Carnival Cruise Line‘s CFO, aka, “Chief Fun Officer,” Shaquille O’Neal was in Miami to welcome home the new Carnival Horizon to PortMiami. This is the ship’s new year-round port, where it will begin its six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from port beginning Sept. 22, 2018.
The homecoming event featured an all-star lineup that not only included Shaq, but also Miami HEAT legends Glen Rice, Shan Battier, and Alonzo Mourning.
The event took place prior to Carnival Horizon’s inaugural two-day cruise and featured the Carnival AirShip (shown above) – a massive 128-foot-long red, white and blue blimp. If you have been in the Southeast the last week you might spotted the airship cruising around spreading the message that there’s a new ship in town during its monthlong Homeport Advantage campaign.
“With its awesome top-deck attractions and wide variety of al fresco dining experiences, Carnival Horizon is the ideal ship for the Caribbean and this event was a perfect way to celebrate her Miami arrival while benefiting the special children of St. Jude. And we’ve taken our Choose Fun tagline to the next level by putting a giant a bumper sticker on our newest ship proclaiming our never-ending commitment to FUN!”
– Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line
The ship’s arrival wasn’t the only thing to celebrate at the event. Carnival presented a $25,000 donation to their long time charity partner St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The funds were from an online promotion Carnival ran in which cruise goers who posted a photo of the AirShip on social media with the hashtag #ChooseFun triggered a donation to the hospital and entered them in a drawing for free cruises and other prizes. This is just one of the amazing examples of Carnival doing good with their #ChooseFun tagline.
What sets the Carnival Horizon apart from other Carnival ships?
BBQ! Like most, my favorite thing to do on a cruise is to eat. Carnival Horizon has a wide variety of eateries to choose from, including the new Smokehouse Brewhouse. My wife and I loved stopping by to grab some nibbles to go along with our RedFrog Pub beers. You can thank Food Network star Guy Fieri for this delicious creation on board the Carnival Horizon. He’s been a long time partner of Carnival, and might be best known for this burgers on board at Guy’s Burger Joint, which you can find on most of Carnival’s fleet.
But that’s not all. The Carnival Horizon offers the first Dr. Seuss–themed water park, the line’s first teppanyaki venue, the SkyRide aerial attraction, an IMAX Theatre and a suspended ropes course. Also featured is a vibrant Havana section with tropics-inspired staterooms and its own Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbor featuring extra-roomy accommodations, the Family Harbor Lounge, a luxurious Cloud 9 Spa and Ocean Plaza, a spacious dining and entertainment venue with indoor and outdoor seating.
Ready to book? Head on over to carnival.com and start planning your next vacation today!
