News Blog

In conjunction with International Dance Day, Carnival Cruise Line is kicking off a new way to raise money for a good cause — debuting a fun online version of its popular shipboard dance activity, Groove For St. Jude, where fans can dance and raise money for the line’s long-term charitable partner, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Carnival is challenging people across the country to donate, perform and share their own new Groove for St. Jude dance move on their social media channels. For every person who uploads a video of themselves on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Carnival’s donation page https://choose.fun/stjude, Carnival will make a $2 donation to St. Jude, up to $20,000. After watching and learning the new dance on…

Continuing its longstanding support of the U.S. military, Carnival Cruise Line Brand Ambassador John Heald served as the official emcee of Operation Homefront’s ‘Military Child of the Year’ awards held in Washington, D.C. Operation Homefront, a national non-profit organization that helps build strong, stable and secure military families to succeed in the communities they protect, presents the annual awards to recognize outstanding children who thrive as scholars and leaders while facing the challenges of military life.  A Military Child of the Year is chosen to represent each of the six branches of the military – the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard. This year’s winners include: Elisabeth McCallum Polleys (Army), Jaxson Jordan (Marine Corps), Elisabeth…

As part of its ongoing effort to support its port of call partners, Carnival Cruise Line teamed up with the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) and the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation (VISPR), as well as the Department of Tourism, to revitalize Emile Griffith Park in St. Thomas, hosting a fun-filled “Afternoon of Play” for local children. The event served as the official unveiling of the totally renovated space which features a newly resurfaced playground and basketball court, playground equipment for children ages six months to 12 years, a gazebo with picnic tables and benches, and other enhancements. Local children and their families participated in the event and enjoyed music, refreshments and face painting, led by team…

  To honor Kathie Lee Gifford’s farewell appearance on the Today show and their longstanding 35-year relationship, Carnival Cruise Line gifted Gifford’s entire live studio audience the ultimate vacation experience – a free cruise! The episode clip can be viewed here: https://www.today.com/video/kathie-lee-gifford-surprises-today-audience-with-cruise-trips-1473239619641 Gifford was the star of the cruise industry’s first national television campaign in 1984 where she sang the catchy jingle “Ain’t We Got Fun” as she promoted Carnival’s fleet of “Fun Ships.” Gifford also served as godmother for two Carnival ships, Celebration in 1987 and Ecstasy in 1991. Gifford’s popular GIFFT wines are served on Carnival’s ships as well allowing guests to enjoy a glass of Gifford’s Pinot Noir Rosé or Chardonnay in restaurants throughout the fleet. On…

Carnival Panorama – Carnival’s first new ship on the West Coast in 20 years – is showcased in a virtual tour that highlights the fun and unique experiences aboard the vessel, set to debut from Long Beach this December. The virtual tour video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/7WZipjV3Fh4 The four-minute video tour is hosted by the ship’s cruise director Emma Nixon who takes viewers on a virtual journey throughout the vessel, from the groundbreaking aerial attraction SkyRide and the Choose Fun-themed WaterWorks aqua park to the first-ever Sky Zone trampoline park at sea, which was introduced during the Rose Parade earlier this year on the brand’s float. Particular emphasis is placed on the ship’s varied dining and beverage options, with…

You can now add “water park expert” to Carnival Chief Fun Officer’s (CFO) Shaquille O’Neal’s title! The NBA Hall of Famer and fun aficionado today revealed details for the “Choose Fun” aqua park aboard the new Carnival Panorama, set to debut from Long Beach, Calif., in December. During a video “press conference,” (wink, wink) the seven-footer announced that he had just returned from personally testing out Carnival Panorama’s two massive water slides — the 455-foot-long Red Fun slide and the 300-foot-long Blue Fun slide — to make sure they’re the “funnest” they can be. A video of the “press conference” can be viewed here https://choose.fun/WaterWorks. Taking its name from Carnival’s brand slogan, the Choose Fun park takes center stage on…

In partnership with Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Carnival Foundation presented 16 Miami-Dade high school seniors with four-year college scholarships during halftime at a recent HEAT game. The students currently participate in the Carnival Scholarship & Mentoring Program, an innovative workplace program sponsored by Carnival in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami that pairs a student with an employee mentor from Carnival. Prior to entering high school and participating in the Carnival Scholarship & Mentoring Program, the students attended the HEAT Academy, Breakthrough Miami and Overtown Youth Center. The 2019 scholarship recipients include: Jaylen Bishop – Carnival Mentor: Vance Gulliksen Stephanie Byrd – Carnival Mentor: Ines Alvarez Donavan Ferguson – Carnival Mentor: David Martinez Fabiola Fils-Aime – Carnival Mentor:…

Carnival Valor took top honors in Cruise Critic’s ninth annual Cruisers’ Choice Awards for Best Shore Excursions in the large ship category. This is the second consecutive year a Carnival ship has earned the award, with Carnival Breeze winning last year. Cruise Critic, the world’s leading cruise review site, boasts the largest online cruise community with more than 350,000 cruise reviews a year. Winners are based entirely on guests’ first-hand reviews and ratings posted throughout the year. Carnival Valor operates its popular four- and five-day Mexico cruise program from Galveston and will begin offering a similar itinerary from New Orleans beginning in May featuring stops at ports such as Cozumel, Costa Maya and Yucatan (Progreso). From excursions such as off-road…

Carnival Glory has repositioned to New Orleans to offer a series of four- and five-day cruises to Mexico. The ship will replace Carnival Triumph which is en route to Cadiz, Spain, to undergo a $200 million renovation and emerge as the renamed Carnival Sunrise. Beginning in May, Carnival Glory will assume the year-round seven-day schedule from New Orleans currently operated by Carnival Dream. Carnival Dream will reposition to Galveston becoming the newest and largest ship to offer short cruises from the port.  Carnival Glory’s week-long cruises from New Orleans will visit top destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida. The western Caribbean route will feature popular islands such as Cozumel, Mahogany Bay (Roatan), Montego Bay, Belize and Grand Cayman while…

In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires that affected California in November of last year, Carnival Cruise Line joined breweries nationwide to raise funds for the relief efforts, serving a special beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company that was brewed and sold on board Carnival Horizon and Carnival Vista. Looking for a unique way to raise money for the relief efforts, Sierra Nevada created Butte County Resilience IPA and offered the recipe to breweries around the country with one stipulation – 100% of the profits would be given to those affected by the Camp Fires. Led by Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon Brewmasters Ron Zeiber and Colin Presby along with Carnival’s Vice President of Beverage Operations Edward Allen, Carnival sold…