Carnival Cruise Line Rolls Out
Fun Ship 2.0
 |
| Guy's Burger Joint |
October 2011: A program that promises
to dramatically transform Carnival's memorable on-board vacation
experience, the multi-year, $500-million Fun Ship 2.0 initiative
will offer new dining choices, more exciting bars and lounges, and
diverse entertainment options through new partnerships and branded
spaces. In the first phase alone, which extends through the end of
2015, Carnival will invest more than $500 million across most of its
fleet.
As a centerpiece of Fun Ship 2.0, Carnival announced partnerships
with entertainer George Lopez, who will become Carnival's creative
director for comedy and enhance its fleetwide comedy clubs; Food
Network star Guy Fieri, who will develop a burger venue called Guy's
Burger Joint; leading video game manufacturer EA SPORTS to create
the first-ever EA SPORTS Bar at sea; and Hasbro for new
larger-than-life game shows featuring iconic games and brands. The
company also worked with leading production talent to create a
high-energy musical showcase and announced that celebrity song
master DJ IRIE was named Official DJ of Carnival Cruise Lines. Plus,
Carnival announced more of its unique branded spaces with the
RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, and three other fun themed
bars and lounges, as well as a new complimentary BlueIguana Cantina
casual dining option.
"Fun Ship 2.0 is the largest and most ambitious initiative that our
company has ever undertaken and it will serve to significantly
transform the Carnival vacation experience for our guests," said
Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines.
However, don't look for all the changes across
the fleet right away. Once known for their consistency—for instance
Carnival passengers could count on having a water slide on every
ship—that changed with their enhancements of Fantasy-class ships.
While the "Evolutions of Fun" initiative introduced new features to
some of that ship class, they didn't all "evolve" equally. So,
when
can you expect to see the Fun Ship 2.0 features aboard your favorite
Carnival ship? And what will they be? Implementation starts with Carnival Liberty
and when she emerges
from drylock in late-October 2011 she will have some, but not all
the 2.0 elements. For instance Carnival Liberty will not immediately
offer Punchliners Comedy Club & Brunch presented by George Lopez or
a Library Bar. The program continues through 2015 and we have
the Implementation Schedule for the fleet
here.
 |
| EA Sports Bar |
Fun Names You Know
Through its partnership with comedian and TV
personality George Lopez, Carnival will bring even more laughs to
The Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez. As Carnival's
"curator of comedy," Lopez will act as a consultant on the vetting
and hiring of comedic talent in one of the line's most popular
nighttime entertainment options. Pre-recorded voice and video
messages from Lopez will welcome guests and club patrons, and a new
Punchliner Comedy Brunch will keep diners laughing with live comedic
entertainment in the line's main dining rooms. Over the next year,
the revamped clubs will roll out fleetwide, creating laughter during
multiple shows each voyage.
At Guy's Burger Joint, successful restaurateur, cookbook author, and
television personality Guy Fieri teams up with Carnival to cook up
the best burgers at sea, and best of all, they're free! Choices
include fresh-off-the-grill burgers designed by Fieri, or
build-your-own at a condiment bar. For lunch, a snack, or dinner,
guests can drop by this laid-back poolside dining venue modeled
after a road-side burger joint off an iconic coastal highway. And,
yes, you can get fries with that.
Under license from Hasbro, Inc, Carnival will create Hasbro, The
Game Show, a new series of larger-than-life productions and
entertainment activities based on the popular Family Game Night
television show from The Hub. Six main games are to be featured.
 |
| RedFrog Rum Bar |
Cheers! For Fun New Grown-up Spaces
Kids have their clubs and Carnival's
new themed bars and lounges offer adults new destinations in
distinctive environments with signature drink menus. The bars will
encourage guests to try interesting drink concoctions formulated by
their expert mixologists.
