Green Thunder for Carnival down under

[CruiseNews]

The 1,500 entries have been reviewed and, Aussie fan Elke Faulwetter has successfully named the new thrill slide on board Carnival Spirit ‘Green Thunder’.

Elke will be flown to the U.S.A in January 2012 to inaugurate the slide following Carnival Spirit’s dry dock and US$7 million ‘Aussification’ in preparation for her Sydney home porting in October.

Passengers will step into the ‘Green Thunder’ before the floor drops away and they plummet ten metres, almost vertically, through a semi-translucent slide before looping just off the ship and splashing down on deck.

Carnival Spirit’s Australian cruise director, Stu Dunn, headed to Sydney to brief media on the plans for the ship during her January dry dock.

Born and bred in Sydney, Stu has worked as cruise director with Carnival for eight years with two of those onboard Carnival Spirit.

“It was pretty much the happiest day of my life,” Stu said of the news he would be based out of Sydney from October 2012.

Stu also shared with e-Travel Blackboard his admiration of Carnival Cruise Line’s senior cruise director John Heald, but said that he doubted he would have enough time to become as famous a blogger as John has been in recent years.

Carnival Spirit will also feature a brand new ‘WaterWorks’ and ‘Splash Park’ for younger cruisers who can indulge in staying cool with the ‘Power Drencher’ and two mini racing slides.

Adults wanting some time out can take advantage of the new adult-exclusive area, ‘Serenity’, one of the largest child-free zones at sea, complete with a pool, spa, double hammocks, sun lounges and cocktail bar.

Stu’s dream of creating an Aussie outdoor BBQ at sea has also come true as part of the refurbishments with sausages and skewers served up for passengers.

Families have been catered for further with an additional 86 interconnecting cabins slated, with at least one of the cabins featuring a balcony.

Coffee lovers will be treated to locally ‘accepted’ beans and the search for Australia’s best barista will commence on Facebook. The winner will train the onboard baristas to ensure Aussie standards are adhered to.

Fans will be called on over the next 12 months to be a part of the ‘Aussification’ of the ship via the line’s Facebook page and Carnival are encouraging people to make this ship theirs.

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