Carnival Cruise Lines will launch San Diego’s first year-round cruise schedule with four- and five-day Baja Mexico voyages aboard the 2,052-passenger “Fun Ship” Elation beginning in June 2007. On this program the Elation will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cabo San Lucas and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day cruises to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, on a rotating schedule.

Short cruises are the fastest growing segment of the cruise industry and Carnival pioneered the four- and five-day schedule which fits in perfectly with today’s busy lifestyles.

The Elation will offer 78 voyages annually from San Diego and join the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit which has operated seasonal eight-day Mexican Riviera voyages from San Diego since 2004.

With the Elation and Carnival Spirit, Carnival is expected to carry more than 230,000 passengers annually from San Diego – the most of any cruise operator.

“The Elation’s new four- and five-day cruises from San Diego add a whole new dimension to West Coast cruising. Not only is the port within a day’s drive of millions of residents within the western U.S., San Diego offers a variety of convenient air options with the airport just minutes away from the cruise terminal,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

“The addition of year-round home-ported cruise service really puts San Diego on the cruising map,” said Robert “Rocky” Spane, chairman of the board of port commissioners. “This decision by Carnival Cruise lines is great for Carnival’s business and great for the region’s economic progress.”