Carnival Takes Delivery of New Liner

In a traditional maritime handover ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, Carnival Cruise Lines took delivery of the new 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom -the 22nd vessel in the “Fun Ship” fleet.

Following its official naming ceremony in Venice March 4, presided over by godmother Kathy Ireland, Carnival Freedom will sail on its inaugural voyage –a nine-day Mediterranean cruise from Venice departing March 5.

Carnival Freedom will then launch a program of 12-day Grand Mediterranean and Mediterranean & Greek Isles cruises March 14, operating round-trip from Rome.

Following its European program, Carnival Freedom will sail on a 14-day transatlantic voyage from Rome to Miami, positioning the vessel for a winter schedule of seven-day Caribbean cruises beginning November 17.