Carnival Cruise Lines has announced two exciting year-round homeport deployments for fall 2011, with the 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration repositioning to Long Beach, Calif., for three- and four-day Baja departures and the 2,052-passenger Carnival Paradise to Tampa, Fla., on four- and five-day Caribbean voyages.  Carnival Inspiration is currently based in Tampa while Carnival Paradise operates from Long Beach.

To reposition to their new homeports, each ship will offer a 14-day Panama Canal voyage that will provide consumers with a highly attractive longer length “Fun Ship” cruise option, as well as the unforgettable experience of transiting the Panama Canal.

Carnival Paradise Panama Canal cruise will sail from Long Beach to Tampa departing Nov. 28, 2011, while Carnival Inspiration Panama Canal voyage will depart Dec. 3, 2011, and operate from Tampa to Long Beach.

These voyages will be highlighted by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of transiting the Panama Canal, one of the great technological achievements of the 20th century, where ships are raised 85 feet in the air via a series of three locks and then gently lowered back again.  The transit also includes the crossing of 163-square-mile Gatun Lake, the world’s largest man-made lake, which is surrounded by a variety of native tropical foliage and interesting sites.

Each voyage will also feature visits to five magnificent ports of call:  Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

Cabo San Lucas is a world-class resort destination distinguished by rugged rock formations, lush landscape and gorgeous beaches. Known for its death-defying cliff divers, Acapulco boasts excellent beaches, and a variety of fine restaurants and shops.  Located on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Puntarenas is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches and an abundance of wildlife and eco-tourism opportunities. Cartagena features centuries-old architecture and historical sites, including a colonial walled city and fortress designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital of the Cayman Islands, George Town offers outstanding duty-free bargains as well as world-renowned Seven Mile Beach.

Early Saver rates for these voyages start at $949 per person based on double occupancy.

Carnival Inspiration to Long Beach

Carnival Inspiration will bring an exciting new dimension to West Coast cruising when it launches year-round three- and four-day Baja cruises from Long Beach Dec. 19, 2011.  On this route, three-day cruises depart Fridays and visit Ensenada while four-day voyages depart Mondays and call at both Ensenada and Catalina Island.  The ship will operate a special one-time two-day cruise to Ensenada Dec. 17-19, 2011.

Carnival Inspiration was the first ship to undergo the line’s extensive “Evolutions of Fun” refurbishment and includes a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long Twister water slide, a tropical resort-style main pool area, and an exclusive adults-only retreat.

Carnival Paradise to Tampa

In turn, Carnival Paradise will assume Carnival Inspiration’s popular year-round four- and five-day western Caribbean cruise schedule from Tampa beginning Dec. 12, 2011.  On this route, Carnival Paradise will depart Thursdays on four-day cruises to Cozumel and on Mondays and Saturdays on five-day voyages to Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

Carnival Paradise offers a distinctive décor with dramatic public spaces that pay homage to great ocean liners of the past, with memorable venues such as the Queen Mary Lounge, Normandie Theater, and Rotterdam Bar.  The ship also offers Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat. 

Reservations

Reservations are currently being accepted for the new schedules of the Carnival Inspiration and Carnival Paradise as well as the 14-day Panama Canal cruises. 

For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

In a nod to maritime tradition, Miami Children’s Museum and Carnival Cruise Lines today uncorked a confetti-filled bottle to launch a redesigned cruise ship–shaped exhibit where kids can sail on a sea of discovery and learn the secrets behind one of South Florida’s leading industries.

The two-level 1,850-square-foot exhibit – the country’s only cruise-themed children’s museum attraction – has been completely renovated and now offers a host of new hands-on, interactive activities that promise oceans of fun while educating kids about seagoing travel and maritime careers.   

New features on the exhibit’s first level include Puppet Ship Theater, where kids can learn about different maritime careers while putting on a puppet show with a cast of miniature captains, engineers, chefs and other shipboard personnel.  Young visitors also have their moment in the spotlight dressing up and performing as Carnival entertainers with dazzling, sequin-festooned costumes.

A new “What You Can Do On A Cruise” activity includes spinning and matching games that teach kids about the variety of fun on-board happenings as well as sights they might see along the way.  Positioned in the “bow” of the ship-shaped exhibit is a cozy seating area where kids and parents can read a book or enjoy a quiet activity.   Also located throughout the first level are hands-on tabletop activities and games, interactive wall bubbles and “fun facts” about the Carnival vacation experience and what shipboard life is like.

