Topic: Is Carnival bringing it's 'fun ships' to British waters?

We may see a bit more of Carnival over the next few years -- Are you up for a fun cruise? :)



Chief Exec, Gerry Cahill, has revealed plans to move further into UK market.

Speaking from the line’s latest 'fun ship', Carnival Magic, he said said the company was “very attracted” to the UK market.

“We have a desire to source more people from the UK because of the common language we share,” he said.

“In 2008, we had Carnival Splendour in Dover, and were very pleased with how that sold.”

The 3,690-passenger Magic, due to be launched next month, will be based from Barcelona during the summer months, and has already attracted quite a few Brits. In fact, figures suggest that we'll be taking up half the ships passenger capacity in August [the other half being American, of course :)].

Cahill revealed that new ship Carnival Breeze -- due for completion next year, has a chance of being based in the UK...

“The UK market is a key priority for us, but how we try to attract it will be decided at a later date,” he said.

“There are a lot of options, and basing a ship in the UK could be one of those options.”

Not sure what a Carnival ship is like? Take a look at this virtual tour of the new Carnival Magic...



:) Would you give Carnival a go? Have you tried it already? How was it for you?

I'm already booked on the new Magic - cant wait!

Costa ships are similar to Carnival these days and they are in the Med.

Carnival will be a good addition for families. I hope they come but the Americans will be very put out if Carnival Breeze does not sail from Miami at some point during the year. Too Bad. So Sad.

We've been on a couple of caribbean cruises on Carnival and have thoroughly enjoyed them. They are different to other cruise lines - we've also done Cunard, Princess, Celebrity and Ocean Village and may not be in the same class as Cunard but in terms of food, service and entertainment etc, they have been very good value for money. We would definitely consider using them again if the itinerary for this side of the pond suited us.

They'd have to work hard to get my booking, they have short. Memories. I was one of hundreds booked on carnival liberty in Summer 2009, then they cancelled the whole deployment, no explanation, nothing

I wonder what promises they'll make and keep

David

QUOTE:

“We have a desire to source more people from the UK because of the common language we share,” he said.

Which in my language translates as: "We can charge the Brits far more than we can the Yanks"

7 nights Caribbean August 6th 2011, Carnival 4.5* ship: $629

7 nights Mediterranean August 7th 2011, Costa 4.5* ship: $1499

We are taking our 4th Carnival cruise in June on The GLORY[2nd time] Carnival Liberty was our cruise to the carribean both were
excellent cruise,s and looking forward to another,we have cruise,d with RCI and Costa but Carnival come,s out on top with the best
food and good entertaiment.

If the cruise experience is as nauseating as the promotional video Magic becomes Tragic

I don't think it will be our sort of cruise. Our very first cruise was booked through Virgin holidays 1n 1996, we wanted a cruise and stay holiday in America. At the time Virgin only had 2 cruise lines featured, Carnival and Celebrity we chose the Celebrity option and were immediately hooked, it might have been a completely different outcome if we had chosen Carnival instead. Not that there is anything wrong with Carnival, just not our scene.