Build-A-Bear roars success
CARNIVAL Cruise Lines’ newly fitted out Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea on Carnival Legend is kicking goals, with local vice pres Jennifer Vanderkreeke saying the product has been well received in Australasian waters by families.
On board Legend last week for a test run of the Build-A-Bear doit-yourself activity, Vanderkreeke said the uptake of the product since debuting last month had been “very encouraging”.
She said Carnival’s partnership with Build-A-Bear, inked back in Jul, was a strategy adopted by the line as it “looked for activities to raise the quality of experience for the guests and for kids”.
“Australians are amongst the most outgoing of our passengers.
“They love participating in all our on board games and sports, so we’ve decided to expand our entertainment range even further, joining with some leading companies to bring even more exciting and engaging experiences on board our ships,” she said.
Carnival has a long-running alliance with games giant Hasbro, which involves giant versions of classic board games such as Sorry!, Yahtzee and Connect 4 brought to life through audience participation in The Game Show aboard its vessels.
Building on the Hasbro tie-up, Carnival will offer passengers the opportunity to participate in additional takes of Trivial Pursuit, Guess Who, Cranium and Cluedo.
“Australians are engaging with this kind of activity at twice the rate of our American guests, so these partnerships are clearly a win for us”, she commented.
The Build-A-Bear Workshop is a miniature version of the retail stores found in shopping centres, and running in Camp Ocean.
Kids have the chance to pick a teddy bear or other animal from a rack, then have it stuffed and decked out in a variety of clothes, shoes and accessories - all as ancillary revenue for Carnival.
Speaking to Cruise Weekly on Legend, Vanderkreeke said the line previously had a similar product, however the Build-A-Bear Workshops were a step up.
Camp Ocean itself recently underwent a refurbishment on its positioning cruise from Hawaii to Australia, which has seen the space at the bow of Legend - in Australasian waters for the summer season - receive new carpets, a fresh lick of paint and all new toys.
Other new entertainment options to come include inflatable Bocce courts and 80s ‘Rock and Glow’ theme nights.
Also coming soon to Carnival Spirit will be Creative Cove - a program of family events on each sailing, such as arts and crafts, jewellery making, professional painting classes and more.
This time next year, Carnival will introduce the cruise line’s version of Lip Sync Battle on local ships.
Carnival’s Australia-based vessel Carnival Spirit will be retrofitted with the Build-A-Bear Workshops by the end of Apr next year.