CARNIVAL SETS NEW DEPLOYMENTS FOR 2014

Carnival Sunshine (Credit: Carnival)

Carnival Cruise Lines has announced new ship deployments taking effect in 2014 from Port Canaveral, Fla., and New Orleans. Here are the details from Carnival:

"Carnival Sunshine, which recently completed a massive $155 million transformation, will be repositioned from New Orleans to Port Canaveral beginning in April 2014. This move will allow Carnival to continue to offer attractive new options from Port Canaveral and marks the first time the line will have a ship in Central Florida featuring all of the fantastic Fun Ship 2.0 bar, dining and entertainment innovations.

CARNIVAL 'VICTORY' ARRIVES IN MIAMI

Carnival Victory (Credit: Carnival)

Carnival has announced the arrival of Carnival Victory at the Port of Miami, where it will embark on a new year-round schedule of four- and five-day cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Four-day cruises departing Thursdays stop at Key West and Cozumel; five-day cruises departing Mondays include stops at Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau and five-day voyages departing Saturdays feature George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Carnival Victory replaces Carnival Destiny, which is headed on an 18-day trans-Atlantic crossing to Venice, Italy and a $155 million, 49-day renovation. Plus a new name: Carnival Sunshine and everything that goes with their Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement initiative. -- Gerry

A VIRTUAL TOUR OF CARNIVAL 'SUNSHINE'

2013 is shaping up as a memorable year for new ship launches and renovations. Among them will be the April debut of Carnival Sunshine, currently sailing as Carnival Destiny. What does it take to totally transform a ship? In this case, 49 days in drydock and $155 million. You can get a virtual tour in this just-released video:





It will launch with a schedule of European cruises April 12, 2013, before re-positioning to New Orleans for year-round Caribbean departures beginning Nov. 18, 2013.

You'll also want to check out the the “Grab Your Destiny” contest at www.carnival.com/sunshine where the grand prize is a European cruise for two on Carnival Sunshine, "as well as a variety of keepsake items from the historic Carnival Destiny, the world’s first 100,000-plus-ton cruise ship." -- Gerry

JOHN HEALD 'BLOGGERS CRUISE 7' ANNOUNCED

John Heald (Carnival)

Carnival has announced that Carnival Sunshine has been selected as the venue for the seventh annual “John Heald Bloggers Cruise,” which brings together fans of the senior cruise director’s popular blog (www.johnhealdsblog.com) for a week of fun, activities and giveaways. Bloggers Cruise 7 sails round-trip from New Orleans February 16-23, 2014, visiting Montego Bay, Jamaica; Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; Belize City, Belize and Cozumel, Mexico.

Other details from Carnival include: "A full schedule of activities, including lively Q and A sessions, unforgettable game shows, welcoming and closing receptions, and the ever-popular 'Tea Time with John,' will be offered while bloggers will return home with a variety of keepsake items. An exclusive bloggers-only shore excursion is also planned. Heald, of course, will be blogging and providing daily video updates throughout the cruise." -- Gerry