Carnival Invites Cruisers To 'Make The Magic Yours'

With only 246 days left before launch, let the magic begin! As Carnival Cruise Lines unveils new details about its newest "Fun Ship," Carnival Magic, fans and fun-seekers can learn more and join in the action, well before the ship sets sail next year. Carnival's new, interactive online home for Carnival Magic at www.carnivalmagic.com showcases the ship's standout features through a full-screen virtual tour and more, as well as many ways for "Fun Ship" enthusiasts to add their own unique touches to the new vessel, set to debut May 1, 2011.

Through the Make the Magic Yours campaign, which includes a wide array of contests and promotions, Carnival is inviting fans of fun to "make the Magic theirs" by submitting ideas and voting on their favorites, while supporting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. The campaign will run Aug. 24, 2010, through Feb. 18, 2011, and Carnival will make a donation of up to $50,000 to St. Jude, based upon participation and voting.

How You Can Add Magic Touches To the Ship
On the Carnival Magic microsite, users can learn more about participating in a sea of fun monthly contests and other promotions that comprise the Make the Magic Yours campaign, which will continue up to Carnival Magic's inaugural sailing in May 2011. Beyond bragging rights, Carnival will be giving away great prizes, from digital cameras to a free cruise. And by participating in many elements of the campaign, fans will also do good by generating monetary donations from Carnival to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Carnival will be challenging fun-seekers everywhere to name some of Carnival Magic's special features, including a gigantic 500-gallon water dump bucket, the largest at sea housed in the WaterWorks aqua park, along with the two-level mini-golf course in SportsSquare, and a delicious dish at Cucina del Capitano, Carnival's first Italian trattoria. Other opportunities include creating fun toasts, coaster sayings, and music playlists for its new island-inspired RedFrog Pub. This winter, kids will be invited to get into the act with creative ways to make the Magic theirs, as well.

So, raise your glass in a toast as the Make the Magic Yours campaign begins with the RedFrog Coaster Contest, challenging grown-up fun-atics to submit their best pub line. The winning sayings will appear on the thousands of drink coasters used each voyage in Carnival Magic's Caribbean-themed RedFrog Pub as pints of the pub's signature beer, ThirstyFrog Red, Fun Ship Specials and other beverages are enjoyed by guests.

Through Sept. 7, 2010, Carnival welcomes those ages 21 and above to submit the pub-appropriate lines they believe best capture the magical moments experienced on a Carnival "Fun Ship." Entries must be 60 characters or less and Carnival coaster-worthy, as they'll be judged by the company based on relevance, creativity and humor, then culled down to 10 finalists, nine chosen by Carnival and one wild card determined by consumer voting.

In mid-September, Carnival fans and fun-seekers will be invited to vote for their favorite sayings to choose three lucky winners who will be announced later that month. Each winner will receive a special commemorative version of their RedFrog Pub coasters and other items including a digital camera, RedFrog Pub bartending items and more. Additional information and contest rules are available at www.carnivalmagic.com/contest.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic is slated to debut in Europe with a series of 7- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises operating May 1-Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day trans-Atlantic crossing, Carnival Magic will launch 7-day Caribbean service from Galveston, Texas, Nov. 14, 2011, becoming the port's largest year-round cruise ship.