At an event today in New York City, Carnival announced partnerships with a several big-name figures and brands. They include entertainer George Lopez, who will become the line’s creative director for comedy and enhance Carnival’s fleetwide comedy clubs, and Food Network star Guy Fieri, who will develop a burger venue called Guy’s Burger Joint.
Other partnerships are with video game giant EA SPORTS to create the first EA SPORTS Bar at sea, and Hasbro for new game shows featuring iconic games and brands.
Carnival 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, the line revealed more of its own branded spaces with the RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar and three other fun-themed bars and lounges, as well as a new BlueIguana Cantina casual dining option.
Carnival president and ceo Gerry Cahill called Fun Ship 2.0 ‘the largest and most ambitious initiative that our company has ever undertaken,’ adding that it will transform the guest experience.
Carnival Liberty will be the first ship to feature many of the new dining and bar venues when it returns from a scheduled refurbishment later this month. Fourteen ships are scheduled to receive many of the Fun Ship 2.0 enhancements through 2015.
The comedy partnership will feature The Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez, who will act as a consultant to vet and hire comedic talent and advise on décor, lighting, music and more. Pre-recorded voice and video messages from Lopez will welcome club patrons, and a new Punchliner Comedy Brunch will provide live comedic entertainment in the line’s main dining rooms.
Guy’s Burger Joint, meanwhile, will feature free burgers designed by restaurateur, cookbook author and television star Guy Fieri. For lunch, a snack or dinner, passengers can drop by this laid-back poolside dining venue modeled after a road-side burger joint.
Under license from Hasbro, Carnival will create Hasbro, The Game Show, a new series of productions and entertainment activities based on the Family Game Night television show from The Hub. Hasbro, The Game Show will put participants in the middle of their favorite Hasbro games. Six main games will be featured, from Sorry Sliders (involving a giant shuffleboard court) to Yahtzee Bowling (with a giant ball and larger-than-life-sized bowling pins).
Carnival’s new themed bars and lounges will offer distinctive environments and signature drinks poured by expert mixologists.
Through the partnership with EA SPORTS, the new sports bar concept will offer video games, live sports on a video wall with 16 46-inch big-screen displays and a ticket with real-time sports scores 24/7. Trivia contests, video game tournaments and sports bar snacks are other elements.
RedFrog Rum Bar is a pool-side version of the Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub that debuted on Carnival Magic. It will serve Caribbean rum-based frozen drinks and beers, including Carnival’s private label draft, ThirstyFrog Red. Across the deck will be BlueIguana Tequila Bar, providing a laid-back Mexican-themed atmosphere with tequila-based frozen drinks and Mexican beers.
The Alchemy Bar is Carnival’s vintage-themed cocktail ‘pharmacy’ for unusual drink flavors and ingredients ‘prescribed’ by mixologists; patrons can also try mixing their own custom cocktails. The Library Bar is a new, intimate lounge that provides a more relaxed, quiet venue with bar service and automatic wine dispensers.
New on the dining front, in addition to Guy’s Burger Joint, is Mexican food at the BlueIguana Cantina. This free poolside venue will offer freshly made burritos and tacos, with an on-site tortilla maker.
Carnival said Playlist Productions will retool its revues to offer 30-minute shows created by leading producers, directors and choreographers who have worked on Broadway and London’s West End. Shows include ‘Motor City,’ based on the R&B Motown sound of the 1960s and ’70s, and ‘Divas,’ with music, dance and fashion from iconic female entertainers. Other shows include ‘Latin Nights!” and ‘The Brits!’. The productions will debut on Carnival Breeze when it enters service next summer then roll out to other ships.
Famous in Miami and Las Vegas, DJ IRIE will create and lead ‘DJ IRIE’s Spin’iversity’ to train and develop the musical skills and personalities of on-board DJ talent.