New ship added to list of those sailing from N.O.

• By ROXANNE C. HARE
• Special sections editor
• Published: Apr 26, 2009

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Out with the old; in with the new. New Orleans welcomes a new ship to its port: the Carnival Triumph. Although Carnival’s Fantasy hasn’t finished its run yet, it will offer its last cruises out of New Orleans by the end of the year. The Triumph will virtually replace the Fantasy, said Melanie Williams, travel consultant at Gulf South Travel.

The ship offers fun for the whole family. For example, a new Seaside Theater boasts a 12-foot by 22-foot LED screen. The newly renovated Club Monaco Casino hosts plenty of slot machines and blackjack tables. And parents can rest easy knowing there are activities for the kids, such as Camp Carnival for children ages 2 to 11 and Club O2 for teens.

Once on shore, there are plenty of excursions to keep the family busy. While in the Bahamas, be sure to go on a deep-swimming water adventure with dolphins, go on a snorkeling tour or watch the wonders of the water in the comfort of a glass-bottom boat.

If you’re willing to fly before cruising, Williams said there are some theme cruises available – namely “Whodunit” cruises – where guests interact with actors to participate in a mystery plot. The three-day cruises sail out of Long Beach, Calif., on May 1, July 17, Oct. 30 and Dec. 4.

Here are the dates of cruises sailing out of the Port of New Orleans.

 

Schedule

Carnival Fantasy:

• Four-day cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel, Mexico. May 7, 21; June 4, 18; July 2, 16, 30; Aug. 13, 27; Sept. 10, 24; Oct. 8, 22; Nov. 5.
• Five-day western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel and Progreso (Yucatan) in Mexico. May 2, 11, 16, 25, 30; June 8, 13, 22, 27; July 6, 11, 20, 25; Aug. 3, 8, 17, 22, 31; Sept. 5, 14, 19, 28; Oct. 3, 12, 17, 26, 31.

Carnival Triumph

• Four-day western Caribbean cruise from New Orleans to Cozumel. Nov. 10; Dec. 3, 31.
• Five-day western Caribbean cruises departing on Saturdays. Visit Progreso and Cozumel in Mexico. Nov. 28; Dec. 26.
• Five-day western Caribbean cruises departing on Mondays. Visit Progreso and Cozumel in Mexico. Dec. 7.
• Seven-day eastern Caribbean cruises. Visit Key West plus Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas. Nov. 14, 21; Dec. 12.
• Seven-day western Caribbean cruises. Sail from New Orleans to Belize, Roatan Island and Cozumel. Dec. 19.

Norwegian Spirit

• Seven-day western Caribbean cruises. Cruise from New Orleans to Costa Maya, Mexico; Santo Tomas De Castilla, Guatemala; Belize City, Belize; and Cozumel, Mexico. Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29; Dec. 6, 13, 20, 27.