Carnival Cruise Lines will build upon its distinction as New Orleans’ number one cruise operator when it deploys a second year-round ship to New Orleans, the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph,in August 2007.

Carnival will be the only cruise line to operate year-round from New Orleans and, with the deployment of the line’s 2,056-passenger Fantasy to New Orleans in October, will now offer four-, five- and seven-day cruise to the most attractive destinations in the western Caribbean.

Carnival Triumph will begin year-round seven-day Caribbean cruises from the Port of New Orleans Sept. 2, 2007, becoming the largest cruise ship based at that port. The Fantasy will launch year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruises from New Orleans beginning Oct. 26, 2006. Prior to the start-up of week-long service, Carnival Triumph will operate a special one-time five-day cruise from New Orleans Aug. 28, 2007.

With the Fantasy and Carnival Triumph, Carnival expects to carry 320,000 passengers annually from New Orleans.

“The Port of New Orleans has been a valued business partner for Carnival for more than a decade and we’re extremely pleased to deploy the Carnival Triumph and Fantasy to that port. Not only does basing these ships in New Orleans offer consumers two exciting ‘Fun Ship’ vacation choices, it is also indicative of the continued economic recovery of this vitally important cruising region,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange pointed out that with the announcement from Carnival, New Orleans will again have four home-ported cruise ships. “After Hurricane Katrina, Carnival reaffirmed its commitment to the New Orleans tourism industry, and said it would bring back two ships to homeport here year-round as soon as possible. Carnival has lived up to its promise and shown that cruising will continue to have a vibrant future in New Orleans. Before Hurricane Katrina, the cruise industry generated about 2,800 jobs, and we anticipate that figure will continue to grow with the return of four home-ported cruise ships to the Port of New Orleans,” LaGrange said.