Carnival Corporation is planning on making a big splash this January during Super Bowl XLIX with a brand new commercial. A commercial that will be chosen by the public from a collection of four semi-finalist commercials. Yet, while four commercials are in the running, only one captures the true beauty of cruising.
The commercial is titled, “Message In A Bottle,” and it opens on a tropical beach with a young girl running towards the ocean. Discovering a bottle, she picks it up and discovers a note inside. Reading the note, we are transported into the ocean, into the world of cruising. As the commercial moves along, we are immersed into a number of scenes and moments that occur aboard a cruise ship. From a romantic moment by the sea, to a dinner with close friends, and a tropical deck party, we see the true world of cruising. For those of us who have cruised, we know these moments well. For those who haven’t cruised, I believe the true beauty of cruising is on display for the world with this commercial.
Commercials for cruises in the past have been for the most part, gimmicky. While there are notable exceptions, many commercials have just gotten it wrong in the past. For years, the notion of cruising for cruise virgins has been “non stop booze cruise” or “being trapped in confined spaces.” This commercial by Carnival Corporation, in my opinion, finally gets it right. Cruising is a beautiful thing. It’s an adventure waiting to happen, a moment in time meant to be treasured. Sure, a cruise is what you make of it. If a booze cruise is your idea of a fun time, by all means, have a blast. Yet, this image of cruising is outdated. Cruising has become so much more. Cruising isn’t something we do. Cruising is a world we live in, albeit for maybe only a week at a time. Cruising takes us to places we’ve never seen, motivates us to do things we haven’t done, helps us grow closer to others, and truly allows us to enjoy the life we live in. Some of my happiest moments have been aboard a cruise ship. I only wish these experiences could be shared by those who don’t cruise.
It’s the last line of the commercial that get’s me: “I wish you could see what I’ve seen.” It’s what I tell my non-cruising friends and family each time I return from a cruise. I think this commercial may finally show the world what cruising is all about.
Carnival Corporation: You’ve captured the true beauty of cruising.
