Carnival.Com most visited cruise line web site

Jason · February 25, 2007

USA. Hitwise rates Carnival.Com most visited cruise line web site

source: BYM Marine & Maritime News

Carnival Cruise Lines' comprehensive Web site, is the most visited cruise line site on the Internet, according to leading research organization Hitwise, which tracks Web traffic in more than 160 different industry categories.

Carnival Cruise Lines was ranked eighth overall in Hitwise's Travel - Destinations and Accommodations category for fourth quarter 2006. Carnival was the highest ranked cruise line on the list, which encompasses a wide variety of travel options, including hotels, resorts, casinos and theme parks.

"The Internet is an indispensable research and education tool and Carnival is constantly incorporating new features and updating our site to provide users with a comprehensive overview of the 'Fun Ship' vacation experience. Carnival's high unique visitor numbers serve to validate our intensive efforts in this area," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

Carnival.com underwent a significant upgrade last year that added several new tools and features including a new interactive destination map, guest video testimonials, a new "close-to-home" page providing information on Carnival's 19 embarkation ports, and an enhanced meeting and incentive cruise section.

Additionally, Carnival Cruise Lines launched the first ever cruise supplier social networking community and group planning Web site, CarnivalConnections.com, featuring real-time guest-written message boards and ship reviews, as well as an innovative electronic invitation tool.

Also within Carnival's Internet toolset is a travel agent Internet portal, bookccl.com, designed to serve as a "one-stop shop" for agents' sales and marketing needs. New to the portal is Carnival University Online, a comprehensive CLIA-accredited Web-based training program offering proven sales and marketing techniques and information on the "Fun Ship" vacation experience.

Carnival is the most popular cruise line in the world with 21 "Fun Ships" operating three- to 16-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Greek Isles.

The line currently has four new ships on order -- the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom, slated to debut in Europe March 5; the 112,000-ton Carnival Splendor, scheduled to enter service in July 2008; and the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic -- to be the largest "Fun Ships" ever constructed -- scheduled for delivery in October 2009 and June 2011, respectively.