Carnival Vista was a big hit with cruise travelers last year, introducing the first IMAX Theater, a top deck SkyRide and other interesting attractions.  Now as we count down the days until we see Carnival Horizon in Barcelona, one of those unique Carnival Horizon features each day.

Carnival Horizon Features
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Unique INCLUDED Features

Carnival Horizon will have a number of features that are unique to the world of cruising and included in the price

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Vista Will Cost Less Soon

This one is actually not a feature of new Carnival Horizon but speaks to the effect of the new ship once entered into service. It happens every time, the first new ship in the series comes out and pricing seems stuck on high until the second in the series goes on sale. By the same token, even more mature ships often cost even less.  It’s one of a number of reasons to like Carnival Horizon, as detailed on CruiseFever.net. Click here to read 7 Reasons To Get Excited About Carnival Horizon.

 

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Unusual Dining Options

In addition to a main dining room, the Guy Fieri element mentioned in #1 (below) there are over 30 other dining options from which to choose.  Some are standalone dining venues, others are special events that happen once or twice on a sailing.  The complimentary barbecue buffet on embarkation day and days at sea at Guy’s Pig & Anchor Barbecue is a good example and just a start.  Step out of that spotlight and we find a Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast for the kids, Swirls ice cream always available for the entire family or a Chef’s Table dining experience to customize your Carnival cruise.

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Roomy

One unique feature of Carnival Horizon: the ship is quite roomy, with lots of space for lounging on deck or hanging out inside at a variety of pleasant places.  Three decks high, seating/lounging areas are plentiful around the Beach Pool where an aft view of the ships’s wake is featured

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Show Preview

Carnival takes the award-winning series, Playlist Productions, to the next level on Carnival Horizon. The ship’s sophisticated and interactive LED screens combined with the talents of skilled performers will immerse guests in vibrant stage settings to deliver unforgettable evenings of high-caliber entertainment you won’t want to miss.  This one was designed exclusively for Carnival Horizon.

 

 

 

 

 

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Targeted Entertainment

In #2 (below) we took a global look at entertainment to be offered on new Carnival Horizon.  That was a brief look at four new production shows to be rolled out fleetwide plus another one just for Carnival Horizon.  This weekend, we take a closer look at a topic that has become irrelevant to many cruise travelers. They are just not motivated to bother with shows. We saw a transformation in the making with Carnival entertainment, beginning with the rollout of Funship 2.0 which brought two significant evolutions: The Punchliner Comedy Club, and partnership with Hasbro for audience participation shows.  All of the sudden the shows were worth going to.

Jump ahead a few years and we have this class of Playlist Production shows, also mindful of the audience.  It’s targeted entertainment when it works, fueled by Fun.

Actually, let’s take a look at that process right now.

 

 

 

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Ship Within The Ship

The ship within a ship concept most always brings thoughts of exclusive areas, reserved for luxury travelers.  Norwegian Cruise Line’s The Haven comes to mind.  Carnival Horizon will have two areas of the ship that make a whole lot of sense.  The Cuban-themed Havana area is more adult oriented and does not allow children under 12, effectively making the dedicated pool and lounge little kid-free.  Not that families are left out, the Family Harbor area is solid win with only families allowed and a separate lounge just for that part of the ship.

 

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Dreams Enabled, Virtually

In advance of Carnival Horizon’s debut, Carnival Cruise Line has an 8-minute virtual video tour.  We mention this here because Carnival also had one of these before the launch of Carnival Vista and it turned out to be scary accurate.

 

MORE: As long as we are virtualizing, click here to see CruiseMapper.com‘s ship’s current position, currently still at the shipyard in Italy.

EVEN MORE:  Over at Cruise Ship Deck Plans, Carnival Horizon is already loaded as well.

 

 

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Dr. Seuss Bookville

As long as we are on the topic of Dr Seuss, Carnival Horizon will also feature the Dr. Seuss Bookville family reading and play venue and popular Seuss at Sea activities like The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and Friends and the Seuss-a-palooza Parade and Story Time.

