NEW YORK -- Carnival Cruise Lines took delivery of its newest ship,
102,000-GRT Carnival Victory, today [July 28] in a "hand-over"
ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.
The 2,758-passenger vessel is the 10th ship the Italian builder
has delivered to Carnival Corp. Victory will leave Monfalcone on
Aug. 2 for a trans-Atlantic crossing slated to end in New York on
Aug. 14.
Victory's maiden voyage is a two-night cruise to nowhere
departing Aug. 18, to be followed by three two-night cruises, one
overnight voyage and various travel-agent and fundraising events.
Victory begins a series of four- and five-day New York/Canada
cruises on Aug. 31.
The ship ends the 2000 season with one- to five-night cruises
from Newport News, Va. and Charleston, S.C. Carnival also announced
Victory will offer a pair of five-day Bahamas cruises from
Charleston and two five-day Bahamas cruise plus a pair of two-day
cruises to nowhere from Newport News, all in May and October of
2001.
The Charleston and New Port News departures offer "A rare
opportunity for residents from these two cities to depart from a
location close to home," said Carnival president Bob Dickinson.