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Let’s Celebrate: New, Innovative Ship Arriving in Miami on Nov. 20

Carnival Celebration Source Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line’s 50th birthday celebration is ready for the grand finale, and it involves a spectacular gift to its guests as the company took delivery of Carnival Celebration, the fleet’s newest Excel-class ship and sister to Mardi Gras, at a signing ceremony at Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. Carnival President Christine Duffy and Carnival Senior Vice President of New Builds Ben Clement joined CEO of Meyer Turku Tim Meyer to welcome Carnival Celebration into the fleet.

“We have so many reasons to celebrate now that Carnival Celebration has joined as the 24th ship in our fleet. Now, more guests will experience all that our innovative Excel-class has brought to cruising,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “She represents the culmination of our 50th birthday while also shining a light on our bright future with so much more excitement to come!”

The second ship in Carnival’s groundbreaking Excel-class, Carnival Celebration is stunning from the first step on board, from its three-deck-high atrium to the dozens of dining and beverage concepts spread out across six themed zones – which include the Miami-inspired 820 Biscayne and an homage to all-things travel in The Gateway – plus, the award-winning BOLT roller coaster.

Carnival Celebration Source Carnival Cruise Line

“Our team of shipbuilders are delivering a world-class addition to the Carnival fleet today. She is one of the most technologically advanced and environmentally-friendly ships,” said CEO of Meyer Turku, Tim Meyer. “I am very proud of the results of this great partnership.”

Carnival Celebration will arrive at her homeport of PortMiami on Nov. 20 after a 14-day transatlantic Journeys Cruise from Southampton, England. A naming ceremony will be held that evening which promises a tribute to Carnival’s past and more importantly a look ahead to its exciting future. Carnival Celebration will accommodate more than 5,200 guests, expanding Carnival’s overall capacity and adding a spectacular new option for guests sailing from Miami as it operates Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries year-round. The week-long voyages will visit destinations like San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cozumel, Mexico and Grand Turk. To see current sailings from Miami on Carnival Celebration, click here.

Debuting from the redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami, Carnival Celebration will join sister Mardi Gras as the second Carnival ship in the fleet with a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system, part of Carnival Corporation’s pioneering green cruising platform.

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Continuing a family tradition, Gifford is the daughter of Kathie Lee Gifford who served as Godmother for the Original Carnival Celebration

MIAMI – September 28, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line today announced that actress Cassidy Gifford will serve as godmother to its newest ship, Carnival Celebration, at the ship’s naming ceremony taking place November 20, 2022, in Miami.

In a video released today, she was surprised with the news by her mother Kathie Lee Gifford, who was Godmother to Carnival Celebration’s namesake, M/S Celebration, christened in 1987. Her mother served as Carnival’s spokesperson in the company’s groundbreaking television campaigns going back to the 1980s, which were the first such network broadcasting advertisements for the cruise industry.  Kathie Lee is also a four-time Emmy Award-winning television personality. 

Cassidy first started sailing on Carnival as an infant and has many childhood memories of vacationing on Carnival ships with her mother and her father, the late Frank Gifford, who was an NFL and sports broadcasting legend. 

“Carnival Cruise Line has been a huge part of our family with my earliest memories taking family trips on Carnival ships,” said Cassidy Gifford. “And now to be asked to be Godmother of the namesake ship to the one my mom christened is truly an honor and a blessing.  There was no hesitation when my mom asked me, and I can’t wait to see this amazing ship in Miami in November.”

“I was Carnival’s spokesperson for nearly 20 years starting in 1984, a time when I got married and had my children.  They joined me on many television shoots on Carnival ships, so we have so many great memories,” said Kathie Lee Gifford. “To be able to pass the torch to my daughter Cassidy as she is named Godmother of the new Carnival Celebration makes me so happy, I almost cried!”

Cassidy has been acting from a young age and is best known for her work in the box office hits God’s Not Dead and Warner Brothers’ The Gallows. She has appeared in many other television and film roles, even winning the prize for Exceptional Emerging Artist at the 2018 Hollywood Film Festival. She currently lives with her husband in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Since our founding in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line has carried generations of guests and has helped millions of families make lasting vacation memories,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.  “As we cap off our 50th Birthday festivities with the arrival of Carnival Celebration, we are so pleased to also extend our relationship with another generation of the Gifford family and honored that Cassidy will serve as the ship’s Godmother.  I can’t wait to welcome Cassidy and Kathie Lee on board and show off this beautiful new ship.  So much has changed in our industry and our company over the past 50 years – it gives new meaning to those words Kathie Lee sang for Carnival – ‘if they could see us now!’”

Celebrating all things Carnival, Carnival Celebration will be the line’s ultimate 50th Birthday gift when she debuts this November from the redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami. Carnival Celebration will be home to six themed zones and the line’s second BOLT roller coaster. 

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“We’ve done many maneuvering tests, such as endurance tests, steering tests, speed tests and thrusters tests. The ship performed wonderfully . . .”

