All I Want For Christmas Is A Carnival Comfort Bed

MIAMI (November 30, 2006) – The new "Carnival Comfort Bed" sleep system not only provides the most restful night at sea, it is also the most sought-after cruise-oriented holiday gift, according to a recent poll by CruiseCritic.com, the most popular cruise community on the Internet.

In the on-line survey, Cruise Critic editors asked its members to name the gift they hoped to receive most this holiday season. And the "Carnival Comfort Bed" was cited more often than any other item by far, with nearly half of all respondents selecting the popular new bedding the system as their gift of choice.

The "Carnival Comfort Bed" was introduced in November 2005 and rolled out fleetwide on all 21 "Fun Ships" earlier this year. The system includes plush mattresses, luxurious duvets, and high quality linens and pillows.

"Because a good night’s sleep can make the difference between a good vacation and a great one, consumers are becoming increasingly discerning about their bedding options. The results of the Cruise Critic survey only confirm what our guests are telling us time and time again – that the ‘Carnival Comfort Bed’ offers exceptional quality and makes their ‘Fun Ship’ cruise even more enjoyable and relaxing," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

Commented Cruise Critic Editor Carolyn Spencer Brown, "The ‘Carnival Comfort Bed’ got a number of kudos, not just from staffers who’ve sailed on Carnival ships lately but also from readers. Carnival may specialize in one of the most socially-oriented cruise experiences around – but people still want to get a good quality shut-eye."

The "Carnival Comfort Bed" system has proven so popular with "Fun Ship" guests that the line has established an exclusive Web site, carnivalcomfortbed.com, where consumers can purchase the various bedding components for their homes. Since the Web site was established late last year, on-line orders have increased dramatically with sales more than doubling over the past year.

The "Carnival Comfort Bed" is one of several product enhancement initiatives undertaken by the line as part of its ongoing efforts to upgrade the "Fun Ship" vacation experience.

Guests sailing aboard the "Fun Ships" now enjoy such amenities as the new "Georges Blanc Signature Selections" menu items created by the world-renowned French master chef, as well as expanded children and teen programming and facilities, updated health and fitness centers, and fleetwide wireless Internet access and cell phone service.

The "Carnival Comfort Bed" sleep system is available on all 21 "Fun Ships" which operate voyages ranging from three to 16 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe and the Greek Isles. Carnival also has three new ships slated for delivery between now and 2009.