Carnival Cruise Lines News

New ‘Green Thunder’ Thrill Slide, Serenity Adults-Only Retreat Added During Carnival Spirit’s Recent Dry Dock

joyce06 — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:09:40 +0000

Carnival Spirit resumed service from San Diego, Calif., last month following a multi-million-dollar dry dock that added an expansive aqua park featuring a one-of-a-kind water attraction, along with a new adults-only retreat and flat-screen TVs in all staterooms.

The new Green Thunder thrill slide takes center stage at the WaterWorks aqua park on Deck 11, rising nearly 100 feet in the air and featuring a heart-racing plummet followed by a hairpin turn that extends out over the ship’s side before the ride comes to an exhilarating end. In the spiral see-through slide, riders travel at speeds of more than 20 feet per second! Also new is a SplashZone complete with a 150-gallon PowerDrencher dump bucket and water play areas, complementing a corkscrew Twister water slide.

The refurbishment also included Serenity, an adults-only retreat located on Lido Deck 9 offering magnificent ocean views. Here, guests can relax in a jumbo-sized whirlpool, kick back on chaise lounges, chairs and hammocks, take a dip in the pool, or enjoy a variety of frosty libations at the full-service bar.

Additionally, new flat-screen LCD televisions were added to all of the Carnival Spirit’s 1,062 staterooms.

The refurbishment was in preparation for the Carnival Spirit’s upcoming deployment to Australia where the ship will operate eight- to 13-day Pacific Islands and New Zealand cruises beginning in October. The ship will operate a schedule of Mexican Riviera, Alaska and Hawaii voyages from the U.S. before making the move “Down Under.”

Guy’s Burger Joint, John Heald’s Blog Earn Porthole Magazine Editor-in-Chief Awards

joyce06 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:44:04 +0000

Carnival Cruise Lines was recently honored with two Porthole Magazine Editor-In-Chief Awards – one for a new burger venue developed in tandem with Food Network personality Guy Fieri and another for the popular blog of Senior Cruise Director John Heald.

Introduced on Carnival Liberty last fall, Guy’s Burger Joint is part of Fun Ship 2.0, a $500 million multi-ship enhancement program that will dramatically transform the “Fun Ship” vacation experience. The free-of-charge dining spot offers hand-crafted hamburgers and fresh-cut fries with recipes created by Fieri. A variety of condiments, from chipotle mayonnaise and a special barbecue sauce to garlic aioli, and toppings such as sautéed mushrooms, grilled onions, and blue cheese crumbles, are available at a nearby condiment station. Upwards of 1,000 burgers are served each day on Carnival Liberty and the Burger Joint concept is being rolled out to other ships in the fleet, beginning with the new Carnival Breeze this summer.

Heald’s blog (www.johnhealdsblog.com) began in 2007 and over the past four years the site has received more than 13 million views. Visitors get a peek behind the crew-only door with Heald’s humorous and often-poignant observations on a variety of topics. The blog has even spawned the “John Heald’s Bloggers Cruise,” the fifth incarnation of which sets sail on the Carnival Magic in March and provides his readers with a host of exclusive events and activities, all hosted by the British-born cruise director.

The Editor-in-Chief Awards are featured in the February edition of Porthole Magazine.

GIANT BILLBOARD ON BROADWAY PROMOTES ‘FUN SHIP’ CRUISING FROM NEW YORK

joyce06 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:35:46 +0000

As part of its new Land vs. Sea marketing campaign, Carnival Cruise Lines has unveiled a massive billboard in Times Square that promotes the line’s new year-round departures from New York aboard the Carnival Miracle, which kick off in April.

Located at the corner of Broadway and 49^th Street, the colorful billboard features a shot of a Carnival “Fun Ship” with the New York skyline on one side and an image of a tropical destination on the other.

A smaller billboard with the words “The Caribbean Is Closer Than You Think – Cruising from Midtown” – reflective of the Carnival Miracle’s eight-day Caribbean sailings from the Big Apple – is also featured.

The billboard is part of a new multi-channel campaign designed to promote the quality and value of “Fun Ship” cruising versus traditional land-based vacations. Created by the line’s advertising agency, Boston-based Arnold Worldwide, the multi-channel campaign began December 26, 2011, and blends national and regional executions across TV, out-of-home (billboards) and on-line media, all in an engaging and often-humorous way.

Carnival Miracle’s new year-round schedule from New York begins April 12, 2012, and encompasses three different eight-day Caribbean and Bahamas/Florida itineraries that feature some of the region’s most beautiful and popular destinations.

