Bigger & Better: Carnival Triumph To Make New Orleans Home

In case you were wondering what was going to become of cruising from New Orleans after yesterday’s announcement that Carnival Fantasy will redeploy to homeport in Mobile next year, you can set your concerns aside. Carnival Cruise Lines still has you covered. Mobile’s “Fantasy” is New Orleans’ “Triumph.”

Carnival, which presently operates the only year-round cruise program from New Orleans, will increase capacity by 34 percent when the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph replaces the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy from the Big Easy in November 2009. In addition to providing an exciting new “Fun Ship” cruise option from New Orleans, Carnival Triumph will introduce new 7-day eastern and exotic western Caribbean schedules to complement the line’s popular 4- and 5-day cruises to Mexico.

Carnival Triumph’s 7-day cruises will depart on Saturdays, with exotic western Caribbean voyages visiting Belize City; Isla Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel; and eastern Caribbean cruises calling at Key West, Freeport and Nassau. Four-day cruises will depart Thursdays to Cozumel, while five-day cruises will depart Mondays and Saturdays to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico.

The Carnival Triumph will operate 65 departures annually from New Orleans, carrying approximately 200,000 passengers–the most of any cruise line. Carnival Fantasy, which currently sails from New Orleans, will be deployed to Mobile, Ala., to operate 4- and 5-day cruises beginning in November 2009.

“We’re very pleased to bring a newer, larger ship to New Orleans as well as expand our operations with new 7-day western Caribbean itineraries that will provide exciting new ‘Fun Ship’ vacation options,” said Terry Thornton, Carnival’s senior vice president of marketing planning. “In addition to serving as an excellent homeport for Carnival for nearly 15 years, New Orleans is a one-of-a-kind vacation destination and we’re delighted to continue our relationship with this wonderful city,” he added.

Carnival Triumph will make its New Orleans debut with a special 4-day cruise departing Tuesday, Nov. 10, then launch its new year-round 4-, 5- and 7-day schedule beginning with a week-long voyage departing Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.

Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Triumph’s new 4- to 7-day cruises from New Orleans. Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, along with round-trip air supplements from a variety of North American gateways and pre- and post-cruise land packages, are also available. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

For more details and other industry new, visit CruiseDiva.com's Cruise News.