VENICE-Carnival Cruise Lines' latest ship, the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom,
set sail on its maiden voyage Mar. 5 from Venice,
after supermodel and Freedom godmother Kathy Ireland officially named the ship
before top Carnival executives and a host of European travel agents. "This
ship represents the high quality of standards of today's Carnival," said
Carnival president and CEO Bob Dickinson about the craftsmanship of the ship's builder,
the Fincantieri shipyard in close by Marghera,
Italy. "I
think it's safe to say we like their work." The $500 million ship is
Carnival's 22nd "Fun Ship" and precedes the Carnival Splendor, set to
make a spring 2008 debut. Two 130,000-ton ships, Dream and Magic, will follow
in 2009 and 2011 respectively. After Freedom's nine-day Mediterranean cruise,
the ship will offer 12-day Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruises before
repositioning to Miami in November for Caribbean cruises.
