By
Alice Chambers |
Carnival Cruise Line revealed a new area that will feature onboard LNG-powered Carnival Celebration, called The Gateway, during a virtual event on 8 June 2022 with cruise line president Christine Duffy present.
The Gateway will be an entertainment, dining and shopping promenade that will span across two decks. The area is designed to celebrate the excitement of exploring new destinations, with decor inspired by grand terminals, transportation stations and departure points from across the world.
The promenade will feature 12 high-definition multimedia virtual windows, which will display unique scenes from around the world. The windows will be complemented by show lighting and a sound system to create an immersive experience throughout the zone.
During the day, guests will be entertained with relaxing scenes and at night, the zone will display media aligned with different themes including Abroad in Europe, Far East Voyage and Mexico Lindo. The themes will also be reflected in the food and drink that is served, as well as the music and entertainment activities that will be on offer. For example, on Mexican Lindo night, guests will enjoy themed offerings such as margaritas, palomas and agave tastings, whilst being surrounded by images of the ancient Mayan cities, Mexican beaches and jungles.
“When designing this innovative and transformative environment, we wanted to make sure that there was something new and exciting to see and experience every time a guest walks through the zone between day and night, and from day to day,” said Ben Clement, senior vice president of newbuilds, refurbishment and product innovation at Carnival. “We also wanted to ensure that the entire promenade in The Gateway was connected and that the upper level was engaged with what is happening below.”
Travel-inspired bar concept Latitudes will also feature on the promenade. The bar is designed to reflect a classic airport or train station with travel-themed chairs, menus and a display board that will reflect a departures board, built by Oat Foundry in Philadelphia. The board will change throughout the day to reflect the bar’s daily offerings and the images on the surrounding virtual windows.
The Gateway will also include Emeril’s Bistro 1397, the second seagoing restaurant by world-renowned chef Emeril Lagasse. The first debuted onboard Mardi Gras.
Additionally, the promenade will feature a large digital map to display the locations of Carnival’s ships around the world in real time.
Other restaurants and bars within the zone include The Golden Jubilee, a bar and lounge that celebrates Carnival’s 50th anniversary; Carnivale Restaurant, named after Carnival’s second ship; and Festivale Restaurant, which is in honour of the cruise line’s third ship. Guest favourites Alchemy Bar, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Carnival Kitchen and Lightlight Lounge will also be available.
“The Gateway was created to celebrate the enriching experience we all feel when travelling – not only because of the destinations we travel to, but also the world of cultures we get to explore,” said Duffy. “We have millions of guests and team members who come from around the world to have fun together and create a welcoming and inclusive environment while sailing to new places – that is the beauty of travelling, especially on a Carnival ship, and that is what this zone will celebrate.”
The Gateway is the sixth and final zone onboard Carnival Celebration that will debut in November 2022. Other zones include 820 Biscayne, Celebration Central, The Ultimate Playground, Summer Landing and Lido zones.