Ain't We Got Fun: Kathie Lee Gifford Boards Carnival Breeze To Announce 'GIFFT' Wine Partnership To Surprised Cruisers

1984 Carnival spokesperson-turned-"Today" show host makes waves in hosting free tastings of her estate-grown GIFFT wine--now available fleetwide on Carnival ships

News provided by

Carnival Cruise Line

Jan 12, 2015, 10:20 ET

MIAMI, Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kathie Lee Gifford, former spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line, returned to "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®" Sunday to introduce her GIFFT Collection of wines at a tasting event for cruise guests on Carnival Breeze at PortMiami. The wines are now available for sale fleetwide on Carnival's 24 ships.

Kathie Lee Gifford, former spokeswoman for Carnival Cruise Line, shows off her GIFFT wines in front of the Carnival Breeze Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, while the ship was docked at PortMiami. Gifford debuted a new cooperative venture with Carnival that provides guests the opportunity to purchase GIFFT wines onboard any of Carnival's 24 ships. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line)

Gifford became closely associated with the Fun Ship brand in the 1980s when Carnival launched the first national television ad campaigns in the cruise industry, becoming the line's first spokesperson and appearing in such memorable campaigns as: "If You Could See Me Now" and "Ain't We Got Fun?" The "Today" show host yesterday surprised guests embarking on a six-day western Caribbean cruise to officially introduce GIFFT wines at an onboard tasting event.

Created in consultation with California-based Scheid Family Wines—one of the largest vineyard owners in Monterey County—the GIFFT Collection consists of a Red Blend and a Chardonnay, both estate-grown. In September 2014, Wine Enthusiast magazine gave the red 91 of a possible 100 points and the Chardonnay 88 points in its tasting rating.

The GIFFT Red Blend combines Merlot (42 percent), Petite Sirah (25%), Syrah (12%) and Petit Verdot (10%); while the Chardonnay is a flavorful estate-grown Coastal California dry white. Carnival is the only cruise line to feature GIFFT wines, and both varietals are now available at a wide array of bars and in the main dining rooms on all Carnival ships.

"I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to be back on board with Carnival!" said Gifford. "It's like coming home again—this time bearing great wines!"

"We couldn't be more excited to welcome back Kathie Lee, whose upbeat and spirited personality to this day reflects the essence of the Carnival brand," said Eddie Allen, Carnival Cruise Line Vice President, Beverage Operations. "For many people, wine is an integral part of a truly exceptional vacation experience, and the GIFFT Collection is a great addition to our onboard wine offerings."

For additional information, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.
Carnival can also be found on:
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Journalists also can visit Carnival's media site, www.carnival-news.com or follow the line's PR department on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®" with 24 ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The company currently has two new 133,500-ton ships on order--Carnival Vista, set to debut in 2016, and an as-yet-unnamed vessel scheduled to enter service in 2018.

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SOURCE Carnival Cruise Line