Carnival Cruise Lines’ giant 40-foot-high slide and other fun activities at Charleston’s Cooper River Bridge Run Finish Festival are highlighted in an entertaining new on-line video.   Carnival’s sponsorship of the race coincides with the launch of the line’s new year-round service from Charleston beginning May 18 on the Carnival Fantasy.

Hosted by Carnival Cruise Director Malcolm Burn, the video showcases the line’s participation in popular race, one of the most popular in the country attracting tens of thousands of runners and spectators.

In addition to enormous inflatable slide – the largest outdoor attraction ever featured at the Bridge Run -- the line’s mascot, “Fun Ship” Freddy, was on hand to greet runners and walkers at the various events.  Carnival ambassadors also handed out glow-in-the-dark horns to Kids Run participants and spectators.

Carnival also committed to donate $1 to the MUSC Children’s Hospital for every rider who went down the slide. Thanks to the support of thousands of riders and participants, $5,000 will be donated to the hospital.

The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy will launch the first year-round cruise program from Charleston, with five-, six- and seven-day voyages to the Bahamas and Key West, Fla., beginning May 18, from the city’s historic Passenger Terminal.