MIAMI, July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- YouGov's BrandIndex
has ranked Carnival Cruise Lines the most-improved U.S. brand in
consumer perception, or "buzz," in its mid-year 2014 Buzz Rankings
Report. Throughout the second half of 2013 and thus far in 2014,
Carnival has initiated a number of new programs that have resonated
positively in the marketplace.
According to BrandIndex, Carnival's change in
consumer-perception score by mid-2014 was double the improvement
level achieved by the company ranked second on the most-improved
list.
"Carnival not only brought its consumer perception back in line
with the rest of industry, but their sales potential, indicated by
consumers who say they would consider the brand for their next
cruise, has rebounded above the rest of the cruise sector," said
Ted Marzilli, CEO of BrandIndex.
Contributing to Carnival's notable brand recovery was a series
of industry-first product innovations and marketing initiatives,
including:
- Seuss at Sea — An exclusive partnership with Dr.
Seuss Enterprises that brings the
beloved brand and characters on board Carnival ships, and offers a
variety of exciting and immersive family experiences.
- Carnival LIVE — A first-of-its-kind concert series
featuring exclusive on-board performances at select ports of call
by a diverse roster of popular music artists including Jennifer Hudson, STYX, Chicago, Jewel, Lady Antebellum and Daughtry,
among others.
- Shore Excursion Best Price Guarantee — Guests who find a
lower price on a shore excursion offered by another operator either
before or during their cruise receive 110 percent of the difference
in an on-board credit.
- Great Vacation Guarantee — A hassle-free program that
provides a 110 percent refund, complimentary transportation home
and a $100 shipboard credit for a
future cruise if guests are dissatisfied with their cruise for any
reason within 24 hours of departure.
- Camp Ocean — An exciting new marine-themed children's
program that immerses children ages 2 to 11 in the wonders of the
sea through more than 200 fun, engaging and educational
experiences.
"We have worked very hard at Carnival over the past year
to bring fresh programming and innovation to our ships while
maintaining consistently smooth operational performance and the
results of this latest BrandIndex data is a gratifying
acknowledgement of those efforts," said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival
Cruise Lines.
About BrandIndex
BrandIndex continuously measures
consumers' perceptions of thousands of brands across dozens of
business sectors based on the results of more than 2.5 million
consumer interviews it conducts each year. The firm bases its buzz
measurement on whether people have heard positive or negative
things about a brand by word of mouth from friends or relatives, or
in the media.
About Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival, a unit of
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is "The
World's Most Popular Cruise Line®" with 24 ships operating three-
to 23-day voyages to The Bahamas,
Caribbean, Mexican Riviera,
Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England, Bermuda. Australia, New
Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Tahiti. The company's
25th ship, the 135,000-ton Carnival Vista, is scheduled to enter
service in 2016
SOURCE Carnival Cruise Lines