 

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Dr. Seuss WaterWorks

New to Carnival Cruise Line and featured on Carnival Horizon: the first in the fleet to feature Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, a water park inspired by the whimsical world and words of the legendary children’s author.

Dr. Seuss WaterWorks builds upon Carnival Cruise Line’s position as a family cruise leader carrying nearly 800,000 kids a year.  The undeniable success of the fleetwide Seuss at Sea program is due to an exclusive partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises that features immersive onboard Dr. Seuss-themed youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences.  This is more of that but not old hat.

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The Godmother

Unique to each cruise ship: the Godmother.  Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship will have Grammy award-winning musical artist Queen Latifah.

Latifah will participate in the ship’s official naming ceremony as well as a special “Lip Sync Battle: Horizon” showcase that is part of the line’s authentic shipboard reproduction of the hit Paramount Network series.  The event will be held during an invitation-only overnight gala onboard Carnival Horizon in New York City on May 23, 2018.

Currently starring in the FOX series “STAR,” Latifah is an incredible talent earning an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her portrayal as Mama Morton in Chicago. She also received an Emmy nomination, a Golden Globe win and a SAG Award win for performances in both “Life Support” and “Bessie,” an HBO biopic on the legendary jazz artist Bessie Smith as well as accolades for her performance as the title character in NBC’s The Wiz Live!

 

 

 

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Bonsai Teppanyaki

You have heard of the ship within a ship concept right?  (Luxury accommodations in an exclusive area of the ship not all passengers can access.)  How about a Restaurant within a Restaurant?  Carnival Horizon will introduce Carnival Cruise Line’s first-ever teppanyaki dining venue. Teppanyaki cooking combines ancient Japanese cooking techniques with modern performance art to create a culinary experience that is both dinner and the evening’s entertainment. Reservations-recommended Bonsai Teppanyaki will offer a wide menu from the Far East. That  Asian fare will be prepared by chefs who will create custom dishes at stations centered between the venue’s two eight-seat tables.

Diners begin their meal with samplings of five tempting appetizers then choose from a variety of entrees.All dishes include fried rice and stir-fried vegetab les. Prices for Bonsai Teppanyaki are on a per-person basis and include all appetizer selections, entrée and dessert. The restaurant will be open for lunch on sea days and for dinner every night of the cruise.

Bonzai Teppanyaki is one of dozens of different dining and beverage venues on board offering a wide range of international cuisines. These include

• Cucina del Capitano family-style Italian restaurant
• Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse
• Guy’s Burger Joint
• Mexican-themed BlueIguana Cantina
• 24-hour Pizzeria del Capitano
• New England-inspired Seafood Shack.

Carnival Horizon is scheduled to make its maiden voyage April 2, 2018, with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona – the first of four round-trip departures from that port. Carnival Horizon will reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018.

We will be on board for the sailing after that, a 7-night sailing, round-trip Barcelona.

Next For Horizon: Following its summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from the Big Apple, Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami and kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018. Carnival Horizon will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22, 2018.

Booking: For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival also can be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Journalists also can visit Carnival’s media site, carnival-news.com or follow the line’s PR department on Twitter at twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

 

 

 

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Impressive Stats

We will touch on these numbers from time to time as we profile new Carnival Horizon.  One interesting feature of the newVista Class ship from Carnival Cruise Line comes from this list and is not one talked about much, if at all.  Scan this Carnival Horizon Fact Sheet first.  I’ll talk about that below.