The exhibit’s second level, which replicates the equipment and technology found on a cruise ship bridge, is just as engaging.  Here, children can plot a course in the Caribbean with authentic maps and charts, and listen to actual recordings of officers, harbor pilots and quartermasters as they bring a vessel into port. 

Kids can also see “how low can they go” with a fun limbo exercise, create their own Calypso music with bongos and steel drums that are typically associated with a “fun in the sun” Caribbean cruise or learn about shipbuilding through fun, interactive puzzles. Appropriately, the second level bridge overlooks an adjacent exhibit which replicates the Port of Miami.

Carnival partnered with Atlanta-based Purpose Studio to completely renovate, redesign and re-engineer the exhibit to offer a more nautical feel with teak-like flooring, ship railings, portholes and other design elements.  The renovation also includes dramatic lighting effects and a colorful mural that re-creates the vantage point of a cruise ship on the ocean, depicting a sea of aqua-blue waters and a Carnival ship on the horizon.

Carnival’s exhibit debuted in conjunction with the Miami Children’s Museum’s Watson Island grand opening in 2003 and over the past seven years thousands of kids have learned about cruising and maritime careers interacting with the ship-shaped attraction.

“This exhibit embodies the museum’s mission of making learning fun by allowing kids to immerse themselves in the world of cruising and discover the important role the maritime industry plays here in South Florida,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “And on a personal note, the Miami Children’s Museum is one of my family’s favorite places to beat the heat during the summer.”  

“From the beginning, Carnival has been a valuable partner with the Museum, providing a quality exhibit where children and families can play, learn, imagine and create,” said Deborah Spiegelman, the museum’s executive director.  “These fantastic new enhancements to the exhibit continue to provide a first class experience for everyone.  I don’t know of any other museum that can boast about having its own cruise ship inside.”

The updated Carnival exhibit is one of 14 fun-filled galleries at the Miami Children’s Museum, located at 980 MacArthur Causeway on Watson Island in Miami.  Entrance to the exhibit is included with each regular admission to the museum. Admission is $15 for adults and children, $12 for Florida residents, free for children under 1 year old and admission for museum members is complimentary. For more information contact the Museum at 305/373-KIDS (5437) or visit www.miamichildrensmuseum.org.

The magic continues!  In a time-honored maritime tradition, a ceremony recently was held aboard Carnival Magic at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, during which a commemorative coin was welded to the ship’s mast to mark a significant construction milestone.  Carnival Cruise Lines’ 3,690-passenger “Fun Ship” is set to debut in Europe May 1, 2011.

The ceremony – which dates back to the ancient Romans who believed that attaching coins to a ship provided divine protection – signifies the successful completion of Carnival Magic’s exterior outfitting. With just eight months until the ship’s maiden voyage, work continues on Carnival Magic’s dramatic interiors and unique on-board innovations.

Exclusive images and videos of the coin ceremony, as well as Carnival Magic’s fun and exciting features, are available at www.carnivalmagic.com, a micro-site showcasing this spectacular “Fun Ship.”

Carnival Magic’s eventual year-round homeport will be Galveston, Texas, so the ceremony had a strong Texas presence with Carnival represented by Texas-based Business Development Director Shannon McElroy, Mike Julius, the company’s managing director of U.S. sales, and Roberto Fazi, project manager for Carnival’s corporate shipbuilding division. Fincantieri was represented by Shipyard Director Carlo de Marco while Laura Buttignon, a 35-year Fincantieri veteran whose father also was employed by the shipbuilder, served as madrina, or godmother, at the ceremony. 

Following the coin ceremony, thousands of talented artisans, craftsmen and workers returned to work on Carnival Magic’s one-of-a-kind features.      

Those include a new island-inspired watering hole, RedFrog Pub, which features its own private-label draught beer; Cucina del Capitano, an authentic trattoria that brings the heritage of Carnival’s Italian captains to the table, and an expansive outdoor sports complex offering cruising’s first-ever ropes course, outdoor weight-lifting area and gargantuan 500-gallon water dump bucket — part of the splash-tastic WaterWorks aqua park.

Spanning 15 fun-filled decks, Carnival Magic will offer other guest-pleasing features such as The Lanai, a wraparound promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides; Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue; innovative accommodations including cove balcony cabins closer to the waterline and two-bath, five-berth staterooms that should hold particular appeal to families; a mouth-watering array of formal and casual dining options offering cuisines from around the world; the relaxing Serenity adults-only retreat, and the Cloud 9 Spa, one of the largest health and wellness facilities at sea.

