Cruise Buzz

#TurkeyOnDeck: Carnival Cruise Lines newest social media contest.

Forget the The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the cruise industry has their own float on a boat.  

Get your social media channels set to monitor Carnival Cruise Line’s newest contest: “Name the Giant Turkey” taking place on Twitter.

As part of Carnival Cruise Lines  Thanksgiving celebration on Carnival Breeze,  the cruise line has announced  a social media contest to give the giant turkey a moniker. The “Name the Giant Turkey Twitter Contest” will run from Nov. 21-25. To participate, contestants use the hashtag #TurkeyOnDeck. Carnival will pick the top three names on Monday, Nov. 26, with the winner announced later that day. The prize is a $500 gift card to fund the winner’s next holiday party.

The 1,250-pound nylon turkey — wearing a straw beach hat and colorful Hawaiian shirt — is scheduled to be displayed on Wednesday, Nov. 21, in time for holiday festivities. The giant fowl will sit 14 stories above the waterline and gaze toward nearby McArthur Causeway until just before the ship makes its inaugural sailing from Miami on Thanksgiving Day.

Following a two-day introductory cruise that departs Thanksgiving Day, Carnival Breeze will launch year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Miami Saturday, Nov. 24.

More Turkey Tweets from Carnival PR

CarnivalCruiseFor a chance to win, tweet your best turkey name idea… with the hashtag #TurkeyOnDeck, of course. pic.twitter.com/y7xIty99

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Just noticed our turkey’s name tag is blank! Help name the turkey for a chance to win a $500 gift card for your holiday party. #TurkeyOnDeck

CarnivalCruiseJust like the #CarnivalBreeze is its biggest ship, this turkey is easily the biggest bird PortMiami has ever seen. #TurkeyOnDeck

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(That’s okay — we’re also presenting a donation to Feeding South Florida that will provide 137,500 meals to families in need!) #TurkeyOnDeck

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This big bird could easily feed thousands of families this Thanksgiving… if it had thumbs. #TurkeyOnDeck pic.twitter.com/GML8FvAI

CarnivalCruiseNow aboard #CarnivalBreeze, reports indicate that our feathered friend may be looking for Lido Deck. #TurkeyOnDeck pic.twitter.com/G71JQzOY

CarnivalCruisePeek-a-boo! #TurkeyOnDeck #CarnivalBreeze pic.twitter.com/V0juPosl

CarnivalCruiseThe stuffing of our 50-foot turkey is coming along nicely! Mmmm…. stuffing. #turkeyondeck #CarnivalBreeze pic.twitter.com/r4BsDeuV

CarnivalCruiseBelieve it: the biggest turkey you’ve ever seen is getting ready to board #CarnivalBreeze in Miami! Stay tuned for pics! #TurkeyOnDeck

The Twitter Stream – #TurkeyOnDeck

John Heald presenting @feedingsfl with a check for the 137,500 meals. #turkeyondeck

Also on Wednesday, Carnival  presented a charitable donation to Feeding South Florida. The donation will help provide 137,500 meals to families in need throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. Pembroke Pines–based Feeding South Florida is the largest food bank in the state and a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. In 2011, Feeding South Florida distributed more than 30 million pounds of food valued at almost $50 million within the South Florida community.