MIAMI, Feb. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival
Cruise Line today announced several significant initiatives
designed to further bolster its leadership position on the West
Coast: the deployment of Carnival Panorama to Long Beach in 2019 – the first new Carnival
ship based in Southern California
in 20 years; the grand re-opening of its 146,000-square-foot
state-of-the-art Long Beach Cruise Terminal, and a
multi-million-dollar port development project in Ensenada, Mexico, that will provide guests
with one-of-a-kind experiences ashore.
The announcement was made by Carnival President Christine Duffy in Long Beach, California at a VIP ceremony
officially unveiling the enhancements to the newly upgraded cruise
terminal with travel agents, port officials, local dignitaries and
media in attendance.
"This is a momentous occasion for both Carnival and the
City of Long Beach – not only are
we celebrating the grand re-opening of this magnificent cruise
terminal, but also demonstrating our commitment to the West Coast
with the deployment of the spectacular new Carnival Panorama in
2019 and the announcement of an exciting new port development
project in Ensenada," said Duffy.
"The West Coast is an important market with vast growth potential
and these initiatives further demonstrate the confidence in our
future success in Long Beach. We
are very much looking forward to having Carnival Panorama
homeported here beginning next year."
"The expansion of the terminal and arrival of this exciting new
ship is great news for the city of Long
Beach, underscoring Carnival's longstanding commitment to
our community while adding additional opportunities for growing our
economy and promoting all that our wonderful city has to offer,"
said Robert Garcia, mayor of
Long Beach. "Carnival has been an
excellent partner for 15 years and we look forward to working with
them for many years to come."
Carnival Panorama to the West Coast
In 2019, Carnival will make history when it deploys its third
Vista-class ship, the 3,960-passenger Carnival Panorama, on
seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, providing an exciting new seagoing
vacation option to this vital and fast-growing
market.
Like its name implies, Carnival Panorama will include venues
offering both indoor and al fresco experiences, including the
Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Library Bar, and Bonsai Sushi, along
with open-air attractions like the groundbreaking
bike-ride-in-the-sky attraction SkyRide, a massive WaterWorks aqua
park, and the SportSquare recreation area.
Also featured will be a vibrant Havana section with tropics-inspired
staterooms and its own Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbor
featuring extra-roomy accommodations, the Family Harbor Lounge, and
Ocean Plaza, a spacious dining and entertainment venue with indoor
and outdoor seating. Other innovations unique to Carnival Panorama
will be announced in the near future.
Reservations for Carnival Panorama are expected to open in late
March 2018. Additional information on
Carnival Panorama is available at
www.carnival.com/cruise-ships/carnival-panorama.
Expanded and Redesigned New Long Beach Cruise
Terminal
Carnival's Long Beach Cruise Terminal – the busiest in
North America with ships docking
five days a week representing a 70% utilization rate – has been
operated by Carnival since 2003 and encompasses the world's
largest, free-span geodesic dome originally built to house also
Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose plane
and served as the location for many famous Hollywood movies.
With the expansion, Carnival is now utilizing 100% of the dome,
up from a portion, for its operations. The renovation of the Long
Beach Cruise Terminal more than doubles the size of the facility's
space while dramatically enhancing the overall passenger experience
and operational flow. It also includes the expansion of portside
shore power to enable larger ships to plug into the local electric
grid, reducing exhaust emissions while docked.
The terminal's striking design features California's recognizable landmarks, bringing
indoors the state's iconic natural elements, including a backdrop
of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range. In a nod to the
dome's former tenant, a replica of the Spruce Goose hangs from
above, as well as the original model of the plane used in the 2004
movie, "The Aviator." The dome also includes the cruise
industry's first 1980s-style arcade which is available for families
to enjoy.
"This project is many years in the making and Carnival's Long
Beach Cruise Terminal is one of the most visually striking and
efficient facilities of its kind, providing a seamless embarkation
for our guests while making a tremendous economic impact on the
Southern California region," said
Carlos Torres de Navarra, Carnival's
vice president, strategic and commercial port development.
Arrival of Carnival Splendor to Long Beach
The grand re-opening of the terminal coincides with the arrival
of Carnival Splendor to Long
Beach, which operates seven-day cruises to Mexico and longer-length voyages to
Alaska and Hawaii, representing a 40 percent capacity
increase on this route.
The 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor is currently the largest ship
based year-round in Southern
California and offers a variety of onboard amenities,
including a 22,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, a reservations-only
steakhouse serving prime dry-aged beef and other gourmet fare, a
sliding magrodome covering the main pool area, and nearly 600
balcony staterooms.
Carnival Splendor joins Carnival Imagination and Carnival
Inspiration which sail three- and four-day cruises to Ensenada and Catalina
Island. Together, these three ships carry approximately
600,000 guests annually from Southern
California on more than 250 three- to 14-day cruises,
offering an unbeatable mix of destinations that appeal to a broad
range of consumers, including families seeking an attractive and
affordable vacation option.
Exciting Port Development Project in Ensenada
Carnival officials also announced a major port development
project in Ensenada, Mexico,
currently featured on the line's three- and four-day cruises from
Long Beach. The project will provide guests visiting the
destination with an unparalleled, one-of-a-kind dining and retail
experiences ashore, along with unique attractions for guests of all
ages to enjoy. Details about the development will be announced at a
later date.
"This project will provide our guests with a truly unique
shoreside experience while making our short cruises from
Long Beach even more attractive to
consumers," said Torres de Navarra.
"This port development project will make Ensenada one of the West Coast's premier
destinations."
Additional Information and Reservations
For additional information and reservations, contact any travel
agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival also can
be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and
YouTube. Journalists also can visit Carnival's media
site, carnival-news.com or follow the line's PR department on
Twitter at twitter.com/CarnivalPR.
About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc
(NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise
Line®" with 25 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The
Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, Cuba,
Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Two
133,500-ton Vista-class ships are currently scheduled for delivery
- Carnival Horizon in 2018 and Carnival Panorama in 2019.
Additionally, two new 180,000-ton ships are scheduled to enter
service in 2020 and 2022.
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SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line