Talk about a unique first call celebration!   To mark Carnival Sunshine’s inaugural call at Portland, Maine, a first-call reception was held that included a traditional maritime plaque exchange between the ship’s officers and port officials. Appropriately enough, port officials also presented several lobsters which were expertly prepared for the team that evening as part of a special dinner.

Carnival Sunshine visited Portland as part of a seven-day fall foliage cruise that departed New York on Sept. 10, part of the ship’s summer schedule of four- to eight-day voyages to Canada, New England and Caribbean ports.

The 3,006-passenger Carnival Sunshine will sail from New York through October then reposition to Port Canaveral, Fla., for a winter schedule of Caribbean departures from the Space Coast.