Ship will boost the capacity on Carnival’s short cruise programme from New Orleans by 34%
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Triumph is to homeport at the US port of New Orleans from spring 2016.
Replacing Carnival Elation, the ship will reposition from her Galveston, Texas, homeport and begin offering year-round four- and five-day cruises to Mexico beginning from 4 April 2016. The ship’s four-day cruises will depart each Thursday and include calls at Cozumel in Mexico, while she will depart each Monday and Saturday for her five-day itineraries calling at Cozumel and Progreso. The vessel will also offer an exclusive three-day roundtrip from New Orleans between 8 and 11 April 2016.
“New Orleans is one of our fastest-growing cruise markets and deploying Carnival Triumph not only expands capacity on this highly attractive short cruise programme, but also provides our guests with a variety of onboard innovations and our valued travel agents with an exciting new choice to market to their clients,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.
Boosting the capacity on Carnival’s short cruise programme from New Orleans by 34%, Carnival Triumph will join Carnival Dream, which operates year-round seven-day cruises form the port. Together these two ships are expected to carry 450,000 guests annually from New Orleans – more than any other cruise operator. The deployment will also enable Carnival to retain its position as the only cruise line to operate two year-round ships from New Orleans.
“The repositioning of the Carnival Triumph illustrates the popularity of year-round cruising from New Orleans and Carnival Cruise Line’s confidence in the Crescent City,” said Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans president and CEO. “This news means roughly an additional 800 passengers sailing from New Orleans every four or five days on a ship with the latest amenities, including 500 private balconies and expanded restaurant and lounge offerings. Carnival continues to expand its capacity in New Orleans and they are truly a great partner for the Port and the City's tourism and hospitality industry.”
New Orleans has also been named as the 2015 homeport for American Cruise Line’s American Eagle and Viking River Cruises’ first-ever US-based river cruise vessels, which will start to debut from late 2017.