New ship and itinerary for Jacksonville

[% 11986 | | Carnival %] is the only cruise line to sail year-round from Jacksonville, so imagine the port authority’s happiness when the line announced it’s bringing a bigger ship to the Florida port. On September 20, 2008, the 2,052-passenger Fascination will replace the 1,486-passenger Celebration.

The Fascination will sail four- and five-night Caribbean cruises from Jacksonville. It will offer a new five-night itinerary departing on Saturdays for Half Moon Cay and Nassau. Its five-night Monday departures will call at Key West and Nassau, and four-night Thursday departures will visit Freeport and Nassau.

Carnival has not announced where the Celebration will head after Jacksonville, or whether another ship will take over the Fascination’s three- and four-night cruises out of Miami.

If you’re interested in sailing the Fascination out of Jacksonville, reservations are available as of August 22. Prices start at $269 for four-night cruises and $289 for five-night cruises, based on double occupancy. Call 800-CARNIVAL (800-227-6482) or contact a travel agent.