MIAMI, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Carnival Cruise Lines will launch a new multi-million-dollar branding campaign that injects a fresh new look and feel into the company's various advertising, marketing and collateral materials.

The centerpiece of the wide-ranging initiative is a series of new 30- second television spots which debut Monday, Jan. 7.

Backed by the Queen classic "You're My Best Friend," the spots feature striking images of guests of all ages enjoying a Carnival cruise, enhanced by sophisticated computer animation and editing techniques that seamlessly blend one scene into another. The end result is a series of highly visual commercials that convey Carnival's memorable vacation experience by transporting viewers into the relaxed and carefree environment of a "Fun Ship" vacation.

Pegged to the song's key lyrical phrase "Oooh, you make me live," three different commercials have been created, each targeting a core market for Carnival. "No Age Limit on Fun" showcases multi-generational travel; "A Big New World" is aimed at families; and "A World of Delightful Surprises" focuses on the romance aspect of cruising. Although the commercials are aimed at specific audiences, all three spots convey Carnival's unique ambiance and diversity of choices, both on-board and ashore.

"Carnival has earned its title of world's most popular cruise line by providing our guests with fun, memorable vacations that are a great value. This new TV ad campaign truly captures the essence of our brand in an entertaining and creative way," said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival's executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. "Exciting new ships and innovations such as the 'Evolutions of Fun' ship refurbishment program have added an entirely new dimension to the Carnival vacation experience and this branding effort reflects the continued evolution of the 'Fun Ship' product," he added.

The 30-second TV commercials, which were created by Carnival's advertising agency, Coral Gables, Fla.-based CooperDDB, are just one component of a multi- million-dollar branding effort that is built around the charge to "Let the Fun Begin," designed to reinforce the company's core brand value of providing guests with fun, memorable vacations. The phrase has been incorporated into a new consumer and trade print advertising campaign, as well as a variety of marketing and collateral materials.

The new print campaign encompasses full-page images gleaned from the various TV spots, with shots of couples and families relaxing in scenic locales and enjoying various on-board activities typically associated with "Fun Ship" cruising.

Comprehensive travel agent kits, which combine various marketing materials into one convenient package, with postcards, letterhead, stickers, coasters and items for agents to display in their offices such as welcome and open/close signs, are also part of the new campaign. The new kits will be mailed to travel agents in early 2008.

A central design component of the marketing materials -- from the line's new fleet brochure to web banners and more -- is a playful new "swirl" motif, a wave-like design that serves to frame photos and other images in the pieces.

The new TV spots will air on all major broadcast networks, as well as select cable channels such as USA, TNT, TBS, Food Network, Travel Channel, HGTV, and Discovery Channel. The first of the new spots, focusing on family cruising, can currently be viewed at http://www.carnival.com/promo/tv.

The new print ads will be featured in a variety of national newspapers, as well as consumer magazines such as People, O - The Oprah Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Food & Wine and Redbook, and trade publications, including Travel Weekly, Travel Agent, Travel Trade, TravelAge West and Vacation Agent.

Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 "Fun Ships" operating voyages ranging from three to 18 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, New England, Canada, Bermuda, Europe, the Greek Isles and South America.

The line currently has three new ships on order, including the 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor, set to launch Carnival's first Northern European cruise program July 13, 2008, and the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic - to be the largest "Fun Ships" ever constructed when they enter service in June 2009 and October 2011, respectively.

For additional information on Carnival's "Fun Ship" vacations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

Carnival Cruise Lines, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is a proud member of the exclusive World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Costa Cruises, and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together, we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

CONTACT: Jennifer de la Cruz or Tim Gallagher, +1-800-438-6744, or
+1-305-599-2600, ext. 16000, both of Carnival Cruise Lines

Web site: http://www.carnivalcorp.com/