Families sailing with Carnival Cruise Line this week may find a 40-foot red-and-white hat waiting on deck. The line is marking the release of Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's new "The Cat in the Hat" film with themed events on 23 ships, Carnival said in a Nov. 2 release. The movie opens in theaters on Nov. 6.
The fun runs for the two weeks leading up to the premiere. Carnival is also adding two new activities to its year-round Seuss at Sea program, so the Seuss theme will outlast the movie events.
What is happening on board
Carnival lists six limited-time events tied to the film. Availability and timing vary by ship and sailing, the line says.
| Event | What it is |
|---|---|
| Hat inflatables | 40-foot Cat in the Hat hats on select open decks during embarkation |
| The Cat's Hollywood Debut Party | Balloon drops, a striped "premiere carpet," characters and crafts in the atrium |
| The Cat's Secret Surprise | Deliveries to select staterooms with postcards, snacks and meet-and-greet invites |
| Build-A-Bear Workshop | Thing 1 and Thing 2 bear shirts and a special Cat in the Hat bear |
| Camp Ocean activities | The Cat's Messy Room Mission, Stacking Challenge and Rhyme-O-Rama |
| Photo ops | Movie-themed green screen pictures |
The atrium party is the big moment. Carnival's photos show red and white balloons falling around a striped column, with kids reaching up to catch them.
Two new Seuss at Sea activities
Seuss at Sea already includes the Seuss-a-palooza character parade, Seuss-a-palooza Story Time, the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Birthday Breakfast and Dr. Seuss Bookville. Carnival is adding two more:
- Seuss-a-palooza Game Time is a new show in the main theater. It mixes Dr. Seuss-inspired music, dancing, tongue twisters and games, and it leads into Story Time.
- Seuss-a-palooza Family Time gets everyone moving. Families act like their favorite Seuss characters, act out scenes from the books and play Seuss-themed charades.
These two are part of the regular program, not just the movie tie-in. As with the other events, the line says the timing depends on the ship and sailing.
Fifteen years of Dr. Seuss at sea
Carnival says the new programming marks 15 years of working with Dr. Seuss. "We've seen millions of children light up as they experience the world of Dr. Seuss aboard our ships, and we're excited to give families even more ways to create those special memories together," said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.
"Celebrating the new 'The Cat in the Hat' movie adds a fun new chapter to our 15-year partnership and brings more family entertainment to life across our ships," she added.
The line is also running a co-branded ad for the film online, on TV and streaming, and on in-cabin TVs on its ships.
Which ships have it
Carnival did not name the 23 ships taking part, Cruise Hive noted. If you sail in the next few days, check the daily schedule in the Carnival HUB app once you board. Since the events end with the Nov. 6 premiere, cruises that start after that date are less likely to see the movie extras. The new Game Time and Family Time shows are the ones to look for on later sailings.
Why it matters for families
Carnival leans hard on family programming, and a movie tie-in gives parents a little extra fun on sailings in the run-up to the premiere. The release does not list prices for the movie events. If you plan to visit Build-A-Bear or buy photos, check the ship's daily schedule or the HUB app for any costs before you go.
For more on the fleet, see our Carnival Cruise Line page, where every ship is rated for cabins, dining, entertainment and value.
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