(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (Dec. 31, 2018) – Kicking off a year-long celebration welcoming the new Carnival Panorama to the West Coast, Carnival Cruise Line is going to extreme heights today ­– literally – as its popular Carnival AirShip makes its aerial debut in Southern California.

Inviting everyone to “Choose Fun,” the 120-foot-long AirShip will fly over and visit culture and entertainment locations across the state throughout January including The Rose Parade: A Showcase of Floats on Jan. 2 as well as sporting events; local schools; Carnival’s homeports in Long Beach on Jan. 5, San Diego on Jan. 13 and San Francisco on Jan. 25; travel agent viewing parties; and select Sky Zone trampoline park locations, Carnival Panorama’s newest all-ages attraction, starting with the Anaheim location on Jan 11.

In conjunction with the AirShip’s California tour, consumers have a chance to win a free cruise as well as additional prizes each week throughout the month of January that give them a taste of Carnival fun when they enter the AirShip Sweepstakes at carnival.com/choosefun. 

The AirShip also creates the opportunity to raise money for a great cause. For anyone who takes a picture of the AirShip and posts it on social media with the hashtag #ChooseFun, Carnival will make a $2 donation to its longtime charity partner St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® up to a maximum donation of $20,000.

This past summer, the AirShip made its inaugural journey in the southeast U.S. to celebrate the arrival of new ships in multiple homeports. It proved to be popular on social and news media channels as well as with thousands of cruise fans who posted photos on their own social media platforms.

“The Carnival AirShip was so well received when she debuted earlier this year, and we’re delighted to bring her back to the West Coast to kick start our year-long celebration of Carnival Panorama. It’s officially go-time!” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival is the number one cruise line from Southern California. Our AirShip is a great way to let everyone know about the many exciting choices for guests to Choose Fun from the West Coast.”

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 sailings on Dec. 14, 2019. The ship joins Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration to carry upwards of 600,000 guests annually from the West Coast – more than any other cruise operator.

(PRESS RELEASE)_​MIAMI (Dec. 28, 2018) – Carnival Cruise Line tapped royalty to christen its newest vessel earlier today as the queen of the 2019 Rose Parade officially named the cruise line’s first-ever Rose Parade float in a naming ceremony near the Pasadena, Calif., parade route. 

Following time-honored maritime tradition designed to bring good luck to ships – whether they’re the floating or floral variety – Rose Queen Louise Siskel smashed a confetti-filled bottle across the “bow” of the colorful ship-shaped float, officially naming the float “Come Sail Away.”

After the event, guests also had the opportunity to help decorate the float and put on the finishing touches to bring the floral masterpiece to life.

The float, which will make its debut in front of more than 700,000 onlookers along the parade route and an estimated 80 million television viewers as it cruises down the five-mile parade route on Tuesday, Jan. 1, is a detailed replica of Carnival’s first new ship on the West Coast in 20 years, Carnival Panorama, scheduled to enter service in December 2019.

Comprised of tens of thousands of flower petals from more than 100 countries representing Carnival’s diverse team of employees, the float showcases several of the line’s signature design features including the iconic red and blue funnel, water park and Lido Deck party. The float will also include a new feature debuting on Carnival Panorama, Sky Zone, the first trampoline park at sea, with a working trampoline and jumpers in the front of the float. Additionally, the float will salute the brave members of the Armed Forces with a special appearance by former Miss USA and Carnival Vista Godmother Deshauna Barber.

Carnival Panorama is set to debut Dec. 11 with a special three-day cruise from Long Beach followed by the launch of year-round seven-day Mexican Riviera sailings beginning Dec. 14, 2019.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (December 18, 2018) – Carnival Cruise Line today announced that for the first time, it will offer a series of cruises from San Francisco, with Carnival Miracle operating a diverse schedule that includes four- to 15-day voyages to Alaska, Hawaii and Mexico in 2020.

Following strong reception to a previously announced program from San Diego in 2019, Carnival Miracle will also return to the port for a winter 2020-21 schedule of three- to 15-day voyages.

These deployments further bolster Carnival Cruise Line’s position as the West Coast cruise leader, carrying more passengers than any other cruise operator. That number will continue to increase with the debut of Carnival Panorama from Long Beach in December 2019, the first new Carnival ship on the West Coast in 20 years.

