Fantasy, Sensation to swap routes

Ally · 04-02-2006, 04:29 PM

2nd April 2006

Quote:

Carnival Cruise Lines will permanently swap the itineraries of its Port Canaveral-based ships, Fantasy and Sensation, effective Thursday. Fantasy will take over the Sensation's four- and five-day Bahamas/Grand Turk program and Sensation will assume Fantasy's three- and four-day Bahamas program.

The change is being made as the result of a technical issue on Sensation which is limiting the maximum cruising speed. The ship cannot sail fast enough to operate its current five-day itinerary but it does have sufficient speed to assume Fantasy's three- and four-day Bahamas program, Carnival said.

The technical issue, which relates to Sensation's propulsion system, is only impacting the maximum speed, Carnival said; hotel systems and services are functioning normally.

Notices are going out to travel agents and passengers starting today. Reservations will automatically be switched from one ship to the other and booking numbers and stateroom assignments will remain the same. Passengers who have already received cruise documents need not change their tickets. Air purchased through Carnival will remain intact and previously received e-ticket receipt coupons will be valid.

Passengers who have already registered through Carnival's Fun Pass pre-cruise on-line check-in system do not need to re-register. Advance shore excursion purchases will remain in place, as well.

The year-round three- and four-day Bahamas program, which henceforth will be operated by the 1993-built Sensation, includes three-day voyages departing Thursdays to Nassau and four-day cruises sailing Sundays to Nassau and Freeport.

The year-round four- and five-day Bahamas/Grand Turk program will operate from April 6 through Oct. 19 on the 1990-built Fantasy and then be assumed by the Elation, effective Oct. 23, as previously announced.

Four-day cruises visit Nassau and Freeport or Half Moon Cay, while five-day cruises call at Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau throughout 2006 and from May to September 2007. From January through April 2007 and from October to December 2007, the five-day itinerary will feature Key West and Cozumel, as previously announced. (SeaTrade)