September 21, 2009.
In a traditional ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, last week, Carnival Cruise Lines officially took delivery of its newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream.
Following the ceremony Carnival Dream departed for Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy, for its inaugural cruise, a 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyage departing September 21 - the first [...]

September 17, 2009.
Carnival Fantasy to Sail Five-, Six- and Seven-Day
Voyages From Historic South Carolina Port Beginning May 2010

Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise operator, will introduce the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston, S.C., with the deployment of the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in May 2010.
Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages to [...]

August 18, 2009 – In celebration of Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, the company has announced the Virtual Book of Dreams contest, inviting residents in the U.S. and Canada to participate. Children between the ages of 7 to 12 have the opportunity to share their dreams [...]

Carnival Cruise Lines has enhanced its Cruise Vacation Protection Plan (VPP) to include severe weather watch/warning protection, as well as job loss protection. The enhanced features apply to plan purchases made upon July 15 and after.
The severe weather watch/warning protection provides reimbursement in the event the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and/or National Weather Service [...]

4-2-09
Celebrity and Azamara Summer Cruises: 2 for 1 Rates Through April
Celebrity Cruises and deluxe sister Azamara Cruises says cruisers can book a limited number of berths on select Alaska and Europe sailings at a two-for-the-price-of-one rate based on published brochure rates through April 30, 2009. Any of these cruises booked during April 2009 [...]

2-17-09
Carnival Sensation Leaves Drydock with Upgrades
Carnival Sensation has new facilities and features as scheduled for all Carnival Fantasy-class vessels with the “Evolutions of Fun” program. These new features include the exclusive adults-only retreat calles “Serenity,” an extensive water park, and a redecorated tropical theme for the main pool area. Ninety-eight balconies were also [...]

2-5-09
Regent and Oceania to Repay $3.1 Million in Fuel Supplements
The Florida state’s attorney general had received “several hundred” complaints about concerning fuel surcharges being charged to people after they had already paid their cruise fare in full by the entire cruise line industry.
And now two of those cruise lines have agreed to refund [...]

Grand Turk Cruise Center Projects 500,000 Visits in 2009
With 229 cruise ship calls scheduled for 2009, the Caribbean island-based Grand Turk Cruise Center built predicts a record 500,000 passengers will visit in 2009. This is a 25% increase over 2008, when the center was closed for 30 days after Hurricane Ike.
Carnival Corp. owns the island’s [...]

1-15-09
Paul Gauguin Cruises: 45% Off, Free Air to Tahiti
Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest longest continually-sailing ship in the South Pacific, announced voyages for the m/s Paul Gauguin’s 2010 season, along with Early Booking Savings of up to 45 percent plus Free Roundtrip Air between Los Angeles and Tahiti when booked by March [...]

Last week, all of the cruise lines effectively eliminated the fuel surcharges immediately. They are now offering onboard credits for people who paid surcharges for cruises sailing in the near future. These fuel surcharges could come back if the price of oil goes up again, but right now it does not appear likely that will [...]