In addition to an exclusive look at the coin ceremony, www.carnivalmagic.com offers a “peek through the porthole” at the ship’s features with a full-screen virtual tour, exclusive images and videos, and construction footage, along with details on contests for fans to add their personal touches and “make the Magic theirs.”

Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 – Oct. 16, 2011.  Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.

Captain Giovanni Cutugno, whose maritime career has spanned more than three decades, has been named master of Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic. The Messina, Italy, native will oversee all operations of the 3,690-passenger vessel which is set to debut in Europe in May 2011.

Carnival Magic marks the fourth new Carnival ship that the highly experienced mariner has introduced.  He also served as the captain during the inaugural seasons of the Carnival Inspiration in 1996, Carnival Spirit in 2001, and Carnival Valor in 2004. 

Under Captain Cutugno’s command, Carnival Magic will debut with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises from May 1 to Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day transatlantic crossing, the ship will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston Nov. 14, 2011.

As the line’s newest “Fun Ship,” Carnival Magic will offer a number of unique innovations, including Cucina del Capitano, which brings the heritage of Carnival’s captains to the table.  Archival photos of Captain Cutugno and other Carnival captains will adorn the walls of the 100-seat eatery.

Other unique features on the Carnival Magic include RedFrog Pub, an island-inspired watering hole featuring its own private label beer; and SportsSquare, an outdoor recreation complex with the first-ever ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area. Among the many features within the ship’s sprawling WaterWorks aqua park will be a 500-gallon dump bucket – the largest at sea.

These and other exciting features are showcased in an interactive micro-site, www.carnivalmagic.com, which offers a full-screen virtual tour, exclusive images and videos, construction footage and more.

Carnival today launched a new, interactive online home for Carnival Magic (www.carnivalmagic.com) that showcases the ship’s standout features through a full-screen virtual tour and more, as well as many ways for “Fun Ship” enthusiasts to add their own unique touches to the new vessel, set to debut May 1, 2011. 

Through the Make the Magic Yours campaign, which includes a wild array of contests and promotions, Carnival is inviting fans of fun to “make the Magic theirs” by submitting ideas and voting on their favorites, while supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®. The campaign will run Aug. 24, 2010, through Feb. 18, 2011, and Carnival will make a donation of up to $50,000 to St. Jude. The donation to St. Jude is based upon participation and voting.     

A Magic-Filled Site

From bow to stern, Carnival offers a comprehensive look at the new and exciting features of the Carnival Magic at www.carnivalmagic.com.  Visitors can view a full-screen virtual video tour of the innovative new public spaces aboard Carnival Magic including: RedFrog Pub, Carnival’s first-ever pub at sea; the line’s Italian captain-inspired Cucina del Capitano restaurant; an expansive indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue, Ocean Plaza; splash-tastic Carnival WaterWorks aqua park; relaxing Cloud 9 Spa; and all of the fun and exciting youth-related spaces. More spaces will be showcased in the coming months. Guests can learn how they will enjoy each area with beautiful images, and behind-the-scenes videos, as well as share their comments via Facebook Connect or Funville, Carnival’s own on-line community.

Visitors will also find the latest Carnival Magic news, interactive deck plans, and images and descriptions of different stateroom accommodations. They can learn more about Carnival Magic’s Europe and Caribbean itineraries and explore the ports of calls, and view pricing. With the countdown clock showing 249 days and counting until Carnival Magic’s inaugural sailing, visitors can also enjoy exclusive views of the shipbuilding process and learn more about the vessel’s construction in Italy.

Fans Add Magic Touches To the Ship

Another great feature of the Carnival Magic microsite, guests can learn more about participating in a sea of fun monthly contests and other promotions that comprise the Make the Magic Yours campaign, which will continue up to Carnival Magic’s inaugural sailing in May 2011.  Beyond bragging rights, Carnival will be giving away great prizes – from digital cameras to a free cruise.  And by participating in many elements of the campaign, fans will also do good by generating monetary donations from Carnival to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases. 

Carnival will be challenging fun-seekers everywhere to name some of Carnival Magic’s special features, including a gigantic 500-gallon water dump bucket, the largest at sea housed in the WaterWorks aqua park, along with the two-level mini-golf course in SportsSquare, and a delicious dish at Cucina del Capitano, Carnival’s first Italian trattoria. Other opportunities include creating fun toasts, coaster sayings and music playlists for its new island-inspired RedFrog Pub.  This winter, kids will be invited to get into the act with creative ways to make the Magic theirs, as well.

