Carnival Inspiration to Reposition to Long Beach, Carnival Paradise to Tampa in Fall 2011

Thursday, 02 September 2010

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced two exciting year-round homeport deployments for fall 2011, with the 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration repositioning to Long Beach, Calif., for three- and four-day Baja departures and the 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise to Tampa, Fla., on four- and five-day Caribbean voyages.        Carnival Inspiration is currently based in Tampa while Carnival Paradise operates from Long Beach. To reposition to their new homeports, each ship will offer a 14-day Panama Canal voyage that will provide consumers with a highly attractive longer length “Fun Ship” cruise option, as well as the unforgettable experience of transiting the Panama Canal. Carnival Paradise Panama Canal cruise will sail from Long Beach to Tampa departing Nov. 28, 2011, while Carnival Inspiration Panama Canal voyage will depart Dec. 3, 2011, and operate from Tampa to Long Beach. These voyages will be highlighted by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of transiting the Panama Canal, one of the great technological achievements of the 20th century, where ships are raised 85 feet in the air via a series of three locks and then gently lowered back again.  The transit also includes the crossing of 163-square-mile Gatun Lake, the world’s largest man-made lake, which is surrounded by a variety of native tropical foliage and interesting sites. Each voyage will also feature visits to five magnificent ports of call:  Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman. Cabo San Lucas is a world-class resort destination distinguished by rugged rock formations, lush landscape and gorgeous beaches. Known for its death-defying cliff divers, Acapulco boasts excellent beaches, and a variety of fine restaurants and shops.  Located on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Puntarenas is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches and an abundance of wildlife and eco-tourism opportunities. Cartagena features centuries-old architecture and historical sites, including a colonial walled city and fortress designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital of the Cayman Islands, George Town offers outstanding duty-free bargains as well as world-renowned Seven Mile Beach. Early Saver rates for these voyages start at $949 per person based on double occupancy. Carnival Inspiration to Long Beach Carnival Inspiration will bring an exciting new dimension to West Coast cruising when it launches year-round three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach Dec. 19, 2011.  On this route, three-day cruises depart Fridays and visit Ensenada while four-day voyages depart Mondays and call at both Ensenada and Catalina Island.  The ship will operate a special one-time two-day cruise to Ensenada Dec. 17-19, 2011. Carnival Inspiration was the first ship to undergo the line’s extensive “Evolutions of Fun” refurbishment and includes a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long Twister water slide, a tropical resort-style main pool area, and an exclusive adults-only retreat. Carnival Paradise to Tampa In turn, Carnival Paradise will assume Carnival Inspiration’s popular year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruise schedule from Tampa beginning Dec. 12, 2011.  On this route, Carnival Paradise will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Carnival Paradise offers a distinctive décor with dramatic public spaces that pay homage to great ocean liners of the past, with memorable venues such as the Queen Mary Lounge, Normandie Theater, and Rotterdam Bar.  The ship also offers Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat.