Carnival Miracle will undergo an extensive refurbishment

Dear Travel Professional, We're excited to start the New Year off with some great Carnival product news for you and your clients! Carnival Miracle will undergo an extensive refurbishment this spring that will add an array of new and exciting on-board innovations, from unique bar concepts like RedFrog Pub and Alchemy Bar to fun entertainment choices such as Playlist Productions and Hasbro, The Game Show, and the family-friendly Seuss at Sea program!  The new features - part of our ongoing Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative - will be added during a two-week-long dry dock that will take place March 7-21, 2015. The exciting new enhancements include: Red Frog Pub - our Caribbean-inspired watering hole featuring the region's best rums and beers - including Carnival's own ThirstyFrog Red - enjoyed in a distinct British-West-Indies-meets-Key-West atmosphere Alchemy Bar - at this vintage-themed cocktail "pharmacy," mixologists "prescribe" concoctions from different elixirs and ingredients with creative names like "Forty is the New Twenty" and "Restorative Basil Drop" Playlist Productions - these four spectacular shows - 88 Keys, 80's Pop To the Max, Getaway Island and Heart Of Soul - combine captivating live performances of recognizable pop and rock songs with dazzling special effects to create unforgettable evenings of entertainment Seuss At Sea - part an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Seuss at Sea brings the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss to life with fun activities like the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with the Cat in the Hat and Friends, Seuss-a-Palooza Story Time, and more Hasbro, The Game Show - this audience-participation favorite features larger-than-life adaptations of the company's iconic and popular games with titles like Connect4 Basketball, Sorry Sliders, and Yahtzee Bowling Cherry On Top - this "candy and more store" celebrates the joys of simple indulgences with bins of bulk candy, fun fanciful gifts and novelties, custom apparel and more New SPORTS Bar - at this sports lovers' paradise, guests can catch live sporting events and check out scores on the real-time 24/7 sports ticker Spin U - developed in partnership with legendary DJ IRIE - Carnival's official DJ who has entertained crowds from South Beach to Las Vegas - this fun DJ academy provides aspiring spin-masters ages 15-17 all they need to know to "hit the decks" and rock the club! These innovations complement a wide range of existing onboard features such as the Punchliner Comedy Club presented by George Lopez, a Serenity adults-only retreat with magnificent ocean vistas, a classic American-style steakhouse serving prime cuts of beef and other gourmet cuisine, a nine-hole miniature golf course, a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness center, and The Taste Bar offering bite-size samples from popular Fun Ship 2.0 dining venues. Carnival Miracle Itineraries Carnival Miracle operates year-round departures from Long Beach, California (perfectly placed for the LA stay before or after your Guests’ cruise) featuring three different week-long Mexican Riviera cruise options: a three-port itinerary featuring Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas; a two-port option that includes a stop in Cabo San Lucas, along with a two-day overnight stay in Puerto Vallarta; and a third choice featuring a day-long visit to Puerto Vallarta, along with a two-day call at Cabo San Lucas. Carnival Miracle will also offer 15-day Hawaii cruises round-trip from Long Beach departing Oct. 17 and Nov. 28, 2015, and Jan. 16, 2016, along with a special one-time 13-day Mexican Riviera cruise departing Jan. 31, 2016.  Erin Johnson Marketing Director Carnival Cruise Lines UK & Ireland ejohnson@carnival.com

Regal Princess to serve own craft beer

By Tom Stieghorst

Princess Cruises will introduce its own craft beer on Regal Princess for the ship’s Caribbean season, starting in November.

Seawitch West Coast IPA will be produced for Princess by Strike Brewing Co. of San Francisco and retail at $6.25 per 12-ounce bottle.

Princess said the beer should be available fleetwide by early 2015 and that it plans to commission other Seawitch beers from different regional brewers around the country.

Since 2011, Carnival Cruise Lines has contracted for its own beer, Thirsty Frog Red, which is served at its Red Frog Pubs and elsewhere on its ships.

In July, Carnival said it would also carry several craft beers from Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing on its Florida-based ships.