7 extensive dining and beverage offerings, but there’s one thing that everyone mentions: the crew,” she says. “It’s our crew that solidifies the loyalty of a Carnival guest. From remembering guests’ names to always greeting them with a smile – our shipboard team members make sure they go above and beyond to make every guest feel special and part of the Carnival family. Carnival’s team members are at the core of our success.” Like the rest of the cruise industry, Carnival has faced some of the most challenging periods in its history, particularly over the last few years as the Covid-19 pandemic brought its sailings to a halt. However, the company’s comeback quickly gathered pace after Carnival Vista welcomed back its first guests in July 2021. Duffy counts that period as one of the most significant in her time at Carnival. “Many of the most memorable moments happened as we restarted our ships – beginning with Carnival Vista sailing from Galveston, USA, continuing on to Miami and then Port Canaveral for the arrival of our flagship, Mardi Gras, all the way up to when we marked the return of our full fleet in Seattle ahead of our biggest Alaska season and just recently as we restarted operations in Australia,” she says. “I had the honour and opportunity to visit almost all our ships as operations restarted, and it was a very emotional experience.” During such a vitally important time as Carnival fought to bounce back from these challenges, it chose to focus on planning itineraries on its home turf of the USA, taking advantage of its extensive experience in the country and its appeal for the family market. “We are known as ‘America’s Cruise Line’, and we are proud of that,” “ It ’s our crew that solidifies the loyalty of a Carnival guest” Christine Duffy, centre, says Carnival’s welcoming crew are at the core of the cruise line’s success
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