'Bye 'Bye, Celebration

When bright and spiffy brand-new ships are launched, they get a lot of attention. That was the case when Celebration joined the Carnival fleet more than 20 years ago. Known then as a "superliner," the 47,000-ton Celebration--largely ignored in the recent past--has now quietly sailed on her last cruise to the Bahamas from Jacksonville, Florida. She's still relatively "young" in cruise ship years, though, and will join Iberocruceros in Spain this summer after being buffed up and rejuvenated.

Those of us in the Southeast will miss the familiar Carnival funnel in Jacksonville for a few months until Carnival Fascination--a newer (launched in 1994) and larger (70,000-ton) Fantasy-class ship--will pick up where Celebration left off. Carnival Fascination will begin sailing year-round 4- and 5-night Bahamas cruises from Jacksonville in Sept 2008.

For a nostalgic look back on a Celebration "Fun Ship" sailing, these are Cruise Diva's Memories of The Elvis Cruise last fall. It was a whole lot of fun!