Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest will offer a new seven-day itinerary from Galveston, Texas, that will include port calls to Key West, Fla., and Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas.

         The new weeklong cruise option will be offered approximately once a month from February 2009 through April 2010 and will complement the ship’s existing Western Caribbean cruise schedule featuring stops at Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

        “Carnival is the number one cruise line sailing from Galveston, operating more ships and carrying more passengers than any other cruise line, and this new Eastern Caribbean itinerary provides yet another exciting seven-day option designed to appeal to both repeat guests and first-time cruisers,” said Lynn C. Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services.

        While Key West may be famous to some for its Key Lime pie and conch cuisine, America's southernmost tip is filled with colorful bars and equally colorful characters in what may as well be the tropics. For history enthusiasts, Ernest Hemingway's house displays his original manuscripts and is home to his famed six-toed cats.

        Freeport and Nassau embody the laid-back atmosphere of The Bahamas with their pristine white sand, turquoise waters, gentle surf and exotic marine life. For those who prefer a more active experience, the islands also offer sophisticated shopping, world-class fishing, Victorian mansions and vibrant bazaars.

        Carnival Conquest, the signature vessel in the line’s popular Conquest-class series, offers a host of on-board facilities and features:  22 lounges and bars, four swimming pools – one with a 214-foot-long “Twister Waterslide – a 14,500-square-foot spa, a variety of formal and casual dining options, ship-wide Wi-Fi Internet access and cell phone service.

        Family friendly amenities include three different youth programs – “Camp Carnival” for ages 2-11, “Circle C” for 12- to 14-year-olds, and “Club O2” for older teens – with facilities, activities and counselors specific to their age group.

        Carnival Conquest also offers a variety of accommodation categories, all of which feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system, with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.