During a recent visit by entertainment staff from the cruise ship Carnival Fantasy to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children’s Hospital, the seagoing employees helped unveil two new Carnival Fun Centers and two laptop computers, which were donated by the cruise line. Each Fun Center includes a Nintendo Wii console, flat panel television and DVD player that can be rolled up to the side of patients’ beds or throughout the hospital. The two laptops will also provide mobile entertainment for children staying at the facility.

The Fun Centers and laptops are part of a year-round partnership between Carnival and the MUSC Children’s Hospital. In addition to quarterly hospital visits by Carnival Fantasy’s entertainment staff, the partnership includes in-kind and monetary donations and fundraisers.

During their most recent visit, the shipboard staff brought some Carnival-style fun to the patients, keeping the kids entertained with performances by Fun Force, the ship’s high-energy acrobatic team, production show dancers and a vocalist. Of course, the line’s ever-popular mascot “Fun Ship” Freddy was present, as well.  The staff and Freddy even took time out for a little Nintendo Wii challenge with some of the patients.

Carnival Fantasy launched the first year-round cruise service from Charleston in May 2010 and will operate a series of Bermuda cruises for the first time from Charleston later this year.