Carnival Cruise Line has recreated one of its most iconic advertising moments with a modern twist, enlisting Hallmark star Jonathan Bennett to pay tribute to Kathie Lee Gifford’s popular 1984 television commercial.
The new video is a scene-by-scene homage to the original “Fun Ships” ad, in which Gifford famously sang “Ain’t We Got Fun.”
Bennett follows the same choreography and dons updated costumes inspired by the original, while singing his own rendition of the catchy tune.
Honouring Kathie Lee Gifford’s legacy
The remake, shared on Carnival and Bennett’s Instagram accounts on 2nd January 2025, quickly garnered thousands of likes.
Fans celebrated the tribute as a nod to both Gifford’s enduring legacy with Carnival and the cruise line’s commitment to fun-filled vacations.
Jonathan Bennett holds a special connection to Carnival as the godfather of Carnival Firenze, which debuted in April 2024.
Alongside his husband, Jaymes Vaughan, the actor also celebrates their anniversary annually on a Carnival cruise.
Kathie Lee Gifford’s association with Carnival began with her 1984 commercial, the first national TV advertisement in the cruise industry.
She became a defining spokesperson for the brand throughout the 1980s and 1990s, serving as godmother to the original Celebration and Carnival Ecstasy.
While Gifford hasn’t reprised the role of godmother recently, she participated in the naming ceremony of Carnival Sunrise in 2019 and passed on the tradition to her daughter, Cassidy Gifford, who became godmother to Carnival Celebration in 2022.
Gifford’s GIFFT Wines, launched in partnership with Scheid Family Wines, are another lasting mark of her involvement with Carnival.
Introduced in 2015, the wines remain available across the fleet in main dining rooms, bars, and as part of beverage packages.
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