Ship will be first to feature the new Dr. Seuss Bookville facility
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Cruise Lines is to carry out an extensive, multi-million dollar refurbishment project onboard Carnival Freedom as part of its Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative.
From 19 April to 3 May, Carnival Freedom will enter drydock in Freeport, The Bahamas, while all refit and installation work is expected to be completed by the time the ship resumes service at the end of May.
As part of the line’s new Seuss at Sea programme – which debuted on Carnival Splendor in February – Carnival Freedom will be the first vessel to feature the Dr. Seuss Bookville facility. The Seuss-themed play area features iconic décor, colours and furniture and enables families to participate in craft and games inspired by the books. Bookville will also be installed on Carnival Vista when she debuts in early 2016.
Other Seuss at Sea activities include the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends; Seuss-a-palooza Story Time, an interactive reading event; A Rhyming Good Time; movies in the Seaside Theater; and the Seuss-a-palooza Character Parade along the ship’s promenade.
“With the debut of the first-ever Dr. Seuss Bookville area, along with an array of exciting dining, bar and entertainment concepts, we’re making a terrific ‘Fun Ship’ even better and creating a lifetime of wonderful vacation memories for guests of all ages,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.
Carnival Freedom will also offer a range of other Fun 2.0 features including Guy’s Burger Joint, a free poolside dining venue; Cherry on Top; Mexican eatery BlueIguana Cantina; the EA Sports Bar; the vintage cocktail-themed Alchemy Bar; the poolside, Caribbean-themed RedFrog Rum Bar and the BlueIguana Tequila Bar.
In addition, passengers can enjoy live performances by Playlist Productions and participate in Hasbro, The Game Show, which allows guests to participate in a series of productions and entertainment activities.
Following the dry dock, Carnival Freedom will resume her six- to eight-day Caribbean schedule from Fort Lauderdale, marking the first time that a Fun Ship 2.0-equipped vessel will operate a short cruise itinerary from South Florida.
The ship will also introduce two new five-day Caribbean voyages – one visiting Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman or Cozumel, and the other calling at Grand Turk, Nassau and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay.