Carnival Cruise Line Announces Godmother of Carnival Celebration

Carnival Cruise Line has announced that Kathie Lee Gifford’s daughter, actress Cassidy Gifford, will serve as godmother of its newest ship Carnival Celebration.

In a video released today, she was surprised with the news by her mother, who was godmother to Carnival Celebration‘s namesake, MS Celebration, christened in 1987. Her mother served as Carnival’s spokesperson in the company’s TV campaigns going back to the 80s, which were the first such network broadcasting advertisements for the cruise industry. Kathie Lee is also a four-time Emmy Award-winning television personality.

Cassidy first sailed Carnival as a baby and has many childhood memories of vacationing on the line’s ships with her mother and father, the late Frank Gifford, who was a NFL and sports broadcasting legend.

“Carnival Cruise Line has been a huge part of our family with my earliest memories taking family trips on Carnival ships,” said Cassidy Gifford. “And now to be asked to be Godmother of the namesake ship to the one my mom christened is truly an honor and a blessing. There was no hesitation when my mom asked me, and I can’t wait to see this amazing ship in Miami in November.”

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“I was Carnival’s spokesperson for nearly 20 years starting in 1984, a time when I got married and had my children. They joined me on many television shoots on Carnival ships, so we have so many great memories,” said Kathie Lee Gifford. “To be able to pass the torch to my daughter Cassidy as she is named Godmother of the new Carnival Celebration makes me so happy, I almost cried!”

Cassidy has been acting from a young age and is best known for her work in the box office hits God’s Not Dead and Warner Brothers’ The Gallows. She has appeared in many other television and film roles, even winning the prize for Exceptional Emerging Artist at the 2018 Hollywood Film Festival. She currently lives with her husband in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I can’t wait to welcome Cassidy and Kathie Lee on board and show off this beautiful new ship,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “So much has changed in our industry and our company over the past 50 years – it gives new meaning to those words Kathie Lee sang for Carnival – ‘if they could see us now!’”

Carnival Celebration is scheduled to debut this November at the redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami. Cassidy will officially name and christen the vessel during a ceremony on November 20th at the port.

Watch the video of Kathie Lee surprising Cassidy with the news:

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