Celebrate the return of "Fun Ship" cruising from New Orleans this fall, Carnival Cruises is offering four and five-day Mexico voyages on the SuperLiner Fantasy starting at just $279 per person.

The Fantasy’s schedule from New Orleans begins Oct. 26, 2006, and encompasses four-day cruises to Cozumel departing Thursdays and five-day cruises to Cozumel and Costa Maya departing Mondays and Saturdays.

Pre- and post-cruise land stays providing guests opportunities to experience New Orleans’ legendary cuisine, entertainment and nightlife are also available.

“We're very excited to bring ‘Fun Ship’ cruising back to New Orleans, one of America's truly great cities, and also what has historically been one of our most popular homeports,” said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO.

The vessel in Carnival’s “Fantasy-class,” the 2,056-passenger SuperLiner offers a variety of on-board amenities, including three restaurants, three swimming pools, a jogging track, a cascading water slide, and a huge 12,000-square-foot spa.

Also featured is an Internet café, including Wi-Fi in a variety of public rooms and areas, as well as cell phone service. “Camp Carnival” and “Club O2,” offering supervised activities and expansive facilities for children and teens, respectively, are available.

Various shore excursion opportunities, everything from scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and snorkeling to golfing, kayaking and Mayan ruins tours, are available during port calls in Cozumel and Costa Maya.

In addition to four- and five-day cruises aboard the Fantasy, Carnival will launch seven-day Caribbean cruises from New Orleans aboard the Carnival Triumph beginning September 2, 2007. Prices for these week-long cruises begin at $429 per person.

Carnival will be the only cruise line to operate two ships year-round from New Orleans. Together, the Fantasy and Carnival Triumph are expected to carry some 320,000 guests annually from New Orleans.

Carnival Cruise Lines is currently taking reservations for all of its various New Orleans departures.