that represents the evolution of our Fun Ships over the last 50 years, including mementos from our earlier vessels, weaving our past with our present and looking to our future.” Duffy already counts the anniversary among one of her highlights at the helm of the cruise line. “There have been so many highlights during my time as president at Carnival, but I’d say being a part of our 50th birthday has been so special,” she says. “The big 5-0, what an incredible milestone! But it’s not just the actual birthday, it’s everything that has happened over the past year – our very successful restart of guest operations, welcoming Mardi Gras to the fleet, getting more than 30,000 team members back to work, and of course, experiencing the many emotional moments as each of our ships welcomed their first guests back onboard. I had the opportunity to visit all of our ships this past year and was on hand for most of the ‘Back to Fun’ first sailings.” The return to cruise has also seen the fleet grow larger still. Soon joining Mardi Gras, which has been sailing from Port Canaveral since mid-2021, are Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, both of which will run on LNG as part of Carnival Corporation’s move towards greener cruising. Carnival Celebration will be home to The Gateway, 820 Biscayne, Celebration Central, The Ultimate Playground, Summer Landing, and Lido zones, and will include BOLT. The ship will debut in November 2022 from the redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami, the third terminal at the port and its largest in South Florida. Carnival Jubilee, which will arrive at the Port of Galveston in 2023, will also share features that guests know from Mardi Gras. It will also have six “fun-filled zones like her sisters”, according to Duffy. She adds: “Two will be brand-new concepts to be revealed at a later date.” The industry often talks about hardware – new ships with new features – but Duffy says the key to Carnival’s success is simple: its crew. “When we ask our guests why they return to Carnival time and time again, of course they mention our unparalleled food, beverage and entertainment offerings, but in the end, it is always our crew that solidifies the loyalty of a Carnival guest.” CFR “ It is always our crew that solidifies the loyalty of a Carnival guest” Christine Duffy pictured enjoying the ‘Universe of Fun’ christening celebration held for Mardi Gras at Port Canaveral in summer 2021 5 5
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