Carnival’s New Terminal Slated for April 14 Opening

Carnival Corporation's new Long Beach Cruise Terminal at the Queen Mary will welcome its first cruise ship when Carnival Cruise Lines' 70,000-ton Ecstasy sails from the $40 million facility April 14, 2003. The new terminal will initially serve as the homeport to two 2,052-passenger Carnival "Fun Ships" - the Ecstasy, which will depart Fridays on three-day voyages to Ensenada, and Mondays on four-day cruises to Ensenada and Catalina Island, and the Elation, sailing Sundays on seven-day voyages to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas (the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride will assume this route in September 2003). According to Carnival President Bob Dickinson, the new Long Beach facility, the first in the U.S. to be built by a cruise operator, will usher in a new era in the company's West Coast cruise operations while serving as an economic catalyst to the Long Beach community. "The new Long Beach Cruise Terminal at the Queen Mary is among the most technically advanced cruise facilities in the world, setting new standards in terms of convenience, efficiency and spaciousness," he said. "Carnival is very proud to be a part of the Long Beach community and this new terminal will not only provide guests with an unparalleled level of service but also contribute significantly to the local economy," he added. Adjacent to the terminal is the Queen Mary hotel and attraction, the historic 1936 ocean liner that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a variety of exquisite dining, entertainment and shopping opportunities. One- to three-night pre- and post-cruise hotel packages at the Queen Mary are available for Ecstasy and Elation guests. The new facility takes up nearly half of the existing Geodesic Dome, which once served as the home of the Spruce Goose seaplane owned by Howard Hughes, and offers easy access to nearby tourist attractions such as The Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village, and Rainbow Harbor.