Carnival Cruise Lines Revamps Web Site for Meeting, Corporate Event and Incentive Planners

joyce06 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:25:29 +0000

Carnival Cruise Lines’ comprehensive web site for meeting, corporate event and incentive planners, www.carnivalmeetings.com, has been revamped, with more intuitive, user-friendly features than ever before.

The enhanced site is filled with up-to-date and detailed information on the line’s 23-ship fleet, as well as the benefits and value of hosting a program with Carnival. Meeting, corporate event and incentive planners will be able to easily locate all information needed for planning their next value-driven program utilizing the new and intuitive layout.

“Today, more than ever, meeting, event and incentive planners are being challenged to find the best possible value for their clients and often have shorter lead times in which to do so,” said Joni Rein, Carnival’s vice president of worldwide sales. “We wanted to create a user-friendly site so that planners could quickly access information about the many benefits of hosting a program with Carnival,” she added.

Rein noted that the line’s revamped CMI web site offers everything meeting planners need to put together a request for proposal with ease and within a tight deadline.

The web site offers an array of new features including detailed information about the Carnival fleet and product offerings such as accommodations, dining, activities, entertainment, destinations and itineraries. There is also content dedicated to meetings and events, incentive groups, customization options, full ship charters, individual incentives and information on Carnival’s Corporate University, a series of professional enrichment seminars offered in conjunction with the line’s corporate training department. In addition, planners may complete a request for proposal directly on the site.

The additional content and improved site navigation were created based on feedback received from clients and Carnival’s dedicated team of nearly 20 charters, meetings and incentive professionals.

For more information about hosting a program with Carnival, visit www.carnivalmeetings.com or call 800-278-0388.

Carnival Cruise Lines Alchemy Bar #FunShip2dot0 – By: TravelingMamas.com

joyce06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:14:13 +0000

http://travelingmamas.com/carnival-cruise-lines-alchemy-bar-funship2dot0/

Guy’s Burger Joint on Carnival Cruise Lines #FunShip2dot0 – By: TravelingMamas.com

joyce06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:09:17 +0000

http://travelingmamas.com/guys-burger-joint-on-carnival-cruise-lines-funship2dot0/

Carnival Liberty: Camp Carnival Night Owls – By: MommyMusings.com

joyce06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:07:17 +0000

http://www.mommymusings.com/carnival-liberty-camp-carnival-night-owls/

Carnival Liberty: Fun Ship 2.0 Enhancements – By: MommyMusings.com

joyce06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:06:05 +0000

http://www.mommymusings.com/carnival-liberty-fun-ship-2-0-review/

Carnival Kicks Off Facebook Contest Tied to New Thrill 5D Theater Debuting on Carnival Breeze

joyce06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:40:30 +0000

Today, Carnival Cruise Lines launched “The 5D Challenge: TRIVIAL PURSUIT Edition” – a Facebook promotion designed to highlight the new Thrill 5D Theater set to debut on the Carnival Breeze in June 2012. The contest can be found on Carnival’s Facebook page under the Carnival Breeze tab at www.facebook.com/carnival.

In addition to the Thrill 5D Theater, Carnival Breeze will be the first ship to feature all of the new entertainment options introduced as part the Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program, a $500 million initiative that will completely transform Carnival’s on-board guest experience.

Also, many of the ship’s entertainment features and other elements are highlighted within a new virtual tour, and series of panoramic images and videos debuting today on www.carnivalbreeze.com.

With Carnival Breeze’s Thrill 5D Theater, guests will enjoy an exhilarating, multi-dimensional experience that will make them feel like they are actually in the movie. The theater combines a high-definition 3D projection system with 4D elements such as squirting water and bubbles, and original special effects that will tickle guests’ legs, blow air on their necks and poke them in their seats. Seats within the theater will shift back and forth, move from side to side and also vibrate, creating an exciting “fifth-dimensional” element. Guests will receive special 3D glasses that deliver a truly immersive movie-going experience.

To excite fans about Carnival’s new Thrill 5D Theater and to get them into the “movie-viewing” mindset, the company under license from Hasbro, Inc. has created “The 5D Challenge: TRIVIAL PURSUIT Edition” on Facebook. Contest participants are asked to answer movie-themed trivia questions from Hasbro’s popular TRIVIAL PURSUIT brand.

One prize will be given away daily for the next five days (January 9-13) with contestants required to correctly answer three daily trivia questions to enter into a prize drawing. Prizes include a 50-inch 3D Plasma HDTV, 3D phone, HD camcorder, and a $250 movie theater gift card. Also Hasbro Video and Board Game Prize Packs, including an Xbox 360 gaming console, will be given away throughout the contest period.

