Redo Press Release

Talia Gutierrez
Com 3330- Section 04
News Press Release

March 23, 2011

Press Release- Print version

Carnival Cruise Lines
Public Relations Department

3655 N.W. 87th Ave
Miami, FL 33178

(800) 438-6744, ext. 16000
(305) 599-2600, ext. 16000
Fax: (305) 406-8630
E-mail: mailto:media@carnival.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Talia Gutierrez

Media Communications

Cell #: 912-695-1226

Tgutier1@students.kennesaw.edu           

Carnival Elation is pulled from Mobile, Ala.

KENNESAW, Ga.—Carnival Cruise Line has decided that the Carnival Elation ship will no longer dock at the port in Mobile, Ala. due to high fuel cost and low fares. The low fares for the passengers do not measure up to the amount of fuel the ship needs for Mobile’s waterways. As a result, Carnival will no longer offer cruises departing from Mobile, Ala.

“It was a difficult decision brought upon by many factors. Although we have consistently filled the ship, it has been at lower relative pricing to the rest of our fleet. We have made every effort to drive higher demand and pricing through our sales and marketing initiatives and the deployment of a newer class of ships in 2009, however we have not been successful in achieving a sustainable level of acceptable pricing,” says an e-mail written by the spokesperson of Carnival Cruise Lines.

                According the Carnival’s website, the Carnival Elation first set sail in 1998 and updates recently were added in 2009. The renovation includes an adults-only pool deck, a club geared to 12- to 14-year-olds and expanded buffet options.

Carnival Elation’s new home port is now in New Orleans, La. and will begin operating year-round Caribbean cruises in November 2011. This marks the first time in six years that Carnival Cruise Line will have two ships operating from the same port, carrying more than 350,000 guests annually. Continually bringing in large amounts of tourist could be a major benefit for the state of Louisiana.

More

With gas prices steadily increasing, the distance to the port could be a deciding factor on which cruise line one shall sail with. Carnival Cruise Line still offers cruises leaving from other nearby ports, such as Jacksonville, Tampa, and Port Canaveral.

For additional information, please contact Talia Gutierrez at (912)695-1226.

# # #

Final News Release 3/17/11

Carnival

March 17, 2011                                                           For Immediate Release

Contact: Ms. Talia Gutierrez

                                                                                    912-695-1226

                                                                                    Tgutier1@students.kennesaw.edu

Carnival Elation leaves Mobile Port

MOBILE, Ala- After the Carnival Elation cruise ship arrived home from Mexico on Saturday, passengers found out that this could be the last time the ship would leave from the Mobile port.

According to Fox 10 News, the load of passengers were not the only ones shocked to hear that Carnival was pulling this port off of its lists for available docks. City Mayor Sam Jones also heard this news for the first time after the announcement was already made.

Carnival has decided to pull the Elation due to high fuel cost and low fares, according to Carnival’s website. The low fares for the passengers do not measure up to the amount of fuel the ship needs for Mobile’s waterways.

With summertime quickly approaching, the elimination of this port could be a deal breaker when planning a family vacation. Passer-by Talia Gutierrez says she chose the Carnival Elation cruise for her spring break trip because of the convenient drive from her college town. Gas prices are steadily increasing, therefore the distance to the port could be a deciding factor on which cruise line one shall sail with.

 “Usually the night before a Carnival ship sets sail, every hotel room is booked,” says Best Western Hotel manager.  “There are also numerous taxi and shuttle services whose business could decline with lower amounts of tourists.”

Best Western’s manager also comments that the city’s revenue relies heavily on the amount of tourists that visit before attending their Carnival cruise.

With the departure of Carnival, the city remains in debt due to the Alabama Cruise Terminal. For this reason, Mayor Sam Jones plans on searching for another cruise line to replace the Elation, according to Fox 10 News.

New Orleans, Louisiana will be the new port for the Carnival Elation ship.

For additional information, please contact Talia Gutierrez.

# # #