Carnival Cruise Lines Launches Social Networking Web Application Through New CarnivalConnections.com Site
Designed and developed by Avenue A | Razorfish, CarnivalConnections.com enables cruise-goers to easily plan and manage their group travel needs in one single setting
SEATTLE Jan. 30, 2006 Avenue A | Razorfish, the largest interactive marketing and technology services firm and an operating unit of aQuantive, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQNT), today announced its newest website design and development work for Carnival Cruise Lines, the worlds largest cruise operator. CarnivalConnections.com, a social networking application and the first of its kind site in the cruise industry, enables travellers to easily plan and manage their group travel needs in one single social setting.
Through a clean and clear interactive navigation experience, Avenue A | Razorfish designed the website with the goal of making CarnivalConnections.com a true Internet destination. Both new and experienced cruisers are able to share their Carnival experiences and encourage others to join in on the Fun whether theyre planning a trip or not. Travelers can also use tools such as scheduling, group planning and community and message boards.
The Internet has proven to be the choice method for many for vacation travel and planning, said Bob Dickinson, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines. The launch of CarnivalConnections.com enables friends and family members to plan their vacations and group getaways online in just one setting taking advantage of the webs unique social networking capabilities.
Other site features include the ability for the group coordinator to invite others to consider cruising, get them to vote on which cruise they would like the group to go on, answer poll questions, select a theme for the event, and send messages to all the group members and more. Users also have direct access to current specials from Carnival.com, detailed information on ships, destinations and shore excursions. Lastly, reviews and postings from actual Carnival guests are available.
Todays online marketplace is more competitive than ever, and a companys website is a critical component to the success of its business, said Bob Lord, president of Avenue A | Razorfish East. Carnivals focus on the website is unparalleled and that is evident with its forward thinking launch today of CarnivalConnections.com. Were very excited about this effort to bring social networking capabilities to Carnival and their loyal guests.
Avenue A | Razorfish and Carnival Cruise Lines have worked together on website initiatives since 2001. In April 2004, the make-over of the popular Carnival.com website was released, offering enhanced site navigation, streaming video, personalized content tailored to each visitor, and more 360-degree virtual tours of the Fun Ship fleet. Most recently (December 2005), Carnival and Avenue A I Razorfish collaborated on a re-fresh of the Carnival.com website, which includes enhanced imagery, more information to help enable the customers decision to plan their cruise vacation and direct connection to their offline branding of A Million Ways to Have Fun.
About Avenue A/Razorfish
Avenue A | Razorfish (www.avenuea-razorfish.com) is the largest interactive marketing and technology services firm in the U.S., and an operating unit of Seattle-based aQuantive, Inc. (NASDAQ: AQNT). Avenue A | Razorfish solutions are entrenched in deep technology, rigorous analytics and a rich understanding of customer needs, including award-winning web media & creative, search marketing services, email marketing/eCRM, and world-class creative, design and implementation of customer websites and intranets/extranets. Avenue A | Razorfish operates three regions East, West and Central with offices located in major U.S. markets and headquarters in Seattle. Clients include AstraZeneca, Best Buy, Ford Motor Company, Kraft, Microsoft, Nike and Verizon. aQuantive, Inc. and all of its operating units are committed to Internet privacy.
About Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with a fleet of 21 Fun Ships operating three- to 16-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda and Europe.
The line will expand its fleet with the launch of three new SuperLiners the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom in February 2007 and an as-yet-unnamed 112,000-ton vessel and an as-yet-unnamed 130,000-ton ship the largest Fun Ship ever constructed in spring 2008 and fall 2009, respectively.
Source: Avenue A/Razorfish
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