Carnival is taking a deep dive into digital entertainment via the launch of PlayOcean, a rich collection of mobile games for Google Play and iOS.
The new games are part of a bigger digital entertainment initiative to keep passengers entertained, when they are onboard Carnival cruises or on dry land.
Just like with Carnival’s Ocean Medallion wearables, revealed in January, the idea is to engage with travellers anywhere, anytime. PlayOcean is designed for a “vacation market” that the company wants to own.
Miami-based Carnival has created 2 apps, PlayOcean Casino and PlayOcean Everywhere, that can be played for money at sea and for fun on land, respectively. PlayOcean Everywhere has 4 free-to-play mobile games. PlayOcean Casino features a combination of social casino games and real-money gambling games.
PlayOcean Casino complies with local gambling laws and while guests are on land, they can play for virtual coins. At sea, however, they can play it for real money, because gambling is legal at sea. The app will be available for game play later in 2017 on Princess Cruises Medallion Class ships.
Carnival Corporation celebrated the official availability of PlayOcean yesterday, September 28, with an event in Times Square which synchronized multiple digital billboards to showcase the brand new games, and an activation center where people could learn more.
The company used the event to demonstrate the new OceanView digital streaming channel which provides global consumers with free access to entertainment both on land and at sea.