EIGHT-YEAR-OLD FROM EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., WINNER OF CARNIVAL’S ‘VIRTUAL BOOK OF DREAMS CONTEST’; TO SERVE AS GODCHILD OF WATER SLIDE ABOARD LINE’S NEWEST AND LARGEST CRUISE SHIP
MIAMI (October 12, 2009) – Eight-year-old Hailee Steberger of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., is the winner of Carnival Cruise Lines’ “Virtual Book of Dreams” contest, earning the opportunity to serve as the official godchild of the expansive water park aboard the new Carnival Dream. At 130,000 tons, Carnival Dream is the line’s newest and largest ship and will make its U.S. debut in November.
Hailee and her family will travel to New York next month to christen the Carnival Dream’s spectacular WaterWorks aqua park, which features the longest water slide on a cruise ship. The family will also receive a free cruise.
The contest invited children ages seven to 12 to share their awesome dreams with a short essay and hand-drawn illustration via a special web site, www.carnivalbookofdreams.com. Five finalists were selected and then voted on by the public. Hailee’s entry, entitled “Wake Me When We Leave,” received the most votes.
Carnival Cruise Lines donated $1 per vote to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, for a total contribution of $25,000. St. Jude is one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
“Hailee’s winning entry was certainly creative and we’re delighted that she will be the official godchild of the magnificent water park aboard the new Carnival Dream,” said Jim Berra, Carnival’s chief marketing officer. “Equally important, we were able to support St. Jude and raise funds to help some very special children and their families,” he added.
Information on the new Carnival Dream, which debuted in Europe and arrives in the U.S. in November, is available at www.carnival.com/dream.
About Carnival Dream
Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, is a new class of vessel for the line and ushers in an exciting new era in “Fun Ship” cruising. The 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream offers a host of innovations including a stunning indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza, a two-level Serenity adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade encircling the ship, the cruise industry’s most elaborate water park featuring the longest water slide at sea, and a 23,750-square-foot health spa – Carnival’s largest to date. Several new accommodation categories, including five-berth, two-bathroom staterooms particularly appealing for families, are also offered on the Carnival Dream.
About Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 23 “Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 16 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Europe and Bermuda. In addition to the recent delivery of the Carnival Dream, the line has one new ship on order, the Carnival Magic, which is scheduled for delivery in 2011. For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 800-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnival.com.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.
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