Carnival will provide updates on the latest Carnival Magic-related happenings at www.carnivalmagic.com, and on its popular Twitter profile, while the line’s more than 250,000 Facebook fans can check out the updated Carnival Magic tab with engaging videos, fun polls, and a new “meet the crew” feature.

Cheers! Give Us Your Best Pub Line

Raise a glass as the Make the Magic Yours campaign begins today with the RedFrog Coaster Contest, challenging grown-up fun-atics to submit their best pub line.  The winning sayings will appear on the thousands of drink coasters used each voyage in Carnival Magic’s Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub as pints of the pub’s signature beer, ThirstyFrog Red,  Fun Ship Specials and other beverages are enjoyed by guests.

Through Sept. 7, 2010, Carnival welcomes those ages 21 and above to submit the pub-appropriate lines they believe best capture the magical moments experienced on a Carnival “Fun Ship.”  Entries must be 60 characters or less and Carnival coaster-worthy, as they’ll be judged by the company based on relevance, creativity and humor, then culled down to 10 finalists – nine chosen by Carnival and one wild card determined by consumer voting. 

In mid-September, Carnival fans and fun-seekers will be invited to vote for their favorite sayings to choose three lucky winners who will be announced later that month.  Each winner will receive a special commemorative version of their RedFrog Pub coasters and other items including a digital camera, RedFrog Pub bartending items and more. Additional information and contest rules are available at www.carnivalmagic.com/contest.

With 249 days until its newest “Fun Ship,” the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, sets sail, Carnival Cruise Lines today revealed a peek through the porthole at some of the ship’s unique spaces and fun features.

From Carnival’s first-ever pub, featuring its own private label beer, to an authentic trattoria that brings the heritage of Carnival’s Italian captains to the table, to an expansive outdoor sports complex featuring the first-ever ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area on a cruise ship – along with cruising’s first gargantuan water dump bucket – Carnival Magic is destined to be the most innovative “Fun Ship” to date.  Carnival fans can journey to the Carnival Magic’s new online home, www.carnivalmagic.com, to see and learn more about this 3,690-passenger vessel.

Carnival Magic offers vacationers a variety of innovative and inspirational opportunities for fun, relaxation and enjoyment including:

RedFrog Pub – An exciting new concept, the RedFrog Pub offers a laid-back Caribbean vibe with island-inspired snacks and drinks, including ThirstyFrog Red, a private-label draught beer brewed especially for Carnival Magic. Located on Promenade Deck 5, the 100-seat indoor/outdoor pub is a convivial place where guests can relax, meet new friends, sip a frozen cocktail, and nosh on Bahamian conch salad, grouper fingers, firecracker Jamaican chicken wings, and other Caribbean favorites. RedFrog Pub will also offer tastings of top-rated rums of the Caribbean and a collection of the region’s best beers. With a nod to Carnival Magic’s Caribbean itineraries which kick off in November 2011, RedFrog Pub’s décor is decidedly British West Indies meets Key West, evoking the warmth and friendliness of a local island watering hole. Nautical-themed interiors with rich wood details, vibrant tile work, portholes, and images of ships at sea, along with foosball and shuffleboard tables and a jukebox, complete the playful pub atmosphere. 

Cucina del Capitano (“The Captain’s Kitchen”) — An homage to Carnival’s rich Italian lineage – all of the line’s captains are Italian and many Carnival ships, including Carnival Magic, are built in Italy – Cucina del Capitano is a delicious dinner-time option with made-to-order Italian favorites in comfortable, relaxed surroundings.  Here, guests can dine on hand-made pastas, risotto and fresh-from-the-oven Italian specialties – many served family style – complemented by a wine list specializing in Italian vintages. Many of the dishes and recipes were hand-selected by Carnival’s captains. Framed archival photographs, many from the captains’ personal collections, table arrangements that invite conversation, wood-beam ceilings, and ornate wrought ironwork recreate the ambiance of a cozy Italian home, while warm, attentive service makes diners feel like they’re part of the family. Truly an unforgettable dining experience. Dinner carries a nominal fee. During the day, the space is utilized as a casual made-to-order pasta bar with items offered on a complimentary basis.

