May 19, 2008 - Continuing its growth in the rapidly expanding European cruise market, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate an unprecedented number of Fun Ship voyages in the region in 2009.

The line's 2009 European season will feature two of its newest 110,000-ton ships - Carnival Liberty, which will operate 12-day Northern European and Mediterranean cruises, and Carnival Freedom, sailing 12-day departures to the Mediterranean.

Said Vicki Freed, Carnival's senior vice president of sales and guest services: "With the exciting itineraries and spectacular features of these two new ships, combined with today's high dollar exchange rate, it's the absolute best way to see the grand sights in Europe."

Liberty will return with twice the number of voyages, round-trip from Dover from May to september, while Freedom will sail round-trip from Rome, offering ta variety of European itineraries between May and and November.

Carnival Liberty 12-Day Northern Europe, Med Cruises

In response to outstanding advance bookings for its first-ever Northern Europe program in 2008 with Carnival Splendor, the company has announced that the Carnival Liberty will operate the programme again in 2009 – with twice the number of voyages.
Liberty’s 12-day Northern Europe cruises will operate round-trip from London (Dover) from May 9 to August 25.  Featured ports on these voyages include Copenhagen, Denmark; Warnemunde (Berlin), Germany; Helsinki, Finland; St Petersburg, Russia (two-day call); Tallin, Estonia; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The ship will then operate a special one-time 12-day western Mediterranean voyage from London (Dover) to Rome (Civitavecchia) September 6, after which it will operate two 12-day Grand Mediterranean voyages departing September 19 and October 25, and three 12-day Mediterranean & Greece cruises October 1 and 13 and November 6.

Carnival Freedom 12-Day Cruises to the Med, Greece, Turkey

Carnival Freedom will offer the popular 12-day Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean & Greece cruises from Rome (Civitavecchia) beginning in May, following a highly successful inaugural season in Europe in 2008.
The12-day Mediterranean & Greece cruises include eight ports: Naples, Italy; Rhodes, Greece; Izmir (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey featuring scenic cruising of the Dardanelles; Athens (Piraeus) and Katakolon, Greece; and Livorno, Italy, as well as an overnight call in Rome (Civitavecchia). Voyages depart May 9, August 13 and September18.
The 12-day Grand Mediterranean cruises visit seven ports: Naples, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Venice, Italy (two-day call); Messina, Sicily; Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, France; and Livorno, Italy. Departure dates include May 21, June 2, 14 and 26, July 8 and 20, August 1 and 25, September 6 and 30 and October 12 and 24.

Exciting Fun Ship Amenities

Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom each offer a diversity of dining, entertainment, and activity options, including 22 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, a 214-ft water slide, a 14,500-sqft health and fitness center, an Internet cafe, with bow-to-stern Wi-Fi access, and Carnival's Seaside Theatre, a 270-sqft massive LED screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming. Cell phone service is available, as well.

The ships’ family friendly amenities include a 4,200-sqft children’s play area - part of the top-rated Camp Carnival programme - and a 1,800-sqft Club O2 teen facility featuring a dance floor, DJ and high-tech sound and lighting system.

Dining options include twin two-level restaurants with extensive menus and wine lists, a 1,200-seat casual eatery with 24-hour pizza and ice cream, and a reservations-only supper club featuring USDA prime aged beef and other gourmet cuisine.

Carnival Freedom and Carnival Liberty also offer a variety of comfortable and spacious accommodations including a wide selection of balcony staterooms and suites. All feature the exclusive Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.