Carnival Cruise Line is returning to New York City’s Times Square for New Year’s Eve. For the fourth year in a row, the cruise line will be helping light the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball.

Highlighting Carnival’s support for active service members, veterans, and their families, Medal of Honor recipients Jack Jacobs and Earl Plumlee as well as Chris Cassidy, president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum, are joining Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Guest Operations Sarah Beth Reno for the festivities. Plumlee accompanied Reno and Cassidy on Tuesday morning for the lighting test of the Ball, and Jacobs will join to help flip the switch for the official lighting ahead of the countdown to midnight.

In addition to serving as the official cruise line sponsor for Times Square New Year’s Eve once again, Carnival will also serve as the on-site Times Square countdown clock sponsor and as a musical sponsor for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025” on ABC. It will air live starting at 8 pm eastern time and stream the following day on Hulu.

Jacobs and Cassidy were invited by Carnival to join the New Year’s Eve Ball lighting in honor of their military service and dedication to supporting veterans and military families, a commitment championed by the cruise line. Carnival carries the most military members and hosts a military appreciation day and tribute on all of its sailings. The cruise brand also supports multiple veterans and military-related causes.

Carnival will serve as a founding partner of the National Medal of Honor Museum, which is set to open in Arlington, Texas in March.

“As America’s cruise line, we’re extremely grateful to take part in this great American tradition, welcoming in 2025 in Times Square, with true American heroes. We show our appreciation for service members on every Carnival cruise, and supporting the National Medal of Honor Museum is an opportunity for us to further our commitment to honoring those whose service ensures our freedom,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “2025 is going to be a pivotal year as well for us at Carnival, with the opening of Celebration Key on Grand Bahama. This new exclusive destination will offer our guests their own slice of paradise no matter how they define it.”

Carnival is highlighting the opening of its new private Bahamian destination, Celebration Key, with the debut of a new TV commercial and full paid media campaign, including Times Square billboards. Celebration Key, which is scheduled to open this July, sits on over a mile of white sand beach and is set among the largest freshwater lagoons in the Caribbean.

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