Carnival Cruise Line Names New Flagship Carnival Celebration
by Dori Saltzman /Cassidy Gifford names the new Carnival Celebration. Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Actress Cassidy Gifford, daughter of Kathie Lee Gifford, named Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Carnival Celebration, at a ceremony in Miami over the weekend.
“This naming ceremony of our new flagship Carnival Celebration is the perfect culmination of our 50th birthday as this spectacular ship honors our past and signifies the fun and growth ahead,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
On hand for the ceremony, which took place in the ship’s three-deck high atrium, Celebration Central, was Kathie Lee Gifford, who served as godmother too the ship’s namesake, M/S Celebration. Kathie Lee offered an impromptu rendition of “Ain’t We Got Fun,” the earworm tune that accompanied Carnival’s now-legendary 1980s TV commercials.
Also on hand were Carnival Corp chairman Micky Arison and celebrated chef Emeril Lagasse, who later cut the ribbon on his Emeril’s Bistro 1397 restaurant, located inside Carnival Celebration’s The Gateway zone.
The 5,200-passenger Carnival Celebration is the second in the line’s Excel Class and includes some of that ship’s most popular elements including the BOLT roller coaster, 20 dining venues including an Emeril Lagasse restaurant, and Excel suites. Exclusive to Carnival Celebration is a Miami-themed zone, 820 Biscayne, named after Carnival’s first headquarters address, which pays tribute to Miami’s cultural vibe and dining and beverage traditions.
The ship sails rotating week-long Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises out of PortMiami’s brand-new Terminal F.
