Carnival Cruise Lines' new 2,124-passenger
Carnival Legend will operate a series of eight-day "exotic" Caribbean voyages from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Nov. 10, 2002 - April 19, 2003, marking the first time the line has deployed a brand new ship to that port. Originally, this program was scheduled to operate from Miami.
Carnival Legend's new Fort Lauderdale-based schedule is the line's first long-term cruise program from that port in more than a decade.
Eight-day southern Caribbean cruises will visit St. Maarten, Barbados and
Martinique, while eight-day western Caribbean voyages will call at Belize
City, Belize; Limon, Costa Rica; and Colon, Panama.
These voyages will sail opposite a similar eight-day "exotic" Caribbean program from Miami that debuted on the Carnival Legend's sister ship,
Carnival Spirit, in November 2001.
The unique eight-day cruise schedule is made possible by the Carnival Legend's and Carnival Spirit's faster sailing speed, which enables the
vessels to visit exciting destinations previously available only on longer length voyages. Another benefit of the eight-day schedule is that departure days vary from week to week, meaning that Carnival Legend and Carnival Spirit visit destinations when fewer ships are in port.
"Because of their flexible departure days and wide variety of 'exotic' Caribbean destinations, our eight-day sailings have been a huge hit with
consumers and deploying the Carnival Legend to Fort Lauderdale provides consumers with yet another attractive 'Fun Ship' cruise option from a very convenient U.S. embarkation point," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.
He added that Carnival Legend's two-day cruise-to-nowhere scheduled to depart from Miami Nov. 8, 2002, will sail from Fort Lauderdale, as well.
Carnival Legend will also operate a similar eight-day "exotic" Caribbean program from Fort Lauderdale November 2003 - April 2004.
Currently undergoing final outfitting at Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki,
the 88,500-ton Carnival Legend is the third in the line's "Spirit-class" and
will feature 16 bars and lounges, a 14,500-square-foot health club, an on-board golf program, Internet café, a children's play area, and three restaurants, including an upscale "steakhouse-style" supper club