Shipyard	Fincantieri Cantieri Navali
	Italiani, S.p.A.
	Marghera, Italy
Inaugural Sailing	April 2, 2016
Inaugural Hormports	Barcelona/NYC/Miami
Country of Registry	Panama
Speed	18 Knots
Total Crew	1,450
Nationality Of Crew
-Officers	Italian
-Hotel Staff	International
-Cruise Staff	International
SIZE/CAPACITY:
Gross Registered Tonnage	133,500
Length	1,055 Feet
Beam	122 Feet
Beam at Pool Decks	158 Feet
Maximum Draft	27 Feet
Normal Capacity (double occupancy)	3,934
Total Capacity (all berths)	4977
Numberof cabins	1967
Guest Decks	15
Space Ratio	34
Accommodations
-Suites and Grand Penthouse Suites	74
-Ocean View with Balcony/Lanai	877
Ocean View	254
Interior	732

 

A fact it is often difficult for the world of family travel to wrap their heads around: not all accommodations will hold four people. On Carnival Horizon, all staterooms do hold a minimum of two passengers and some hold up to five. This is why, in a family travel situation that your travel agent will give priority to booking your triple, quad or quint stateroom first.  Those are limited in number and will be the most difficult to find.  More on that later.  First, a second, different look at the Accommodations part of this Carnival Horizon Fact Sheet

Accommodations	Count	% of Total
-Suites and Grand Penthouse Suites	74	3.82
-Ocean View with Balcony/Lanai	877	45.27
Ocean View	254	13.12
Interior	732	37.79
Total Staterooms	1937	100

The comparable number to focus on here for family travel planners is the % of total staterooms in categories of interest.  Regardless of the ship size, percentages of total space are easy to compare among cruise lines.  You’ll have to do the math yourself and the results of comparing ships, in and of itself is probably not a reason to pick one ship over another.  Stil, it’s another number to work with.  That’s important for first-timers of which Carnival get’s a bunch.  They might not be able to get a feel for what it’s like to be on board until they are.  This they can do in advance.

 

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A Global Look At Entertainment

Carnival Cruise LIne’s in-house entertainment team has partnered with leading creative directors from Broadway, Los Angeles and London’s West End to create three new shows, unique to Carnival Horizon.

A continuation of the popular Playlist Production revues, the trip of new shows are only available on Canrival Horizon. Fully incorporating the ship’s sophisticated and interactive LED screens while showcasing the talents of the shows’ performers, Carnival Horizon looks set to deliver interesting entertaiment.  Like, we will enjoy it.

Carnival Horizon promises to be a spectacular addition to the fleet and we’ve made the entertainment and activity options equally spectacular with such an array of fun choices, morning until night -Sarah Beth Reno, Carnival VP/Entertainment.

The Playlist Productions shows on Carnival Horizon include:

• Soulbound:  Hosted by Carnival Horizon’s very own “soul catcher,” this fun, high-energy show offers a gothic-inspired journey through New Orleans with stops at recognizable Crescent City landmarks like a haunted paddlewheel ship, an apothecary shop and cemetery highlighted by levitating chairs and other spookily stunning illusions.  As spirits are playfully captured and brought back to life through dazzling special effects, cast members belt out R&B favorites like Superstitious, Soul Man and Born Under a Bad Sign.
• Celestial Strings:  Billed as a “breathtaking performance beyond your wildest dreams,” Celestial Strings merges the beauty of classical music with modern pop beats that takes place in an elegant and enchanted garden that seamlessly transforms from season to season, stimulating the senses with unbelievable visual imagery, 3D cast interactions and aroma-infused sets to bring the garden to life.  The first Playlist Productions show to feature a live string trio, Celestial Strings is truly a multi-sensory symphony for the soul.
• Vintage Pop:  Taking viewers back to the Great Gatsby and Cotton Club era with contemporary songs like All About that Bass, That’s What I Like and Work transformed into classic jazz interpretations, Vintage Pop features a toe-tapping six-piece live band performing in a modern-day speakeasy.  Highlighted by a show-stopping burlesque number that leaves audiences breathless, Vintage Pop ends with a rollicking after party in the atrium where guests can dance and interact with the flapper- and zoot suit-outfitted cast members.

Preview What Goes Into Carnival Horizon Features

 

 

 

A fourth show, Amor Cubano: A Caribbean Dance Romance, has been brought to Carnival Horizon following an incredible debut on Carnival Vista last year.

