Carnival's CFO Shaquille O'Neal Kicks Off Homecoming Event Welcoming New Carnival Horizon To PortMiami

Shipboard Festivities Highlighted by Fun Basketball-Themed Event Featuring Miami HEAT Legends, Unveiling of Colorful Choose Fun Bumper Sticker on Ship's Stern

News provided by

Carnival Cruise Line

Sep 20, 2018, 17:04 ET

MIAMI, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Horizon's arrival to PortMiami, its new year-round homeport, was marked today with a larger-than-life celebration highlighted by a fun basketball-themed event featuring the company's Chief Fun Officer – NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal – along with Miami HEAT legends Alonzo Mourning, Shane Battier and Glen Rice.

The festivities, which took place prior to Carnival Horizon's inaugural two-day cruise, included the unveiling of a large Choose Fun bumper sticker on the ship's stern, as well as a flyover from the Carnival AirShip – a massive 128-foot-long red, white, and blue blimp that has been traveling the southeast to bring awareness of new ship deployments in several key markets as part of the line's month-long Homeport Advantage campaign.

During the event, Carnival presented a $25,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital representing funds from an online promotion in which consumers who posted a photo of the AirShip in social media with the hashtag #ChooseFun triggered a donation to the hospital and entered them in a drawing for free cruises and other prizes.

"With its awesome top-deck attractions and wide variety of al fresco dining experiences, Carnival Horizon is the ideal ship for the Caribbean and this event was a perfect way to celebrate her Miami arrival while benefiting the special children of St. Jude," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "And we've taken our Choose Fun tagline to the next level by putting a giant a bumper sticker on our newest ship proclaiming our never-ending commitment to FUN!"

Added O'Neal, "In my role as CFO, I get to tell everyone just how much fun you can have on a Carnival cruise and I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of the festivities for the new Carnival Horizon which takes the concept of choosing fun to entirely new level with so much to see and do for guests of all ages."

As the line's newest ship, Carnival Horizon offers an array of innovations, including the first Dr. Seuss-themed water park, Smokehouse Brewhouse offering BBQ favorites from Food Network star and longtime Carnival partner Guy Fieri along with four craft beers brewed on board, the line's first teppanyaki venue, the SkyRide aerial attraction, an IMAX Theatre and a suspended ropes course.

Also featured is a vibrant Havana section with tropics-inspired staterooms and its own Cuban-themed bar and pool, Family Harbor featuring extra-roomy accommodations, the Family Harbor Lounge, a luxurious Cloud 9 Spa and Ocean Plaza, a spacious dining and entertainment venue with indoor and outdoor seating.

Like the name implies, Carnival Horizon also includes food and beverage outlets offering amazing views with indoor and outdoor seating options at venues such as Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse and Library Bar.

Following the two-day cruise, Carnival Horizon kicks off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from PortMiami beginning Sept. 22, 2018.

On its new Miami-based schedule, six-day cruises depart Sundays, calling at Ocho Rios; Grand Cayman; and Cozumel. Two different eight-day itineraries will be offered with departures on Saturdays – one featuring Grand Turk; La Romana (Dominican Republic); Curacao; and Aruba; and the other visiting Grand Turk; San Juan; St. Kitts; and St. Maarten.

To learn more about Carnival Cruise Line, visit Carnival.com. For reservations, contact any travel agent or call 1-800-CARNIVAL. Carnival can also be found on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Journalists also can visit Carnival's media site, carnival-news.com or follow the line's PR department on Twitter at twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

About Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The World's Most Popular Cruise Line®" with 26 ships operating three- to 24-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. The line currently has three new ships scheduled for delivery – the 133,500-ton Carnival Panorama set to debut in 2019 and two as-yet-unnamed 180,000-ton ships in 2020 and 2022.