Captain Giovanni Cutugno, whose maritime career has spanned more than three decades, has been named master of Carnival Cruise Lines’ newest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic. The Messina, Italy, native will oversee all operations of the 3,690-passenger vessel which is set to debut in Europe in May 2011.
Carnival Magic marks the fourth new Carnival ship that the highly experienced mariner has introduced. He also served as the captain during the inaugural seasons of the Carnival Inspiration in 1996, Carnival Spirit in 2001, and Carnival Valor in 2004.
Under Captain Cutugno’s command, Carnival Magic will debut with a series of seven- to 12-day Mediterranean cruises from May 1 to Oct. 16, 2011. Following a 16-day transatlantic crossing, the ship will launch year-round seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston Nov. 14, 2011.
As the line’s newest “Fun Ship,” Carnival Magic will offer a number of unique innovations, including Cucina del Capitano, which brings the heritage of Carnival’s captains to the table. Archival photos of Captain Cutugno and other Carnival captains will adorn the walls of the 100-seat eatery.
Other unique features on the Carnival Magic include RedFrog Pub, an island-inspired watering hole featuring its own private label beer; and SportsSquare, an outdoor recreation complex with the first-ever ropes course and outdoor weight-lifting area. Among the many features within the ship’s sprawling WaterWorks aqua park will be a 500-gallon dump bucket – the largest at sea.
These and other exciting features are showcased in an interactive micro-site, www.carnivalmagic.com, which offers a full-screen virtual tour, exclusive images and videos, construction footage and more.