Carnival Cruise Lines has appointed M&C Saatchi PR to handle its consumer and trade PR in the UK.

The appointment coincides with Carnival Cruise Lines’ continued emphasis toward attracting more British holiday makers with the launch of a new ship, the Carnival Breeze, in the Med this year, a 2013 ex-UK deployment of the Carnival Legend, and a £100 million refit of another ship, Carnival Sunshine, that will also operate seasonally in Europe for 2013.

M&C Saatchi PR has been brought in to help enhance the visibility of the Carnival brand in the UK through national, lifestyle, consumer, social and trade travel media.

Erin Johnson, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Carnival, said: “Carnival has big plans to develop the awareness and increase demand for its cruises in the UK and Ireland. The team at M&C Saatchi PR had some terrific ideas and tremendous enthusiasm for our brand that really stood out from the rest. They are the perfect agency to help take Carnival to the next level.”

Carnival Cruise Lines has 23 ‘Fun Ships’ operating three to 18-day voyages in Europe, the British Isles, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Tahiti, the Fiji Islands, Bermuda, South America, Norway, and the Baltic.

Chris Hides, MD of M&C Saatchi PR, comments: “Carnival Cruise Lines’ holiday philosophy is built around fun which is a dream for us as a creative PR agency. As well as the big thinking, our experience of working well alongside and integrating with ad agencies was also a key factor in winning this prestigious account.”