NEW YORK—Carnival Cruise Lines launched its new Vista-class vessel, Carnival Horizon, with a cascade of Champagne and an onboard party for 2,000 Wednesday in New York City.

Dignitaries, company executives, more than 800 travel agents and international media were among guests who boarded at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal to be among the first to experience the 26th ship in Carnival’s fleet, just hours after it arrived in New York for the first time.

They were invited to party until the wee hours before heading to their cabins for the night. The Horizon didn’t leave the pier, so guests enjoyed a dockside cruise experience, disembarking after breakfast.

The highlight was the traditional naming ceremony that officially launched and named the Horizon, presided over by the ship’s godmother, hip-hop artist and actress, Queen Latifah.

No Champagne bottles were smashed against the Horizon’s hull. Instead, the ship’s inaugural season bell was doused with bubbles poured by Latifah and Carnival Horizon Capt. Luigi De Angelis.

There was plenty poured for guests as well, who were in the mood to celebrate as they explored Horizon and experienced some of the ship’s bars, restaurants and entertainment.

“It gives me great pride to join the long list of noteworthy women who have come before me to fulfill this time-honoured role of godmother for Carnival Cruise Line,” said Latifah of officially naming “this spectacular vessel.”

The atrium where the naming ceremony took place is dominated by a two-storey, colourful Dreamscape media tower, which showcases drawings by more than 30 young patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Carnival Cruise Line is an enthusiastic supporter of the children’s cancer treatment centre and research facility. Carnival President Christine Duffy presented a $100,000 cheque to St. Jude yesterday, adding to the more than $16M the company has raised for the facility since 2010.

Super Bowl champion, Jake Elliott, of the Philadelphia Eagles was also on board, taking part in a spirited lip sync battle with Latifah. Guests will carry on the singalong showdowns on each voyage, said Cruise Director Mike Pack.

Food Network star Guy Fieri, a longtime Carnival partner, arrived wearing his trademark sunglasses to open Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse-Brewhouse.

He joked the idea of an authentic barbecue joint on a ship was a dream he didn’t think “would float” when he suggested it to the cruise line. “It’s something you’ll never see anywhere else, only here on Carnival,” said Fieri before cutting the Carnival ribbon to officially open the restaurant.

Guests sampled Fieri’s Trash Can Nachos, Dragon Chili Cheese Fries and house-made smoked sausages with cheese, along with the restaurant’s four signature craft beers. They’re made on board in the first brewery on a ship in North America.

Elsewhere, guests enjoyed discovering ship and listening to a variety of musicians, from pop classics played on strings to vintage rock, hits and acoustic jams. Comics did sets, there was singalong in the Piano Bar 88 and double DJs were spinning after midnight.

There were IMAX movies, a poolside screening of Black Panther, a virtual thrill theatre and then the real thing on the upper deck with a fireworks display.

The two-level shopping mall wasn’t open for guests, but people did plenty of window shopping.

The cruise line puts the emphasis on fun and families, said Duffy. And the Horizon has plenty to keep young cruisers entertained, including the new Dr. Seuss WaterWorks, Carnival’s first, with two massive slides and a 300-gallon tipping bucket patterned after the Cat in the Hat’s whimsical top hat.

The Horizon also has the first Japanese teppanyaki restaurant for the cruise line, where diners can enjoy interacting with chefs who turn dining into entertainment

Guests disembarked early Thursday so the Carnival Horizon could be readied to welcome its first guests for four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from New York. Starting Sept. 22, the ship moves to Miami for year-round, six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises. Carnival Horizon will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22.

For more information, go to Carnival.com.