The magic continues!  In a time-honored maritime tradition, a ceremony recently was held aboard Carnival Magic at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, during which a commemorative coin was welded to the ship’s mast to mark a significant construction milestone. Carnival Cruise Lines’ 3,690-passenger “Fun Ship” is set to debut in Europe May 1, 2011.

The ceremony – which dates back to the ancient Romans who believed that attaching coins to a ship provided divine protection – signifies the successful completion of Carnival Magic’s exterior outfitting. With just eight months until the ship’s maiden voyage, work continues on Carnival Magic’s dramatic interiors and unique on-board innovations.

Exclusive images and videos of the coin ceremony, as well as Carnival Magic’s fun and exciting features, are available at www.carnivalmagic.com, a micro-site showcasing this spectacular “Fun Ship.”

“With the completion of the coin ceremony, Carnival Magic is right on schedule and we can’t wait for our guests to experience this fantastic ship,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.  “Carnival Magic captures the essence of a ‘Fun Ship’ vacation with innovative on-board spaces, delicious new dining options and fun and engaging activities to provide guests a lifetime of magical memories.”

Carnival Magic’s eventual year-round homeport will be Galveston, Texas, so the ceremony had a strong Texas presence with Carnival represented by Texas-based Business Development Director Shannon McElroy, Mike Julius, the company’s managing director of U.S. sales, and Roberto Fazi, project manager for Carnival’s corporate shipbuilding division. Fincantieri was represented by Shipyard Director Carlo de Marco while Laura Buttignon, a 35-year Fincantieri veteran whose father also was employed by the shipbuilder, served as madrina, or godmother, at the ceremony. 

Following the coin ceremony, thousands of talented artisans, craftsmen and workers returned to work on Carnival Magic’s one-of-a-kind features.

Those include a new island-inspired watering hole, RedFrog Pub, which features its own private-label draught beer; Cucina del Capitano, an authentic trattoria that brings the heritage of Carnival’s Italian captains to the table, and an expansive outdoor sports complex offering cruising’s first-ever ropes course, outdoor weight-lifting area and gargantuan 500-gallon water dump bucket — part of the splash-tastic WaterWorks aqua park.

Spanning 15 fun-filled decks, Carnival Magic will offer other guest-pleasing features such as The Lanai, a wraparound promenade with whirlpools that extend out over the ship’s sides; Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue; innovative accommodations including cove balcony cabins closer to the waterline and two-bath, five-berth staterooms that should hold particular appeal to families; a mouth-watering array of formal and casual dining options offering cuisines from around the world; the relaxing Serenity adults-only retreat, and the Cloud 9 Spa, one of the largest health and wellness facilities at sea.