• Amor Cubano: A Caribbean Dance Romance: This exciting get-on-your-feet show blends classic Latin songs with today’s hits and features an authentic reproduction of Carnival Horizon’s sizzling Havana Bar. The show is highlighted by a seven-piece Cuban-inspired band that performs songs by Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz and others amid a tropical, multi-hued backdrop of Cuba and Miami, the latter of which will be the ship’s eventual year-round homeport.

The new shows complement other entertainment-focused Carnival Horizon Features, including:

• Punchliner Comedy Club with family-friendly and adults-only performances
• Hasbro, The Game Show, a live action family-favorite game show incorporating larger-than-life adaptations of popular Hasbro games
• IMAX Theatre showcasing first-run blockbusters, documentaries and family favorites, and the multi-sensory
• Thrill Theater, a multi-sensory experience and part of the Carnival Multiplex entertainment concept.
• Serenity, the ship’s outdoor adults-only retreat, is transformed into a South Beach-style club under the stars complete with spectacular lighting effects and a crowd-pleasing mix of popular music spun by one of Carnival’s professional DJ’s. Live bands along the promenade,
• Solo Artists in the new Smokehouse Brewhouse BBQ restaurant and brewery and the line’s legendary deck parties will also be offered.

 

Carnival Horizon is set to debut April 2, 2018, with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona – the first of four round-trip departures from that port – then reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day trans-Atlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018. We will be on board for the sailing after that, a 7-night sailing, round-trip Barcelona.

Next For Horizon: Following its summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from the Big Apple, Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami and kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018. Carnival Horizon will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22, 2018.

Booking: For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com. Carnival also can be found on: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Journalists also can visit Carnival’s media site, carnival-news.com or follow the line’s PR department on Twitter at twitter.com/CarnivalPR.

 

Carnival Horizon Features
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Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse

We begin with Guy Fieri and a brand new full-service barbecue venue that debuts aboard the new 133,500-ton ship.  An expansion of Fieri’s casual barbecue eateries on several Carnival ships, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse|Brewhouse combines down-home smoked-on-board barbecue and traditional sides created by Fieri. That’s along with a selection of distinctive craft beers brewed on board at a brewery located within the restaurant.

One of the unique Carnival Horizon features, Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que  will also offer Fieri’s signature dishes like

• Dragon Chili Cheese Fries featuring smoked beef brisket, cheddar cheese, onions and jalapenos
• Trash Can Nachos topped with pulled pork, Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ sauce and melted cheese
• The Smokehouse Melt, with pulled pork, sliced brisket, double smoked pork belly bacon, two slices of cheddar cheese, homemade pickles and donkey sauce.

Side dishes are just as tantalizing with Fieri-created favorites like:

• Longhorn Cheddar Mac & Cheese
• Beer-Braised Cowboy Pinto Beans
• Sweet Potato Bourbon Mash
• Mashed Potatoes with Red Eye Gravy and Burnt Ends
• Buttermilk Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Almonds

BBQ fans can spice up their dishes with the chef’s own sauces, including

• Kansas City (smoky and sweet)
• Sriracha BBQ (spicy and tangy)
• Carolina #6 (tangy and sweet heat)
• Bourbon Brown Sugar (sweet and sticky)

Exclusive Carnival sauces available only at sea:

• Smokey Chipotle
• Gold Coast Yellow Mustard
• Black Pepper
• Burning Tomato.

The new 138-seat BBQ restaurant will be located along the ship’s Promenade with indoor and outdoor seating.  Open from 5 pm ‘til late every night of the cruise, the menu items are offered on an a la carte basis. The sure to be popular venue will offer a free-of-charge self-service BBQ lunch buffet from noon to 2:30 p.m. on embarkation day and sea days.

Carnival Horizon Features – Updated Daily

Check back every day for another one of the new Carnival Horizon features

Photos/Renderings: Carnival Cruise Line