Carnival has partnered with EA SPORTS, the leading sports videogame
brand in the world, on an exciting new sports bar concept. Designed
to be the ultimate hangout for sports fanatics, guests can play
their favorite EA SPORTS videogames, watch live sports on a massive
video wall comprised of 16 different 46-inch big-screen displays,
and keep up with real-time sports scores 24/7 live on the ticker.In
addition, patrons can enjoy a full drink menu and popular sports bar
snacks.
No need to change from shorts and flip flops to enjoy Carnival's two
new fun and relaxed poolside destinations. RedFrog Rum Bar (sure to
become a Cruise Diva favorite) offers guests the quintessential
Caribbean vacation vibe with a pool-side version of the popular
Caribbean themed RedFrog Pub, which debuted on the Carnival Magic.
It will specialize in Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers,
including Carnival's private label draft brew, ThirstyFrog Red. Just
across the deck, BlueIguana Tequila Bar provides a laid-back
Mexican-themed atmosphere specializing in tequila-based frozen
drinks and Mexican beers. Live music will fill the area as
performers will entertain patrons at both bars. Let's hear it for
some Jimmy Buffett tunes!
To cure what ails you, Alchemy Bar is
Carnival's vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy," the go-to spot for
guests who are seeking a unique experience with interesting drink
flavors and ingredients and possibly some hair-of-the-dog.
Carnival's expert mixologists will "prescribe" concoctions from
different fun categories or guests can create their own custom
cocktails. Meanwhile, The Library Bar is a new intimate cocktail
lounge featuring bar service and automatic wine dispensers, ideal
for guests seeking a more relaxed and quiet venue. Hint: bring your
own books.
 |
| BlueIguana Tequila Bar |
Fun (Free!) Food
Carnival is expanding on its array of
dining options with new venues that focus on free favorite foods
that are highly popular among guests including burgers at Guy's
Burger Joint and fresh Mexican cuisine at the new BlueIguana
Cantina, a complimentary poolside dining destination offering
freshly made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas. Hungry
passengers can watch the tortilla maker create fresh wheat and
jalapeno tortillas, then enjoy three types of tacos with a variety
of toppings, and three kinds of burritos with fantastic fillings,
plus chips and salsa.
That's (More) Entertainment!
Carnival is taking shipboard
entertainment to a new level. Working with leaders and industry
experts from George Lopez and Hasbro to DJ IRIE and top Broadway
producers, Carnival will offer not only a larger variety of new
high-caliber entertainment but also more interactive shows.
Playlist Productions is a dramatic retooling of the line's legendary
revues that combine captivating live performances with high-tech LED
staging and special effects that set a new standard in seagoing
productions. These popular music-driven revues featuring a diversity
of musical styles, genres, and eras are designed to appeal to a
broad cross-section of guests. Playlist Performances will feature
hit-packed, 30-minute shows created by leading producers, directors,
and choreographers who have worked on critically acclaimed
productions for Broadway, London's West End and some of the world's
most popular musical acts.
Guests will groove to "Motor City" which celebrates the R and B
Motown sound of the 1960s and '70s, and "Divas" (Wow! Could it have
been named after Yours Truly?) which combines music, dance and
fashion to feature tunes from iconic female entertainers. "Latin
Nights" offers a fusion of Latin culture, rhythmic music, and hot
choreography while "The Brits!" features tunes from the UK's most
famous artists. The new shows will premiere on Carnival Breeze when
it enters service next summer, followed by their introduction on
other vessels.
Known for keeping Miami Heat crowds pumped and on their feet,
award-winning DJ IRIE was also named the Official DJ of Carnival
Cruise Lines. In this role, he will create and lead "DJ IRIE's
Spin'iversity" to train and develop the musical skills and
personalities of on-board DJ talent to boost the overall music
experience for guests of all ages and enhance the night club
atmosphere.
More:
FUN SHIP 2.0 IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
More from
CruiseDiva.com:
Articles
& Advice
Cruise
Reviews
Cruise
Line Profiles
