Carnival Cruise Line has revealed a new ‘zone’ aboard its upcoming Excellence-class cruise ship Carnival Celebration, a sister ship to Mardi Gras.
The new area will be called ‘The Gateway’ and will celebrate the joy of travel and the excitement of exploring new destinations, with design and décor inspired by classic transportation stations and grand terminals from around the world, as well as iconic global departure points.
The announcement of The Gateway comes after the cruise line previously announced four of the ship’s six zones(Celebration Central, The Ultimate Playground, Summer Landing, and The Lido), as well as a fifth Miami-themed area called 820 Biscayne.
Rendering of Carnival Celebration
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Each of the ship’s zones are individually designed, with amenities and experiences specific to that area, much like the neighbourhoods aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class cruise ships.
The Gateway will be two decks high, designed in an atrium style, with a promenade that ties together the zone’s various dining, retail and entertainment venues. A dozen high-definition multimedia virtual “windows” will depict ever-changing “views” based upon the time of day and selected theme.
“The Gateway was created to celebrate the enriching experience we all feel when traveling—not only because of the destinations we travel to, but also the world of cultures we get to explore,” said Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Line.
“We have millions of guests and team members who come from around the world to have fun together, and create a welcoming and inclusive environment while sailing to new places—that is the beauty of traveling, especially on a Carnival ship, and that is what this zone will celebrate,” she added.
Above it all will be a nearly 100-foot LED ceiling with show lighting and a state-of-the-art sound system. During the day, guests will enjoy relaxing multimedia scenes that evoke a feeling of being outdoors on a sunny day; but, at night, the area will transform according to a series of nightly themes that transport guests to far-off places around the globe.
Rendering of The Gateway
Carnival has said some of the planned themes include Abroad in Europe, Far East Voyage and Mexico Lindo.
The food and beverage offerings in the zone will also change to support the night’s theme, as well as the music and the entertainment.
On Mexico Lindo night, the virtual windows and surrounding multimedia technology will feature sweeping views of lush jungles and ancient Mayan cities, or beaches and charming Mexican towns, while the beverage selection will offer drinks like margaritas and palomas, along with agave tastings and specialty food items that reflect the theme.
The Gateway’s main promenade will also house a brand-new, travel-inspired bar concept called Latitudes based around a classic airport or train station, complete with an old-style mechanical split-flap display board that changes periodically to display current menu offerings, with messages tied to the images displayed on the surrounding virtual windows.
Other defining features of The Gateway include a large digital map, on which the locations of Carnival’s ships around the world will be displayed in real-time. The new Golden Jubilee bar and lounge concept will also be located in this area.
Carnival Celebration will sail from PortMiami on a year-round basis from later this year offering itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
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