Product Placement to the Max

Product manufacturers work hard to get their product placed in television shows and movies. This could be something as simple as having it in a scene, but if it gets used by the characters or, better yet, becomes pivotal to the plot, the manufacturer has hit the jackpot. But Carnival Cruise Lines had one of their ships used as the location (and necessary to the plot) of the upcoming third Chipmunk movie, and if the movie is a hit, they will have hit the trifecta.

The live action for the movie was filmed aboard Carnival Dream, and the computer animated characters were added in post-production. Throughout the film there is Carnival presence. Anyone who has sailed on Carnival will recognize signature Carnival elements in each scene, even the deck chairs (you see a lot of those when you consider the lead characters are only a few inches high), for example, are noticeably Carnival, if you've spent much time on Carnival.

The trailer for "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!" was released today:



The trailer is now showing in theaters nationwide, and the film will open on December 16, 2011.

Video of Coast Guard Medevac from Norwegian Dawn

This video of a US Coast Guard medevac from Norwegian Dawn was shot from a camera mounted above the helicopter's door mounted outside and looking down at the cruise ship's deck.



The medevac was performed when Norwegian Dawn was 46 miles southeast of Nantucket on July 28, 2011. The 35-year-old crew member from the cruise ship was suffering from abdominal pain, and was flown to a shoreside hospital on Cape Cod for treatment.

In the video, you can see the patient being hoisted first, followed by the Coast Guard rescue swimmer, who had been lowered to the deck before the start of this video. No sooner than he was in the door, the helicopter is turning and flying back to Cape Cod.

The Coast Guard makes this all look so easy.

Carnival Fantasy Collides with Carnival Imagination

Carnival Fantasy collided with Carnival Imagination today at Key West. Carnival Fantasy was docking when the ships struck stern to stern.

No injuries, pollution or structural damage occurred during the incident, but both vessels sustained minor cosmetic damage.

The US Coast Guard is investigating, and has conducted routine drug and alcohol tests on personnel aboard both vessels in accordance with normal procedures.

There were no reported injuries, and the incident is not expected to cause any schedule changes.

AIDAmar Engines Installed

AIDAmar, the next ship under construction for Carnival Corp's AIDA brand, is ten months away from delivery by Meyer Werft. Last week the ship's four giant engines arrived by boat at the Papenburg yard. AIDAmar, at this point doesn't look much like a ship, but a crane lifted them into place where they will go in the hull, and the ship will be built around them.

This video from AIDA shows the installation process which took only six hours.



Each of the 127-ton engines has nine cylinders and will generate 1,000 kilowatts of power that will be used for propulsion and electricity aboard the ship.

AIDAmar is scheduled to enter service on May 12, 2012.

Carnival to Open New Facility on Grand Turk

Carnival Corp began construction of a new Welcome Center in Cockburn Town on Grand Turk to complement the Grand Turk Cruise Center which they opened in 2006 and is responsible for bringing nearly 640,000 passengers to the island annually.

The new Welcome Center is designed to draw people into town (from the Cruise Center). The complex, located at the southeast corner of Front and Market streets, will include a tourist information office, restaurant/lounge, and shopping.

Shown in the artist's renderings below, its architectural style is patterned after the area's existing architecture.






The new complex is slated to open by the end of 2011.