Roses are red … and white and blue … and all will adorn Carnival Cruise Line’s float in the 130th Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Adolfo Perez, senior vice president of sales and trade marketing for Carnival, showed off his flower powers as he and 11 California-based travel advisors helped prepare the replica of Carnival Panorama during Decorating Week in the lead-up to the parade. Carnival Panorama is set to be the cruise line’s first new ship to debut on the West Coast in 20 years when it arrives at Long Beach, California, in December 2019.
At the annual all-American pageant in Pasadena, California, the 55-foot-long float will have many of the familiar elements of Carnival ships, including the red, white and blue winged funnel, a water park and Lido Deck party, as well as the line’s newest fun feature — the first-ever trampoline park at sea in partnership with Sky Zone.
“I’ve watched the Rose Parade since I was a kid, but I never realized how much effort and artistry went into fashioning the floats,” said Perez. “Participating with a float in the Rose Parade is a great way to demonstrate Carnival’s commitment to the West Coast market. Plus, working on the final touches with our travel partners gave me a whole new appreciation for the expression ‘put the petal to the metal!’”
Comprising tens of thousands of flower petals meticulously applied by hand, the Carnival Panorama float will sail the 5-mile parade route showing off signature touches, such as flowers from more than 100 countries representing the diversity of nationalities among Carnival employees, snorkelers enjoying a shore excursion and RedFrog and BlueIguana poolside watering holes. Additionally, as a replica of the Carnival AirShip flies over the float, fitness enthusiasts will be jumping into the fun on a Sky Zone trampoline built into the front of the float.
Designed by Carnival’s in-house creative team and Fiesta Parade Floats, construction of the floral facsimile began in mid-November and involves 10 designers collectively working hundreds of hours. This year’s Rose Parade is themed “The Melody of Life” and Carnival will encourage parade fans to “Come Sail Away.”
Carnival Panorama will debut with a special three-day inaugural cruise from Long Beach on Dec. 11, 2019, followed by the launch of year-round, seven-day Mexican Riviera service Dec. 14. The ship will join Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration to carry upwards of 600,000 guests annually from the West Coast — more than any other cruise operator.
For additional information about Carnival Cruise Line call 800-327-9501 (individual) or 800-327-5782 (groups) or visit the line’s travel advisor Internet portal, GoCCL.com. Carnival can also be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
