Carnival Cruise Lines, American Southern Living

Carnival Cruise Lines has taken the number one spot in the American ‘Southern Living’ Magazine's 2008 Readers Choice Awards. The annual awards are based on surveys sent to fifteen million readers who then state their number one choice in a range of travel-related categories.

Carnival's ‘Fun Ships’ were seen as providing excellent activities and entertainment options, fine quality cuisine, and – perhaps more importantly to this magazine’s readers - convenient Southern U.S. departure points, with 17 ships departing from eight ports throughout Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana. In addition, the family fun aspects of the ship were seen as appealing to all ages and to offering a holiday experience that would fulfil all tastes.

The line currently has three new ships on order, including Carnival Splendor which is set to launch Carnival's first Northern European cruise programme in July, as well as the sister ships Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic which will be the largest ‘Fun Ships’ ever constructed when they enter service in 2009 and 2011.

A new era in cruising the fabulous islands of French Polynesia (Eddie Murphy hired one of these private islands for his New Year wedding on 1 January 2008) is launched with the arrival of luxury clipper ship Star Flyer in Tahiti. A traditional welcome from hula dancers, outrigger canoes and music celebrated the ship’s appearance at Papeete after a voyage that began in Phuket and took passengers through the Panama Canal and across four oceans. The four-masted clipper offers something of the flavour of travelling on a private yacht, as takes on 170 passengers. The ship will be based permanently in Tahiti and will offer seven-night or ten-night cruises around the islands, including Huahine, Raitea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, and Moorea.

The first cruise leaves on January 6 and the other ships in the Star Clippers fleet: Royal Clipper and Star Clipper, sail to ports in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South East.