To celebrate Carnival Breeze’s arrival at the Port of Galveston, Carnival Cruise Line — Texas’ largest cruise operator — and the NFL’s Houston Texans hosted “Moms Dash to the Splash” yesterday.
The on-board event officially kicked off the recently announced partnership between Carnival and the popular NFL franchise and featured Houston Texans players DeAndre Hopkins and Brian Cushing competing with local moms in a water slide race for charity. It also included a traditional maritime plaque exchange between Carnival Breeze Captain Vincenzo Alcaras and Port of Galveston’s Director Mike Mierzwa.
Following a spirited pep rally on Lido Deck by the Houston Texans Cheerleaders and the Deep Thunder Band, local Texas moms — selected via an online contest — competed with Cushing and Hopkins in an exciting head-to-head water slide race on Carnival Breeze’s massive 312-foot-long Twister slide and exhilarating DrainPipe water slide attraction.
Team Cushing won and received $10,000 for the Brian Cushing Foundation, which assists and supports military families. As runner-up, Team Hopkins received $5,000 for Houston Food Bank, with all participating moms receiving a free Carnival cruise. The moms and race spectators were also treated to a delicious Mother’s Day brunch prior to the race.
President of Carnival Cruise Line Christine Duffy said, “Galveston is one of our most popular homeports, and what better way to celebrate the arrival of Carnival Breeze on Mother’s Day than with a fun event with our newest partners, the Houston Texans, that honors local moms and benefits two great Houston-area charities.”
Brian Cushing said, “It was great to participate in ‘Moms Dash to the Splash,’ and receive $10,000 for my charity. Mother’s Day is about spending time with family and having fun, and today was a great way to do just that aboard the Carnival Breeze.”
The arrival of Carnival Breeze to Galveston further bolsters Carnival Cruise Line’s position as Texas’ most popular cruise line with three year-round ships carrying more than 650,000 passengers annually.
In addition to Carnival Breeze, which launches seven-day Caribbean service from Galveston later today, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom offer four- to seven-day voyages visiting popular ports in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico.
