Cruise company gives guests free access to videos, TV shows and immersive gaming opportunities
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation has launched OceanView – the world’s first over-the-top (OTT) digital streaming channel from a travel provider – to give guests free access to immersive and experiential travel content on more than half of its 103 cruise ships and Ocean.com website.
OceanView is built on the company’s O·C·E·A·N (One Cruise Experience Access Network) Experience Platform, which was first unveiled in January and will make its world debut on Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess in mid-November. The shows are now available on major digital streaming platforms Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Roku.
OceanView features more than 100 ‘Ocean Original’ episodes produced by Carnival Corporation, as well as programmes from Carnival’s O·C·E·A·N original content portfolio. These include ABC’s ‘Vacation Creation’ and ‘Ocean Treks with Jeff Corwin’, NBC’s ‘The Voyager’ and A&E Networks’ ‘Good Spirits’. The platform will also showcase video collections from the corporation's nine cruise brands, enabling guests to watch ship christening ceremonies, get insights into ship design and construction processes and also learn how world-renowned chefs are creating onboard dishes.
Carnival has also created two direct-to-digital platform series with 10-minute shows. ‘GO’ chronicles artist and explorer Trek Thunder Kelly as he travels the world by ocean, while ‘Local Eyes’ is hosted by traveller Anji Corley and introduces viewers to destinations through the eyes of the local residents.
“One of the great things about our cruise vacations is that we connect people, places and cultures around the world through extraordinary experiences on state-of-the-art ships to more than 760 global destinations – and over the past year we have been bringing that unique experience to life through original storytelling that breaks perceptions by showcasing why cruise holidays are the fastest-growing segment of the vacation sector,” said John Padgett, chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corporation. “Our original programming is already a big hit on network and cable TV. And now, with the launch of OceanView, we are excited about making our authentic experiences accessible to people around the world through digital media. Our ultimate goal is to continue generating broad awareness of cruising as a great vacation and exceptional value, and to inspire consumers to consider cruising as a vacation option.”
Carnival has also created PlayOcean, a portfolio of new mobile games and in-person interactive experiences, becoming the first travel company to produce original mobile games for the holiday market.
Also powered by the O·C·E·A·N experience platform, PlayOcean offers a selection of original games via two free downloadable mobile apps – PlayOcean Everywhere and PlayOcean Casino, which are available from 28 September and November respectively.
PlayOcean’s interactive and social location-based games will become available once guests are onboard the Medallion Class ships. Highlights will include Ocean Treks Adventure, an onboard digital scavenger hunt featuring American nature conservationist and popular TV host Jeff Corwin; Good Spirits Poker, which enables players to get cards by completing various actions at bars across the ship; Tagalong Race, where guests create and race Tagalong avatars on the ship’s LED displays; and Trivia on Deck, where guests take daily mobile quizzes and compare their scores with other passengers’ results.
“The growing global demand for gaming across all audiences is undeniable – and the combination of social, competitive, chance and location-based games available within PlayOcean give us an opportunity to engage broader audiences in the unique experiences and fun associated with our cruise vacations,” said Padgett. “Most importantly, PlayOcean gives our guests the ultimate flexibility to engage in experiences when, where and how they choose – at home, on a plane, relaxing in their stateroom or poolside.”
Available via Apple’s iTunes App Store and Google Play, PlayOcean Everywhere features four free mobile games that can be played anywhere at any time. They include Queen Sea Poker, Tipsy Tentacles Slots, Roulette on Deck and Bingo on Deck.
While onboard Princess Cruises Medallion Class ships, guests will have access to the real-money casino gameplay app PlayOcean Casino that converts the mobile games into onboard wager games.