CARNVIAL CORP. PRESS RELEASE
MIAMI (07/21/98) -- Carnival Cruise Lines has cancelled the July
24 and July 27 sailings of the MS Ecstasy as a result of a fire
that occurred yesterday on the ship's aft mooring deck.
The Ecstasy will undergo repairs and is expected to re-enter
service with the sailing of July 31.
Guests booked on the two cancelled sailings will receive full
refunds and a 50 percent discount on a future three-, four-, five-
or seven-day Carnival cruise departing prior to Dec. 15, 1999. The
offer is combinable with the line's Super Saver advance purchase
discounts program and certain restrictions may apply. Travel agent
commissions on the cancelled sailings will be protected.
"While this is a most unfortunate situation, it is our hope that
the decision to provide full refunds and half-off discounts on a
future cruise will serve to minimize the disappointment for our
guests," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president.
Carnival is contacting travel agents with clients on the
affected sailings via fax.
The 2,040-passenger, 70,000-ton MS Ecstasy entered service in
1991 and operates a year-round program of three- and four-day
cruises from Miami. Three-day cruises departing Fridays call at
Nassau, while four-day cruises departing on Mondays visit Key West
and Playa del Carmen/Cozumel, Mexico.