Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/722202
B M & T ••• May/June 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 T o celebrate the arrival of New Orleans' newest cruise ship, Carnival Triumph, Carnival Cruise Line and the Port of New Orleans recently hosted an entertaining charity event with representatives from four local music organizations competing for $35,000 in dona- tions to music charities. Trumpeter/vocalist Shamarr Allen, com- peting on behalf of the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Jazz Camp; singer Robin Barnes, competing for the Tipitina's Foundation; saxo- phonist Derek Douget, representing The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation; and Rebirth Brass Band drummer and Roots of Music Co-founder Derrick Tabb participated in a series of hilarious "minute-to- win it" games with Tipitina's Foundation taking home first prize of $15,000. The other groups split $20,000 in runner-up contributions toward the charities each were representing. Officials from Carnival Cruise Line, includ- ing Carnival Triumph Captain Alessandro Iemmi, Vice President of Commercial Port Operations Torres de Navarra and Vice President of Field Sales Mike Julius, along with Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange hosted a traditional maritime plaque exchange to commemorate the ship's arrival at the port. Carnival Triumph represents a 34 percent capacity increase on the line's four- and five-day cruise program from New Orleans. Together with Carnival Dream, which operates year- round seven-day voyages, Carnival is expected to carry 450,000 passengers annually from the renovated Erato Street Terminal, representing the largest ever capacity commitment by a cruise line in New Orleans. Carnival is the only cruise line to operate year-round from New Orleans and offers the widest variety of cruise durations and itinerary choices from the Big Easy, visiting tropical destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and The Bahamas. "New Orleans has been a valued partner for more than 20 years and today's event was a wonderfully fun and unique way to celebrate the arrival of Carnival Triumph and support some of the city's most treasured music organizations," said Torres de Navarra. "We would like to thank our friends at the Port of New Orleans, the local ARRIVAL OF NEW ORLEANS' NEWEST CRUISE SHIP, CARNIVAL TRIUMPH, CELEBRATED WITH FUN CHARITY EVENT ON BOARD BENEFITING FOUR LOCAL MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS Latest Capacity Increase Will Result in 450,000 Carnival Cruise Passengers Annually From New Orleans – Most of Any Cruise Operator C R U I S E N E W S