SportsSquare – Sports junkies rejoice.  Taking Carnival’s popular outdoor recreation areas to an entirely new level is SportsSquare, which features the cruise industry’s first ropes course where thrill-seeking guests can traverse across nets suspended above Spa Deck 12 and offering spectacular views to the sea nearly 150 feet below. Surrounded by an eighth-mile jogging track, the expansive SportsSquare complex also includes the first outdoor weightlifting area on a cruise ship, along with Carnival’s first two-level miniature golf course, a Vita exercise course, a lighted multi-purpose court for  basketball, volleyball and soccer, along with ping pong and foosball tables. A full bar with a large flat-screen display is available for those who just want to relax and check out the sports action in the area or on TV.  Carnival Magic’s other top-deck amenities include the splash-tastic WaterWorks aqua park that will offer even more thrills with an exhilarating “Twister” spiral water slide, as well as the new Aqua Play splash park designed for youngsters and their families, featuring a gigantic, 500-gallon “dump bucket” and a host of other wet ’n wild features. Resort-style pool areas offer the perfect venue for catching rays or some Zs.

Cruisers will also find a variety of signature “Fun Ship” elements on Carnival Magic, including:

Expansive Family-Friendly Spaces – The ultimate family vacation, Carnival Magic offers more than 19,000 square feet of space catering to kids and families, including dedicated spaces for children (Camp Carnival), ’tweens (Circle “C”) and teens (Club O2), with organized activities and enthusiastic counselors for each group.

Serenity – The ideal space for some adult-only “me” time, Serenity offers comfortable chaise lounges and chairs, hammocks, colorful umbrellas and two jumbo-sized whirlpools, along with full bar service specializing in frothy, icy concoctions.          

Cloud 9 Spa – Guests in the mood for a workout or some personal pampering can visit this stunning and sophisticated facility.  At the Cloud 9 Spa, troubles melt away as guests soak in the soothing thalassotherapy pool, unwind in the elaborate thermal suite or just take in the elegant, serene surroundings. 

Stateroom Innovations – With 1,845 staterooms, Carnival Magic offers a wide array of accommodation types, including two-bathroom/five-berth cabins and connecting staterooms that hold particular appeal to families; cove balcony cabins closer to the water line; and spa staterooms providing special access and benefits.   

Food, Glorious Food – Whether its authentic delicacies from India and China, a full-service meal in an elegant, two-level dining room, a late-night slice of pizza, an exquisite meal in a classic American steakhouse, or just a burger by the pool, Carnival Magic offers a tantalizing array of international cuisines sure to satisfy every palate.     

Dazzling Entertainment – From a laugh-out-loud Punchliner Comedy Club, live bands along the promenade, Superstar Live Karaoke where guests sing to channel their inner rock star fronting a four-piece band, or dazzling production shows incorporating the latest special effects, nights are truly special aboard Carnival Magic.

Carnival’s Seaside Theatre – This 270-square-foot LED screen and poolside seating is the perfect spot for guests to sit back, relax and watch classic and first-run movies, sporting events, news, concerts and other programming, either during the day or night.

Ocean Plaza – A place to see and be seen, Ocean Plaza is a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue where guests can dance to live music and enjoy specialty coffees and sweets – even freshly made milkshakes. Full bar service, specializing in martinis and mojitos, is also available.

The Lanai – Taking the traditional cruise-ship promenade to new heights, The Lanai is a half-mile, open-air promenade encircling Promenade Deck 5. Here, guests can stroll while enjoying spectacular ocean vistas, curl up with a good book, soak up some sun in a comfortable deck chair, or relax in one of four cantilevered whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides.     

Fun Hub – Available on any guests’ Internet-connected laptop or at dozens of convenient locations throughout the ship is the Fun Hub, a social network and comprehensive shipboard intranet portal that provides access to a variety of information on Carnival Magic’s services, facilities and daily activities. Carnival Magic will also offer bow-to-stern Wi-Fi and cell phone service. 

Carnival Magic’s many unique innovations are highlighted in an interactive micro-site, www.carnivalmagic.com, which features a full-screen virtual tour, exclusive images and videos, construction footage and more.  The site also contains details on a series of unique and exciting contests and promotions Carnival will offer for fun fans to add their personal touches on Carnival Magic leading up to the ship’s maiden voyage.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 – Oct. 16, 2011.  Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port’s largest year-round cruise ship.

The blog of Carnival’s Senior Cruise Director John Heald (www.johnhealdsblog.com) has hit a new milestone, topping the 7 million visitor mark for the first time.