With the addition of San Francisco, Carnival operates from 19 North American homeports, providing a convenient and cost-effective means for its guests to get to and from their cruises.  Roughly half of the U.S. population is within a five-hour drive of a Carnival homeport.

“Carnival is the number one cruise operator from the West Coast, and these new programs from San Francisco and San Diego, as well as the deployment of the brand new Carnival Panorama from Long Beach, speaks volumes to our confidence in growing this important market,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Carnival’s Inaugural Schedule from San Francisco

Carnival’s first-ever schedule from San Francisco kicks off March 19, 2020, aboard Carnival Miracle, and will include four-day long weekend voyages to Ensenada departing Thursdays and returning Mondays throughout the spring and summer, as well as five-day and six-day cruises to Ensenada, Catalina Island and San Diego in the spring. 

The ship will also offer a summer schedule of 10-day Alaska cruises round-trip from San Francisco featuring a variety of popular destinations throughout the Last Frontier, including Juneau, Skagway, and Icy Strait Point as well as opportunities to visit Sitka and cruise Tracy Arm Fjord.  There’s also a special one-time 11-day Alaska cruise departing Aug. 9, 2020.

Exciting Longer Length Voyages

A 15-day Carnival Journeys Hawaii cruise round-trip from San Francisco departs April 16, 2020, calling at awe-inspiring destinations across the Aloha State, including Maui (Kahului), Honolulu, Hilo, Kona, and Kauai, as well as a stop in Ensenada.

Prior to its West Coast deployment, Carnival Miracle will offer a 17-day Carnival Journeys Panama Canal transit March 2-19, 2020, calling at Santa Marta and Cartagena, Colombia; and Limon, Costa Rica prior to the Panama Canal transit followed by calls at Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. 

Carnival Journeys cruises offer unique local culinary and entertainment experiences as well as special activities, including a 1980s-themed Throwback Sea Day.

 Winter Schedule from San Diego

Carnival Miracle will operate a winter schedule of voyages from San Diego beginning Oct. 4, 2020.  The program includes convenient three-day getaways to Ensenada, four-day sailings to Ensenada and Catalina Island, and five-day departures that spend two full days in the Mexican resort town of Cabo San Lucas.

Also offered are four 15-day Carnival Journeys Hawaii cruises round-trip from San Diego departing Oct. 16 and Nov. 28, 2020, and Jan. 9 and Feb. 20, 2021.  Featured ports include Hilo, Kona, Kauai (Nawiliwili), Maui (Kahului) and Honolulu, as well as stop in Ensenada, providing guests with a variety of landside experiences in this tropical Polynesian paradise.

(ROYAL CARIBBEAN)_Carlos PenaVega hangs ten on the Symphony of the Seas' FlowRider. Carlos, along with wife Alexa and their 17-month-old son, Ocean, are the first-ever Godfamily for a Royal Caribbean ship.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (December 17, 2018) – With its California debut now less than a year away, Carnival Panorama’s exterior completion was celebrated at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, during which a commemorative coin was welded to the ship’s mast in a time-honored maritime tradition.

And just like the ship will take its guests on memorable journeys, the coin itself took a memorable journey throughout the state of California before winding up at the Fincantieri shipyard, as captured by the celebratory video released today by Carnival Cruise Line.

The coin ceremony – whose origins can be traced back to the ancient Romans who believed that attaching coins to a ship provided divine protection – signifies the successful completion of Carnival Panorama’s exterior outfitting.  

Benoit Clement, Carnival’s senior vice president of newbuilds, represented Carnival at the ceremony with Antonella Cazzin, an employee of Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera for more than 35 years, serving as godmother for this event.

The 133,500-ton Carnival Panorama – the third in the highly successful Vista-class that includes Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon – is set to debut from Long Beach Dec. 11, 2019, marking the first new Carnival ship homeported on the West Coast in 20 years.

As part of the year-long celebration welcoming the new Carnival Panorama to the West Coast, the Carnival AirShip will return with a month-long journey across California, launching on Dec. 31 in conjunction with the line’s first-ever Rose Parade float on New Year’s Day.

The 120-foot Carnival AirShip will journey throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside counties flying over major cultural moments across California as well as visiting schools, Carnival’s home ports in Long Beach and San Diego, travel agent viewing parties, and select trampoline park locations of Sky Zone, Carnival Panorama’s newest all-ages attraction. 

