Carnival Charters Three Ships to Help in Katrina Relief Efforts

Carnival Cruise Lines chartered three of its cruise ships for six months as part of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The ships, the Ecstasy, the Sensation and the Holiday, have been chartered to the Military Sealift Command on behalf of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The ships will be used to house people affected by the hurricane, said Carnival CEO Bob Dickinson.

Carnival has canceled the ships´ scheduled sailings through early March -- each operates short Caribbean cruises -- and providing full refunds to passengers booked on affected sailings. Passengers who rebook will receive a $100 per-person shipboard credit; agent commissions are protected.

“We trust our guests will understand that the decision to enter into these charters was the right one,” Dickinson said. “This inconvenience to our guests will provide desperately needed housing for thousands of individuals.”