Carnival Cruise Lines today announced a unique and exciting new “Fun Ship” cruise program from Port Canaveral, Fla.

Carnival Splendour has returned to the Gulf of Mexico following three months of repairs in the aftermath of an onboard fire. The vessel was left adrift for three days in November 2009 as fire swept through engines rooms off Mexico.

Cuba is bracing itself for the impact of Hurricane Paula as the weather system approaches from the north-west of the western tip of Caribbean island. Ahead of the storm almost a dozen cruise ships, - including six Carnival vessels - have been forced to alter their itineraries.

Carnival Cruise Lines has confirmed it will base two larger ships in Galveston, Texas, for the coming season and move two smaller ones to New Orleans. The decision will return New Orleans to capacity levels last reached before the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

Hundreds of passengers have been taken sick aboard the Celebrity Mercury cruise ship, amid a gastrointestinal-illness outbreak. The Carnival owned vessel has been hit twice by outbreaks in the past month, making this the third straight trip from South Carolina to be affected.

Carnival Cruise Lines is reporting record wave season bookings, with strong reservations activity for 2010 departures.