Carnival Panorama will offer many of the innovative indoor and outdoor dining, bar, entertainment and activity options featured on Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon, including a suspended course, and a massive WaterWorks aqua park with corkscrew slides, a tipping bucket and other attractions promising lots of splash-tastic fun.  Smokehouse Brewhouse with BBQ favorites from Food Network star and longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri, along with craft beers brewed on board, will be offered, as well.

A wide range of accommodations will also be available, including spa staterooms with exclusive privileges at the luxurious Cloud 9 Spa, extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor, and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool. 

Carnival Panorama will make a special three-day voyage on Dec. 11, 2019, followed by the launch of year-round Mexican Riviera cruises beginning Dec. 14, 2019.  Voyages will depart from the newly renovated Long Beach Cruise Terminal and feature stops at popular destinations including Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta.

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI (December 13, 2018) – Get ready to ride!   In another cruise industry first, Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras™ will feature the first-ever roller coaster at sea when it debuts in 2020, providing an unforgettable and unique open-air thrill ride on the line’s newest and most innovative ship.

Built by Munich-based Maurer Rides, BOLT™: Ultimate Sea Coaster™ is a heart-pounding rush of adrenaline offering nearly 800 feet of exhilarating twists, turns and drops with riders reaching speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour. 

Taking cruise industry innovation to new heights, BOLT is an all-electric roller coaster that allows two riders in a motorcycle-like vehicle to race along a track 187 feet above sea level, enabling guests to experience the sea in an exciting new way with breathtaking 360-degree views.

BOLT begins with an action-packed launch where riders can achieve race car-like levels of acceleration and culminates with a high-powered hair-pin turn around Carnival’s iconic funnel.  Riders’ speeds are posted after the race, and just like land-based roller coasters, guests have their photo taken during the ride for a memorable keepsake.  And since guests choose their own speed, each ride is unique.

Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said that BOLT is the cornerstone of innovations and features being designed for Mardi Gras, which will be the ultimate playground at sea for fun seekers of all ages. 

“Mardi Gras will be our most innovative ship ever with some truly special features and attractions, highlighted by BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea,” said Duffy. “BOLT will continue the tradition of Carnival providing exciting new ways for our guests to ‘Choose Fun.’  We are so thrilled to introduce this one-of-a-kind, game-changing, exhilarating attraction – our guests are going to love it!”

Mardi Gras will be based in Port Canaveral, Fla., which will feature a new state-of-the-art terminal.  Itinerary information will be revealed early next month with additional details about Mardi Gras’ groundbreaking features announced throughout the year.  A second XL-class ship will start construction in 2020 and be delivered in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Carnival Cruise Line’s founding.

(PRESS RELEASE)_Deerfield Beach, FL. December 6, 2018 – Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line (BPCL) is pleased to announce that Grand Celebration will return to her homeport, the Port of Palm Beach, and resume a two-night sailing schedule beginning on Friday, December 21. Grand Celebration was chartered for the past two months to assist with restoration of service to communities impacted by the Massachusetts gas incident. With Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line resuming daily departures, there is still time for families to plan an affordable, convenient and unforgettable cruise to celebrate the holidays or kick off the new year.

 Not only do kids 12 and under sail free with two paying guests, but adults will enjoy being treated to two of four free entertainment options, all part of the Sail Away Your Way offer- valid for sailings through Feb. 12, 2019 when booked by December 12, 2018. Cruisers can try their luck in the casino with $25 match play credit, lose themselves in bliss with a $25 spa credit, capture picture-perfect moments with a $25 photo credit or choose a $25 onboard credit for use on everything from tropical drinks to delectable dining to unforgettable shore excursions. With cruises beginning at just $139 per person, families can plan a flexible and affordable winter getaway full of adventure, relaxation and non-stop fun that everyone will enjoy.

“We are excited to have Grand Celebration rejoin Grand Classica at the Port of Palm Beach to offer daily departures just in time for the holidays,” shares Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line CEO Oneil Khosa. “With our current Sail Away Your Way offer, there is no better time to escape to Grand Bahama Island and book a winter sailing with loved ones.”

To learn more about Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line or to book a cruise, please visit www.bahamasparadisecruise.com or call 800.995.3201.