Carnival's New Read My Valentine Contest Awards Couple Free Fun Ship Cruise for Most Romantic Story

[mercedes]

MIAMI (January 15, 2008) – As part of a unique Valentine’s Day promotion, Carnival Cruise Lines is awarding a free “Fun Ship” cruise to a couple who submits the most romantic story to the line’s Web site, carnival.com.

Through the “Read My Valentine” on-line contest, which runs from Jan. 14 – Feb. 14, 2008, couples can recount a romantic story about their partner on any topic they’d choose – from an interesting “how we met” tale to a memorable Valentine’s Day gesture or their favorite romantic memory from a “Fun Ship” cruise.

The top five entries will be selected by a team of judges from Carnival and then posted on carnival.com where visitors to the site can vote for their number one choice. The contest winner will receive a four-day western Caribbean cruise for two in the luxurious owner’s suite aboard the 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination from Miami or Carnival Inspiration from Tampa.

Both of these ships recently underwent multi-million-dollar upgrades as part of Carnival’s extensive “Evolutions of Fun” shipboard refurbishment program and feature such new amenities as a Serenity adults-only area, redesigned main pool, Carnival WaterWorks aqua park, and renovated 12,000-square-foot Spa Carnival health club.

The winner will also have his or her story featured in the summer 2008 edition of Currents, Carnival’s travel publication mailed to more than three million of the line’s past guests.

“Valentine’s Day is a wonderful reminder to people to take the time to express their love for one another. And with Carnival such a popular venue for couples to celebrate special occasions, the ‘Read My Valentine’ promotion is a fun and engaging way to commemorate this treasured day,” said Vicki Freed, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services.

In addition to being featured on flash banners on Carnival’s Web site, the “Read My Valentine” contest will be promoted via e-mail blasts, CarnivalConnections.com, the line’s online marketing community, as well as on the blog of Carnival Senior Cruise Director John Heald (accessible via carnival.com or johnhealdsblog.com). Official rules for the contest are posted on carnival.com.