Carnival Cruise Lines on Wednesday took delivery of its 22nd and newest vessel, the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom. Carnival took over the ship in a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. Following a March 4 naming ceremony, the ship will sail on its inaugural voyage, a nine-day Mediterranean cruise departing from Venice. Carnival Freedom will subsequently launch a program of 12-day Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises March 14, which will operate roundtrip from Rome. Bob Dickinson, Carnival's president and CEO, cited Europe as one of the "fastest-growing regions for cruising." Carnival Freedom features many technological amenities such as a poolside 270-square-foot LED movie screen and bow-to-stern wireless Internet. Following Carnival Freedom's European summer tour, the ship will redeploy to Miami for seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning November 17. Reservations are being accepted on all Carnival Freedom's European and Caribbean itineraries. Visit [www.bookccl.com].
