Carnival unveils special South America, Panama voyages

Carnival Cruise Lines has unveiled several new itineraries featuring South American and the Panama Canal for the 2013 season. Next spring, the company will reposition Carnival Miracle to the west coast following a special Panama Canal voyage, and bring Carnival Splendor to New York following three South America cruises. The 2,124-passenger Miracle will shift to the west coast to operate the line’s Alaska and Hawaii cruises, currently offered on the Carnival Spirit, which is being repositioned to Australia to operate the line’s first cruises from that country. Carnival Miracle will also operate a seasonal Mexican Riviera program featuring the seven-day itinerary currently available on Carnival Splendor. In turn, the 3,006-passenger Splendor will reposition to New York to assume Carnival Miracle’s year-round eight-day Caribbean schedule beginning in March 2013, representing a capacity increase of 41% with this newer vessel. Before making its Big Apple debut, Splendor will offer three 13- to 18-day South America voyages from February to March. Itineraries include a 17-day “South America Explorer”cruise will depart Long Beach Feb. 3 and arrive in Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile, Feb. 20 visiting Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; Quito (Manta), Ecuador, where guests can embark on an excursion to the Galapagos; Lima (Callao), Peru, offering an opportunity to visit Machu Picchu; and Arica, Chile. Also available are a 13-day “Fjords, Glaciers & Patagonia”voyage from Santiago (Valparaiso) to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 20 to March 5, and an 18-day “Brazilian & Caribbean Splendor”voyage sailing from Buenos Aires to New York March 5-23. (http://www.carnival.com)