Carnival Honors Veterans at Tampa America250 Celebration
During embarkation, guests saw a forty-foot-tall patriotic bald eagle on Carnival Paradise's top deck, and military attendees received America250 challenge coins.
Carnival Cruise Line hosted an America250 homeport celebration on July 2 aboard Carnival Paradise at Port Tampa Bay, honoring the United States’ 250th anniversary with local veterans, first responders and community guests onboard. The event brought together community partners and business leaders, along with government officials, as part of Carnival’s summer program tied to the national semiquincentennial.
As an official America250 partner, Carnival is taking the anniversary program across several U.S. homeport cities. The line operates from 13 domestic U.S. homeports; the summer series includes Long Beach, Tampa, Baltimore and Jacksonville.
“As America’s cruise line, we’re proud to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in our homeport cities,” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said. Duffy said Carnival is “bringing people together to honor our nation” and “thank those who protect our freedom.”
During embarkation, guests saw a 40-foot-tall patriotic bald eagle displayed on the top deck of Carnival Paradise. Carnival also held a military tribute recognizing active-duty service members, local veterans and first responders. Military attendees received limited-edition America250 challenge coins.
The Tampa program also included an appearance by Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat in patriotic attire.
The Tampa stop followed Carnival’s June 30 America250 event aboard Carnival Radiance at the Port of Long Beach, which opened the homeport series. That event used a similar military-recognition format, with challenge coins for military participants and a 40-foot patriotic star on the ship’s top deck.
Across the fleet, guests will have onboard anniversary activities through the summer. Several Carnival ships are scheduled to gather for fireworks viewing on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
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