Carnival to base ship in Sydney

Carnival Cruise Line has announced it will base one of its ships full time in Australia

The Carnival Spirit will be the largest cruise ship ever to sail year round from Australia when she arrives in Sydney In October 2012.

The ship will be the first to be based in Sydney year round that is too tall to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. She rises almost 53 metres above the waterline and is three metres taller than the specified clearance height for ships to pass under the bridge. Due to her height Spirit will be based at the cruise terminal east of the harbour bridge, Circular Quay’s passenger terminal

Ann Sherry, chief executive of Carnival Australia, which represents Carnival Cruise Lines’ Australian deployment locally, said the cruise line’s move into Australia was testament to both the recent growth and the on-going potential of the local cruise industry.

Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines’ President and CEO, said the cruise line was looking forward to introducing its unique style of cruising to the Australian market.

“Carnival has become the most popular cruise choice among North Americans by offering an experience that is casual, friendly and fun with a wide variety of activities for guests of all ages, including a huge array of options on our expansive outdoor decks,”