Carnival Corp has announced the completion of a multi-million-dollar redesign and upgrade of Cruise Terminal 2 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Used exclusively by the company’s Princess Cruises brand, the upgraded terminal now features a more streamlined departure design, interactive experiences, movie theatre and more comfortable pre-boarding areas.
“When our guests arrive at the terminal excited about their cruise, that’s a great opportunity for us to begin immersing them in a more personalised and hassle-free vacation experience,” said John Padgett, Carnival Corp’s chief experience and innovation officer. “We have completely transformed the arrival so that our guests can board at a pace that’s more relaxed and convenient for them. Our focus is on the entire guest experience with a special emphasis on making the arrival experience exceptional. From guests’ homes through the cruise terminal and to their stateroom, every guest engagement is intended to maximise their vacation experience.”
The upgrade includes the addition of Carnival Corp’s proprietary xIoT (Experiential Internet of Things) network, which is activated by the patented Ocean Medallion. As a result, guests sailing on Medallion Class ships will enjoy expedited boarding and a more personalised arrival experience, as soon as they enter the terminal.
That includes interacting with their Ocean Tagalong on a large LED screen that surrounds the Ocean Portal area where guests enter after clearing the security and check-in areas.
Ocean Tagalongs are digital companions that guests create and personalise using the SocialOcean app – available for download through the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Guests can select from among three sea creatures – Sea Turtle, Seahorse or Butterfly Fish – to best reflect their personality or mood, then further customise their Ocean Tagalong by body shape, colour, pattern, markings and more.
Guests’ Ocean Tagalongs take centre stage on the Ocean Portal screen in the heart of the terminal as the avatars of guests in the immediate area appear in a vibrantly-animated ocean setting that creates an excellent photo moment, Carnival said.
For guests wanting to stay connected prior to boarding their cruise, Terminal 2 now features Carnival Corp’s new MedallionNet, a connectivity service that is claimed to deliver the best Wi-Fi experience in the cruise industry. MedallionNet provides cruise guests in the terminal and on board Medallion Class ships with easy-to-access Wi-Fi that features high speeds and bandwidth, pervasive stateroom signal strength and unprecedented service consistency.
The connectivity also lets guests enjoy the company’s portfolio of original mobile games before and after boarding. PlayOcean Everywhere features four social casino games that can be played anywhere at any time with virtual currency, in addition to in-app purchases to boost gameplay for even more fun.
On the first floor, guests also can relax in the OceanView Theatre – a comfortable cinema that features the award-winning, originally produced Ocean Original travel series that transports viewers to new and exotic places, introduces them to extraordinary people who live there and provides inspiration for near and far ocean travel.
The terminal’s second level offers picturesque views of Fort Lauderdale’s Intracoastal Waterway and Princess Cruises ships berthed alongside.
It also includes another interactive Ocean Tagalong experience that allows guests to direct their ‘creatures’ through a series of screens by moving their arms and hands to control the creature’s swimming motions and directions, as guests prepare for boarding.
The 141,000 gt ‘Regal Princess’ will be the first ship to depart from the newly redesigned terminal, as she begins a series of preview cruises introducing Ocean Medallion Vacations.
