Carnival Vista Arrived New York with a Gala Event for Military Families
Carnival Vista Godmother, Deshauna Barber, the first woman in the U.S. military to have won the Miss USA title.
To celebrate the U.S. arrival the new Carnival Vista, Carnival Cruise Line held an overnight gala event in New York that featured a concert for Operation Homefront military families by country music super star Carrie Underwood. Underwood performed an hour-long set for hundreds of military personnel and their families.
The ship’s official naming ceremony culminated as Miss USA / Carnival Vista godmother Deshauna Barber released the ceremonial bottle of champagne over the hull of the 133,500-ton ship.
In addition to the concert, the festivities included overnight accommodations, meals, activities and entertainment for hundreds of military families. The festivities concluded the year-long Honor.Family.Fun. celebration sponsored by Carnival to support Operation Homefront.
Carnival Cruise Line carries more active and retired military personnel and I couldn’t think of a better way to introduce this spectacular vessel than by honoring and celebrating the sacrifices of our Armed Forces personnel,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Deshauna is the ideal candidate to serve as Carnival Vista’s godmother, embodying the spirit of commitment and sacrifice of those who protect our freedoms each and every day.
Deshauna Barber is the daughter of a retired Army master sergeant who was a member of the Special Forces. Barber joined the Army Reserve as a quartermaster officer in 2011 and earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from Virginia State University. , Barber went on to complete her masters in computer information systems from the University of Maryland University College. She currently serves as logistics commander for the 988th Quartermaster Detachment Unit in Rockville, Md.
I’m honored to serve as godmother of the brand new Carnival Vista and join a long line of strong, successful women who have fulfilled this time-honored role,” said Barber.
Carnival Vista introduces a number of cruise ship “firsts: that include: the first brewery on a North American-based cruise ship, the first IMAX Theatre at sea, the most elaborate water park in the fleet highlighted by the 455-foot-long Kaleid-o-slide, a groundbreaking bike-ride-in-the-sky aerial attraction called SkyRide, and Family Harbor with specially designed staterooms for families, a family concierge and more.
Carnival Vista will cruise two 11-day sailings from New York and then head to Miami for year-round Caribbean cruises beginning Nov. 27, 2016.
