don't feel any problem.

Also Smokers only limited at designeted place.

[ 06-17-2004: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]

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I do find it a little disappointing that so few Americans visit Europe using P&O, for example. They prefer to use Celebrity, RCI and HAL etc.

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