A cruiseship floating in a port is common sight these days — but one floating high above should turn a few heads.
That is what Carnival Cruise Line had in mind when it commissioned a 128-foot-long non-rigged airship, often referred to as a blimp, and cleverly disguised it to look like one of its cruiseships.
The Miami-based firm is using the blimp as part of an advertising campaign to raise awareness of new cruiseship deployments in several key markets along the US’ Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
The airship made its aerial debut last week at Carnival’s Sixth Annual Day of Play at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. This was the first stop in a 30-day airborne voyage across seven US states.
Other scheduled ports of call include Dallas, Houston and Galveston in Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville in Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; before ending in Atlanta, Georgia.
Carnival is hoping to generate interest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by offering prizes ranging from swag bags to free cruises for those that use the tag #ChooseFun on their photos and videos. The hashtag will also trigger a donation to the hospital, Carnival’s long-time charitable partner.
The hashtag will also trigger a donation to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Carnival’s long-time charitable partner.
This is not the first time Carnival has taken to the skies. From 1989 to 1997, Carnival Air Lines operated a fleet of jet aircraft emblazoned with the cruise line’s corporate livery to ferry cruise passengers to Miami.
On Watch hopes the latest campaign is a huge success, and not just a load of hot air.