MIAMI – Sept.14, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, is one more milestone closer to her highly-anticipated debut in her homeport of PortMiami after successfully completing sea trials in the Baltic Sea.

Carnival Celebration set sail on her first round of sea trials Monday, September 5, from Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, the same shipyard where Celebration’s sister ship, Mardi Gras, was built. Carnival Celebration had a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers on board to thoroughly test the ship’s technical, mechanical and navigational systems.

“During her sea trials, Carnival Celebration underwent several tests, which are meant to determine the ship’s capability and her performance. We’ve done many maneuvering tests, such as endurance tests, steering tests, speed tests and thrusters tests. The ship performed wonderfully, and shortly, we will get her out and start cruising,” said Capt. Vincenzo Alcaras.

Carnival Celebration’s arrival to Miami will continue the cruise line’s 50th birthday celebration. The ship will feature several unique zones, including 820 Biscayne – a tribute to Miami, where Carnival Cruise Line was born, showcasing styles and flavors of the 305.

Celebration will also include many of the features that made Mardi Gras one of the most anticipated cruise ships, including BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, the first roller coaster at sea, an atrium spanning three decks and guest-favorites like Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse, and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken restaurant.

Following an inaugural 6-day voyage to the Eastern Caribbean, Carnival Celebration will launch year-round, seven-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from PortMiami beginning Nov. 21. The week-long voyages will visit destinations like San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cozumel, Mexico and Grand Turk.

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CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE REVEALS NEW MIAMI-THEMED ZONE

ABOARD CARNIVAL CELEBRATION

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820 Biscayne to Celebrate the Culture of the Ship’s Homeport

and the City Where Carnival Began Sailing 50 Years Ago

MIAMI, March 23, 2022 – Carnival Cruise Line is revealing a new Miami-themed zone aboard Carnival Celebration, which will arrive to PortMiami this November. Named after the address of Carnival’s original headquarters, 820 Biscayne will celebrate the culture, architectural styles and flavors of the home city where the line was founded in 1972.

On Deck 8, in the same location as La Piazza on sister ship Mardi Gras, 820 Biscayne will feature a similar layout and venues but with influences and design elements that reflect the urban-meets-laid back vibes of Miami, perfect for relaxing and people watching or enjoying fresh sea air and ocean views. Bringing Miamian food and beverage offerings to the fleet, 820 Biscayne will feature:

• Bar 820 – a half inside, half outside retro-inspired bar that will feature a “vintage cool” design with grab-and-go Cuban and specialty coffees for early risers on their way outside for some morning sunshine, as well as Miami-inspired tropical frozen drinks and creative martinis day and night.

• Deco Deli – designed as a nod to Miami’s Art Deco mecca with colorful fonts and signage, the space will serve more than the classic deli sandwiches with an expanded menu that also highlights Miami staples including the Cubano (pork, ham, swiss cheese and mustard), a croqueta sandwich (ham and cheese croqueta, shaved ham and pickles), and pan con lechon (slow cooked pulled pork, melted onion and mojo sauce) all on Cuban bread.

• Miami Slice – continuing to give guests the 24-hour pizza they know and love, the always-popular walk-up spot will offer authentic, fresh-from-the-oven and hand-tossed slices of cheesy goodness amid a contemporary and vibrant décor reminiscent of the late-night eateries on Miami’s bustling Ocean Drive.

Throughout this zone, guests will experience a unique take on Miami, combining elements from its past with its present. From beautiful artwork to fun photo opportunities like posing with flamingoes on skateboards, guests will feel like they’re truly walking around the ‘305.’

“Miami has been our home for 50 years, and in bringing a brand new ship to its port, we wanted to show some extra love to the city that helped us become who we are today,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival Celebration will celebrate all things Carnival, intertwining where we have been with where we are going, and we can’t think about where we started without thinking about Miami and all of the fun that it represents.”

“We wanted to continue to give our guests the delicious and fun offerings they know and love from Mardi Gras but with new identities that pay tribute to the rich culture of Miami, a city that is so special to all of us,” said Ben Clement, senior vice president of new builds, refurbishment and product innovation. “Miami is a one-of-a-kind city with many different sides to it, so we tried to capture all of that in 820 Biscayne – from the tropical feel and original Art Deco designs that can still be found on Miami Beach today to the modern city look of Brickell – and of course, with a huge emphasis on the delicious flavors throughout.”

Guests can still expect to find their favorites in the zone like Rudi’s Seagrill, which was introduced on Mardi Gras, and Cucina del Capitano, which will be redesigned with a new look and feel that reflects the sleek and airy restaurants often found in Miami, as well. 

Carnival Celebration will be the second Carnival ship to be powered by a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system, part of Carnival Corporation’s green cruising platform, and will include an award-winning roller coaster at the top of the ship. Celebration will debut in November from the redesigned state-of-the-art Terminal F at PortMiami, the line’s third terminal at the port and its largest in South Florida. The terminal will be among the first to be shore-power ready in 2023. 

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