“We are delighted to continue our collaboration with our brand partner Hasbro on this unique contest showcasing Carnival Breeze’s new 5D Theatre, which will be part of the ship’s many exciting on-board features designed to thrill, captivate and entertain our guests,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

Carnival Breeze First Ship to Offer All Fun Ship 2.0 Entertainment Features
Carnival Breeze will be the first ship to feature all of the new entertainment offerings that are part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement initiative. Among the exciting options is Hasbro, The Game Show, a series of larger-than-life productions and entertainment activities based on the popular Family Game Night television series produced by Hasbro Studios and seen on The Hub, a network for children and their families. Hasbro, The Game Show will put guests right in the middle of their favorite Hasbro games. Six main games are to be featured: Sorry! Sliders, which involves a giant shuffleboard court; Simon Flash, where two teams of four guests wear giant light-up color boxes and must shuffle themselves quickly to repeat a color sequence; Yahtzee Bowling, with a giant ball and larger-than-life-sized bowling pins; Operation SAM DUNK, which is set up like a skee-ball board where contestants try to get the balls into different slots on the “patient’s” body, and Connect 4 BASKETBALL, which uses a basketball setup rather than the traditional checkers to play.

Carnival Breeze will also be the first ship to offer Playlist Productions which will combine captivating live performances with high-tech LED staging and special effects to set a new standard in seagoing entertainment. These exhilarating revues are set to widely popular and memorable music encompassing a variety of styles, genres and eras. Playlist performances will have guests singing along and dancing in their seats during the hit-packed, 30-minute shows created by leading producers, directors and choreographers who have worked on critically acclaimed productions for Broadway, London’s West End and some of the world’s most popular musical acts.

Also featured on Carnival Breeze will be the new “Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez” through a partnership with the popular comedian and TV personality. Lopez is serving as Carnival’s “curator of comedy,” acting as a consultant on the vetting and hiring of comedic talent for the line’s hugely popular comedy program. Additionally, DJs on the Carnival Breeze will be trained under the new “DJ IRIE Spin’iversity” led by the award-winning DJ IRIE, a highly talented disc jockey widely known in Miami and Las Vegas.

Other features on the Carnival Breeze will include Guy’s Burger Joint, which will offer burgers custom-created by renowned chef and Food Network star Guy Fieri, a Red Frog Pub, featuring Carnival’s own private-label draft beer – ThirstyFrog Red, Cucina del Capitano, a family-style Italian eatery and a wide variety of other fun and exciting dining, bar and entertainment options.

Comprehensive Sneak Peek at Carnival Breeze Now Available Online
A wide-ranging preview of Carnival Breeze’s myriad features and programming can now be viewed through a new virtual tour, series of panoramic images and videos debuting today on carnivalbreeze.com. Additionally, new images and videos can be viewed on the Carnival Breeze Facebook tab.

Following an inaugural 12-day cruise from Venice departing June 3, 2012, Carnival Breeze will operate a series of 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona through October 25, 2012. After its trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Breeze will sail year-round from Miami beginning November 24, 2012, offering port-intensive six- and eight-day cruises that showcase the best the Caribbean has to offer.

Carnival Kicks Off Facebook Contest Tied to New Thrill 5D Theater Set to Debut on Carnival Breeze; One of Several New Entertainment Features to be Introduced on Newest ‘Fun Ship’

joyce06 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:34:35 +0000

CARNIVAL KICKS OFF FACEBOOK CONTEST TIED TO NEW THRILL 5D THEATER SET TO DEBUT ON CARNIVAL BREEZE; ONE OF SEVERAL NEW ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES TO BE INTRODUCED ON NEWEST ‘FUN SHIP’

New Virtual Tour, Videos and Panoramic Images of Carnival Breeze Also Now Available on www.carnivalbreeze.com

Also, many of the ship’s entertainment features and other elements are highlighted within a new virtual tour, and series of panoramic images and videos debuting today on www.carnivalbreeze.com.

For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival can also be found on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/carnivalcruiselines/
Journalists also can visit Carnival’s media site: www.carnival-news.com

About Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line®,” with 23 “Fun Ships” operating three- to 17-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Tahiti and the Fiji Islands. The company will expand its fleet with the launch of the 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze, which is scheduled to enter service June 3, 2012.

Carnival is a proud member of World’s Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World’s Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com

About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company providing children and families around the world with a wide-range of immersive entertainment offerings based on the Company’s world class brand portfolio. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, video games and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its customers through the strategic leveraging of well-known and beloved brands such as TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, PLAYSKOOL, MY LITTLE PONY, G.I. JOE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and MONOPOLY. The HUB, Hasbro’s multi-platform joint venture with Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) launched on October 10, 2010. The online home of The HUB is www.hubworld.com. The HUB logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. © 2011 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.