Launched in March 2007 in conjunction with the debut of the Carnival Freedom, Heald’s blog has grown to become cruising’s most popular blog.  Many readers check in daily to read his humorous take on shipboard life, interviews with cruise industry personnel, and other fun features.

Heald is currently on the West Coast, serving as senior cruise director on the Carnival Splendor reporting on the ship’s week-long Mexican Riviera cruises from Long Beach, Calif.

The blog’s popularity has even spawned the John Heald Bloggers Cruise which offers his fans an opportunity to sail with Heald and participate in a variety of fun on-board activities.  The fourth installment of the series will take place on the Carnival Glory in February 2011.

Carnival Cruise Lines and Razorfish today announced the launch of a groundbreaking new social commerce Facebook application that allows users to easily view, compare, select and share Carnival cruises with their Facebook friends. The application, the first of its kind in the cruise industry, allows users to engage their social network in their vacation planning through personalized newsfeed updates and even invite friends to book the same trip.

The application, available on Carnival’s official Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/carnival), enables the user to explore all available Carnival cruise options without leaving Facebook by providing the functionality to sort cruises by date, duration, port of call, and accommodation type. Once users decide on a particular cruise, they can share the detailed cruise information with their Facebook friends by simply clicking a button. Users can also customize their newsfeed messages, which include a link to the cruise, to invite friends to book the trip as well.

“A Carnival cruise is a very social experience and this application is a natural extension of our efforts to engage our nearly 250,000 Facebook fans in a unique and exciting way,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “By allowing our customers to share their cruising plans with Facebook friends, we are making it easier for them to plan group trips and encourage others to join in the fun.”

Digital marketing agency Razorfish sought to tap into the power of the online community to drive engagement with the Carnival brand. As a result, the agency helped conceptualize, create and design the application as a way to offer the cruise line’s products and services in native locations for consumers.

“This is a great example of how a brand can create a meaningful, relevant and social experience that enhances an activity consumers are engaging in anyway, in this case sharing their vacation plans on Facebook,” said Cristina Lawrence, director of word of mouth and social media marketing at Razorfish. “Carnival realizes people’s passion for cruising is ‘socially’ contagious, which is why we helped them design an application that enables consumers to share the real-time excitement of the booking process and the opportunity to invite friends to join them.”

Once users have taken advantage of the Facebook application to choose and share their Carnival cruise plans, they will be directed to the appropriate shopping cart page on Carnival.com to finalize the transaction.

Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded its guest service options with a new Twitter profile that is specifically assigned to cruise-related questions or pre- or post-cruise comments from guests sailing aboard the “Fun Ships.”

Through the new Twitter profile (www.twitter.com/CCLsupport), consumers can submit questions regarding any aspect of “Fun Ship” cruising or post a query, comment or concern, either prior to or following their voyage.  Carnival’s guest service personnel monitor and respond to posts.

The new service-focused Twitter profile complements the line’s existing Twitter profile (www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise), which offers a variety of news and information on the happenings at Carnival.

Carnival’s newly selected mommy- and daddy-blogging ambassadors have started typing away about their “Fun Ship” cruises.

Read as these first-time cruisers share their excitement with readers about their trips through witty and engaging posts on their various web sites.

Carnival’s mommy and daddy bloggers hail from various cities in the U.S. and each offers a unique perspective on cruising and what Carnival has to offer families who are looking for a fun, affordable and convenient vacation option.

Follow along as Carnival’s mommy and daddy bloggers post pictures and videos, Tweet and update their Facebook status, while chasing after their kids.

While a few have already sailed and have started chronicling their Carnival vacations, several are gearing up for their own adventures.

Carnival’s Mommy and Daddy Blogging Ambassadors Include:   

Amy at Living Locurto (www.livinglocurto.com)

Julie at Momspective (www.momspective.com)

Piera at Jolly Mom (http://www.jollymom.com) 

Audrey at MomGenerations (http://momgenerations.com/audrey/)  

Colleen at Classy Mommy (http://www.classymommy.com/)

Melinda and Rob at Look What Mom Found (And Dad too!) (http://www.lookwhatmomfound.com/)  

Ron at Clark Kent’s Lunch Box (http://clarkkentslunchbox.blogspot.com/)

Niri at Mommy Niri (http://www.mommyniri.com/)

Rachel at A Southern Fairytale (http://asouthernfairytale.com/)