Carnival Cruise Lines adds to the Fun #FunShip2dot0

Today in New York City at The Terrace, Carnival Cruise Lines held a press conference announcing enhancements to the Fun Ship fleet. CEO Gerry Cahill announced a $500 million initiative that will roll out over the next four years. I personally got so excited, I almost needed to break out a paper bag to breathe into. Especially, when the announcement of a wine vending machine was made public. Here are some of the fun things you’ll see in the future on the Carnival Fun Ship 2.0, including partnerships with EA Sports, Hasbro, DJ IRIE, Guy Fieri, and George Lopez:

Pack your stretchy pants….

BlueIguana Cantina – Who’s ready for a Mexican menu? I can’t wait to try out the taco and burrito stations, which will be a no additional fee dining venue.

Guy’s Burger Joint – Ever heard of that cool Guy Fieri? He’s taken the ultimate burger to the seas with this no additional fee dining venue  in this diner at sea. I wonder if I can get delicious malt with my burger here?

Sorry kids, mama needs some Me Time….

BlueIguana Tequila Bar – BlueIguana Tequila Bar, providing a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere and specializing in delicious tequila-based frozen drinks and Mexican beers. Live music will fill the area as performers will entertain patrons poolside. And just across the deck..

RedFrog Rum Bar – RedFrog Rum Bar 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 refreshing Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s private label draft brew, ThirstyFrog Red.

Alchemy Bar – 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. Carnival’s expert mixologists will “prescribe” concoctions from different fun categories or guests can also try their hand at creating their own custom cocktails.

EA Sports – 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. Whether challenging their sports knowledge during daily trivia contests, competing in EA SPORTS videogame tournaments or just catching the latest sports action, patrons can enjoy a full drink menu and popular sports bar snacks

Library Bar – 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. Oh, Carnival Cruise Lines, you had me at wine dispenser.

The fun continues….

Hasbro Game Show – 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. Hasbro, The Game Show will put guests right in the middle of their favorite Hasbro games. Six main games are to be featured: Sorry Sliders, which involves a giant shuffleboard court; Simon Flash, where two teams of four guests wear giant light-up color boxes and must shuffle themselves quickly to repeat a color sequence; Yahtzee Bowling, with a giant ball and larger-than-life-sized bowling pins; Operation, which is set up like a skee-ball board where contestants try to get the balls into different slots on the “patient’s” body, and Connect 4 Basketball, which uses a basketball setup rather than the traditional checkers to play.

DJ IRIE – Known for keeping Miami and Las Vegas crowds pumped and on their feet, award-winning DJ IRIE was also named the Official DJ of Carnival Cruise Lines.  In this new 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.  Carnival is further enhancing its night club experience, offering a unique and lively atmosphere and expanded music offerings.  

Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez – 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, and advise on décor, lighting, music and more to enhance the overall comedy club experience. Hilarious 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.

Playlist Productions – 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 have guests singing along and dancing in their seats during the 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.

Additional information on the Fun Ship 2.0 initiative is available at www.carnival.com/funship2.