Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Conquest — the next ship to receive the Fun Ship 2.0 dining, bar and entertainment enhancements — will reposition from New Orleans to Miami in November 2013 to operate year-round seven-day Caribbean departures from that port.

Officials from the Mexican Ministry of Tourism and the Mexico Tourism Board announced this week that Mexico has retained the coveted position as number one recipient of cruise lines globally. In addition to the 22.7 million global travelers that arrived in Mexico by air in 2011, an additional 5 million visited by cruise.

Carnival Cruise Lines plans to invest more than $150 million to expand port infrastructure at destinations on Mexico's Pacific and Caribbean coasts, authorities said. Carnival reps and Mexican officials signed an agreement on the Caribbean island of Cozumel at a ceremony attended by President Felipe Calderon.