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Today's featured MAC Chat interview is with Edie Bornstein, VP of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Carnival Cruise Lines.
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Edie Bornstein
VP Business Development
and Strategic Partnerships
For more information visit:
Carnival.com
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Jessica: Carnival Cruise Lines received 2 nominations for the MailPound Agents' Choice (MAC) awards. Congratulations!
Edie: Carnival is honored to be nominated in Mailpound’s Agents Choice Awards. The two categories for which we are nominated - Best Cruise Line for Families and Best Large Cruise Ship fleet – are areas that our company places a great deal of emphasis and to receive these nominations is a wonderful validation of these efforts.
Jessica: You were nominated for "Best Cruise Line for Families." Why is Carnival such an ideal choice for families interested in a cruise vacation?
Edie: Families are an important part of our marketing mix. In fact, Carnival Cruise Lines is the leader in family cruising, carrying some 625,000 kids a year. Families love cruising on the "Fun Ships" because we offer a wide variety of fun-filled activies for kids of all ages- all at one, all-inclusive price. Carnival's ships offer something for kids of all agets- Camp Carnival for 2-11, Circle "C" for 12-14-year-olds and Club O2 for older teens-with expansive, modern facilities and enthusiastic counselors for each group. Carnival's unmistakable brand of fun also extends to our top deck areas with our signature Twister Water Slides, deck games, sports activities and more. We also offer a number of kid-friendly dining options-and don't forget about the 24-hour ice cream! Combine all that with Carnival's value-oriented pricing, the greatest variety of short cruises in the industry and a wide range of embarkation ports and it's no secret why Carnival is number one with families. We'll build upon this reputation this fall when we launch our newest and largest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream, will offer the most elaborate children's facilities with more than 19,000 square feet of dedicated space for families.
Jessica: You've also launched a new "Behind the Fun" tour that offers a unique look at the shipboard operations of Carnival Cruise Lines. Can you tell us more about it?
Edie: There are many guests who are interested in finding out exactly how the “Fun Ships” operate. And for those who want to get an insider’s look at the inner-workings of a Carnival “Fun Ship,” we’ve created Behind the Fun, a guided tour that provides guests with a unique insight into our shipboard operations. Behind the Fun is currently available on the Carnival Valor and Carnival Conquest and will be rolled out to all 12 ships that operate voyages of seven days or longer by September. The tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at shipboard venues that are normally off limits to guests, including backstage at the show room, the laundry room, galley, engine control room and bridge, and various crew areas. Also, key personnel, including the captain, chief engineer, chef de cuisine and other department heads, are on hand to share their knowledge in their particular area of expertise. Participants receive commemorative gifts such as a Behind the Fun baseball cap and lanyard, a Team Carnival Picture Perfect and complimentary photos with the captain on the bridge. The tour cost $95 per person.
Jessica: Carnival Cruise Lines was nominated for "Best Large Cruise Ship Fleet." The new Carnival Dream will embark on it's first voyage soon. What are some of the great features we can expect to see on your newest ship?
Edie: Carnival Dream promises to be a spectacular addition to the “Fun Ship” fleet. At 130,000 tons with a double occupancy capacity of 3,646 guests, Carnival Dream will be the largest Carnival Cruise Lines ship ever constructed. Ushering in an exciting new era in “Fun Ship” cruising, Carnival Dream will offer a host of innovations, including Ocean Plaza, a magnificent indoor/outdoor café and live music venue; a half-mile wrap-around promenade; cantilevered whirlpools that extend out over the sides of the ship; a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa – Carnival’s largest - and new five-berth, two-bathroom staterooms that should have particular appeal to families. Its top-deck amenities will include a sprawling Carnival WaterWorks aqua park – the most elaborate facility of its kind at sea featuring a 303-foot-long water slide, the longest in the cruise industry. Combine all this with Carnival’s attentive and friendly service and unmistakable brand of on-board “fun,” makes a cruise aboard the Carnival Dream the ultimate vacation experience. Following a series of inaugural 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Rome (Civitavecchia), Carnival Dream will reposition to New York for two eight-day Caribbean cruises followed by a special nine-day Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral, Fla. The ship launches year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Port Canaveral Dec. 12.
Jessica: Do you have any current promotions you would like to share with our travel agents?
Edie: IT PAYS TO PLAN AHEAD- Introducing Carnival's Early Saver Program. It pays to plan ahead- Carnival's Early Saver program is about making sure you get the lowest rate. Book a three-to five-day cruise three months in advance, or a six-day or longer cruise five months in advance, and you are assured the lowest rate. In the unlikely event you do find a lower Carnival-advertised rate after you book the cruise, Carnival will provide a shipboard credit equal to the difference.
Thank you Edie for taking time to share more about Carnival Cruise Lines with us.
Please feel free to submit comments below. Have an excellent day!
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