MIAMI, April 5, 2024 – Having conquered the big screen (“Mean Girls”), the small screen (“Hallmark Channel”) and Broadway (“Spamalot”), actor Jonathan Bennett is ready to take on his next big role: the godfather of Carnival Cruise Line’s new 135,000 gross ton ship featuring Carnival Fun Italian Style.

Carnival Cruise Line today named Bennett as the godfather for its next ship, Carnival Firenze, which is inspired by the city of Florence, Italy and is the second Carnival ship to sail with the Carnival Fun Italian Style theme. Carnival President Christine Duffy surprised Bennett with the news captured in this video. To make it even easier for Bennett to sail, the ship will be homeported in his backyard in Long Beach, Calif., where it will be christened on April 24 and embark on its first sailing on April 25. 

“Jonathan is a true brand ambassador for Carnival.  He cruises with us, honeymooned with us and tells his friends and family to vacation with Carnival.  He is friendly and welcoming to everyone and embodies the Carnival style of fun.  After he sailed on the first voyage of Carnival Firenze’s sister ship Carnival Venezia last May, he told me it would be his dream to be the godfather of one of our ships, so how could I turn down such a request for such a terrific friend to Carnival,” said Duffy.  “While he’s not Italian, he is proof positive that anyone can have Italian Style fun when you sail on our Italian-themed ships, and we are thrilled to have him help us welcome our newest addition to the Carnival fleet.”

Following his first professional acting role on the soap opera “All My Children,” Bennett appeared in a number of television series before his breakout role as Aaron Samuels in the hit movie “Mean Girls.”  He has gone on to star in multiple feature films, Hallmark Channel movies and hosted programs for the Food Network. He’s also the host for the New York Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration where Carnival has sponsored the ball drop for the past three years.  He is currently completing his first Broadway appearance in the hit revival of the musical, “Spamalot.”

“This is an amazing honor and I’m so proud to know that I’ll always be a part of the Carnival Firenze family,” said Bennett. “When I told Christine that I’d love to be a Carnival cruise ship godfather, I never thought she’d take my request seriously. I have so much respect for the Carnival team and how they’re dedicated to taking care of their guests, the ocean and each other. When I say Carnival is a great company and a great way to vacation, I mean it! I’m so excited to not only be the ship’s godfather, but to also get to cruise on Carnival Firenze as a guest now that Carnival fun Italian style is coming to the west coast.”

Bennett will join Duffy at the Carnival Firenze naming celebration on Wednesday, April 24 in Long Beach. The ceremony will be livestreamed on Carnival’s Facebook page.

Carnival Fun Italian Style combines Italian theming with Carnival’s signature fun. Built in 2020, Carnival Firenze accommodates more than 5,000 guests and will sail year-round from Long Beach, offering three- to seven-day Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera cruises. To see all Carnival Firenze sailings currently open for sail, click here.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

​ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports as well as seasonally from Europe and employs more than 48,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival’s fleet of 27 ships reflects an exciting, continued period of growth with two new additional Excel-class ships scheduled to be delivered in 2027 and 2028. Carnival’s next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025.

​MIAMI, Dec. 4, 2023 – Carnival Cruise Line today welcomed Carnival Jubilee, the third ship in its award-winning Excel-class, during a delivery event with ship builder Meyer Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. As the 26th Fun Ship in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Jubilee begins its journey to Galveston, Tex. where it will bring added capacity and offer an exciting mix of new entertainment, dining and fun to one of the cruise line’s most popular homeports.

            Carnival President Christine Duffy, alongside Ben Clement, Carnival’s SVP of New Builds, Refurbishments & Product Innovation, and the ship’s senior officers, joined Meyer Werft Managing Director Jan Meyer, to welcome Carnival Jubilee, the first Carnival ship to be built in Papenburg, Germany. Once in Texas, Carnival Jubilee and her team will welcome guests for the first time on Dec. 23. The ship will sail from Galveston year-round on week-long Western Caribbean voyages. 

            “Carnival Jubilee is the fifth additional ship we’ve welcomed into our fleet since 2021 and an integral part of our growth strategy. This ship will bring our most dynamic offering of fun to one of our most popular homeports and will be a great addition to our plans to remain the number one cruise line in Galveston,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “From the thrill of the roller coaster, BOLT, to a piece of paradise at the Serenity retreat, and so much more, we’re delivering a new level of fun for our guests sailing from Galveston that will complement our current and upcoming operations there.”

            In addition to Carnival Jubilee, additions to the Carnival fleet since 2021 include Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Luminosa (2022), Carnival Celebration (2022), and Carnival Venezia (2023). Carnival Firenze will join the fleet in April 2024.

            Carnival Jubilee ushers in a significant expansion of capacity from Galveston, one of Carnival’s top homeports. Carnival was the first cruise line to sail year-round from Galveston in 2001, and the new ship with a Texas star on its bow is a Texas-sized symbol of the cruise line’s loyal and intense following by guests and travel advisors in the region.  Carnival Jubilee will join Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream at the port as part of a four-ship deployment plan that will be complete when Carnival Miracle repositions to Galveston in October 2024.

Over the past month, Carnival Jubilee’s captain and senior officers have led the final trials to test the ship’s seaworthiness, completing many technical and nautical operations ahead of its transatlantic voyage and arrival to Galveston on Dec. 20. The 183,000 gross-ton ship can accommodate approximately 6,400 guests at full capacity, plus 1,750 crew. The ship is Carnival’s third to be powered by a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system, the first cruise ship to run on LNG from Galveston and will operate out of Terminal 25 at the Port of Galveston which underwent a recent $53 million investment to accommodate the ship and provide an enhanced guest experience.
​
For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation on Carnival, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit http://www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.
 
# # #
 
ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. For over 51 years, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently sails 26 ships and continues an exciting period of growth with another ship joining the fleet next spring and an all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama in summer 2025.

​MIAMI, Nov. 21, 2023 – Carnival chefs are cooking up the largest Thanksgiving meal in the cruise line’s 51-year history, as they expect to serve more than 48,000 pounds of turkey this year – a 14 percent increase over last year. And for guests who prefer a vegan option, Carnival is offering a special menu with all-plant-based protein for the first time this year as well.

            The popularity of sailing during the holiday season means more than 110,000 Thanksgiving meals will be served and enjoyed aboard Carnival ships this year, inclusive of all guests and team members. Carnival chefs are gearing up to serve the following across the cruise line’s U.S. fleet:
 
Carnival Thanksgiving by the Numbers

• Turkey: 48,000 pounds
• Turkey Gravy: 600+ gallons
• Turkey Stuffing: 6,600+ pounds
• Cranberry Sauce: 2,200+ pounds
• Pumpkin Pie: 20,900+ portions
• Pecan Pie: 24,800+ portions

 
For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation on Carnival, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit http://www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.

# # #
ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. For over 50 years, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 14 U.S. and two Australian homeports and employs more than 40,000 team members representing 120 nationalities. Carnival currently operates 25 ships and is in an exciting period of growth with the addition of two ships over the next year.