Carnival Cruise Lines has begun to unveil new details and promotions for the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic, scheduled to debut in Europe with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1 through Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, the ship will sail year-round on seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, starting on Nov. 14, 2011.
At the end of August, the traditional commemorative coin ceremony took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, to mark a significant construction milestone.
At about the same time, the company launched a new interactive site at CarnivalMagic.com, showcasing the ship’s features and the Make the Magic Yours campaign, which includes contests and promotions. The promotion also supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer. The campaign runs Aug. 24 through Feb. 18, and Carnival will make a donation of up to $50,000 to St. Jude, with the donation level based upon participation and voting.
In addition to generating donations, visitors can win prizes, such as digital cameras or a free cruise. Carnival will be challenging its public to name some of Carnival Magic’s special features, including a gigantic 500-gallon water dump bucket housed in the WaterWorks aqua park and a two-level mini-golf course in SportsSquare.
The Make the Magic Yours campaign began with a RedFrog Coaster Contest, challenging visitors over the age of 21 to submit their best pub line. The winning lines will appear on the thousands of drink coasters used each voyage in Carnival Magic’s Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub with its signature beer, ThirstyFrog Red.
This month, cruisers can vote for their favorite pub lines, and three winners will be announced at the end of September. Winners will receive a commemorative version of the RedFrog Pub coasters and other items including a digital camera, RedFrog Pub bartending items and more.
The website’s video tour of the ship includes new public spaces, including the RedFrog Pub; the Italian captain-inspired Cucina del Capitano restaurant; an expansive indoor/outdoor cafe and entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza; the Carnival WaterWorks aqua park; the Cloud 9 Spa; and all the youth-related spaces. Also onboard is an expansive outdoor sports complex with a ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area.
The new website tracks views of the shipbuilding process during the vessel’s construction in Italy. Visitors will also find the latest Carnival Magic news, interactive deck plans, images and stateroom description. They can learn more about Carnival Magic’s European and Caribbean itineraries, explore the ports of call and view pricing.
“The interactive and informative site allows visitors to explore the Carnival Magic through an immersive online experience that spotlights her beauty and fun-filled features, while also taking our reputation for participatory fun for all to a whole new level, months before the ship enters service,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “Our Make the Magic Yours campaign offers Carnival fans the chance to put their mark on the Carnival Magic and see their ideas and personalities brought to life in some of the ship’s spectacular spaces.”
The Details
Carnival Cruise Lineswww.goccl.com
