CARNIVAL ROLLS OUT NEW INTERACTIVE ‘FUNVILLE’ WEB EXPERIENCE FEATURING TOWEL ANIMAL THEATRE,’ ON-LINE VIDEOS AND MORE

             MIAMI (December 1, 2008) — Carnival Cruise Lines has launched the new “Funville” Web experience at www.carnival.com/funville which is designed to evoke the line’s unique brand of “fun,” with images and video from recent Guinness World Record achievements for the world’s largest beach ball and piñata, on-line games and a series of videos featuring the line’s signature towel animals.

             “A Carnival vacation is like no other, and this new Web experience truly captures the essence of our brand and reinforces the feeling of spontaneous and unscripted fun that guests enjoy while sailing aboard the ‘Fun Ships,’” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. 

             “Towel Animal Theatre” serves as the centerpiece to the interactive Web destination and features nine different vignettes depicting towel animals engaged in amusing conversations with each other while the stateroom’s occupants are away.

              In the whimsical videos, towel animals such as swans and monkeys interact using offbeat, light-hearted dialogue that conveys the spirit of fun on a Carnival cruise. “Towel Animal Theatre” has become quite popular with several million views on various on-line channels and social networking sites. The www.carnival.com/funville site also includes instructions for visitors to make their own towel animals at home. 

             Also featured within the site are photos and video footage from Carnival’s “Fun Crowd” events during which the line broke records for the world’s largest beach ball – a massive sphere dropped from a building in downtown Dallas – and the world’s largest piñata, which was filled with eight tons of candy in Philadelphia. Footage from the events is being used to create two television commercials that will soon begin airing nationally.

             In addition, there is an online game tied to the beach ball theme, as well as a “hollerback” function that enables users to submit suggestions for Carnival’s next fun event.  Over the next several weeks, “Funville” will evolve to include additional “Fun Crowd” event videos, Carnival’s new TV spots, additional on-line games and other unscripted surprises for visitors to the site.  Links to various features of a Carnival cruise vacation, including on-board activities, dining and youth programs, also are included.

             Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 18 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Europe, Bermuda and South America.  The line currently has two new ships scheduled for delivery between now and 2011.

             For additional information and reservations on the “Fun Ship” vacation experience, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

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Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:  CCL; NYSE:  CUK), is a proud member of the exclusive World’s Leading Cruise Lines.  Our exclusive alliance also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn.  Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets.  Together, we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world’s most desirable destinations.