Carnival Cruise Line Unveils Heroes Tribute Bar on Newest Ship

(12:27 p.m. EST) -- Carnival Cruise Line unveiled its newest bar concept, the Heroes Tribute Bar, during the inaugural celebrations for Carnival Panorama. The bar continues the line's longstanding support of the military and offers a full array of beverages with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Carnival partner Operation Homefront.

"The Heroes Tribute Bar is a project that is very near and dear to my heart and one that everyone at Carnival is extremely proud of," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. She was joined by military personnel and veterans for the grand opening celebration of the bar during Panorama's inaugural sailing.

Honoring the military is personal for Duffy. Her son is joining the Army as a JAG officer next year, and her father and uncles were all in the military.

"We're always looking for new ways to honor our military heroes, and this new outlet is a wonderful tribute to the sacrifices of our armed services personnel and their families."

The venue, found in the space usually reserved for the SkyBox Sports Bar, features all-American decor with the logos of the five armed service branches of the U.S. Military, as well as patriotic and military memorabilia throughout the room. The venue's walls are lined with photos and messages centering on three main themes: Welcome Home, Thank You for Your Service and America's Heroes. Eventually the space will also display donated uniforms.

In addition to the usual beverage lineup, specialty cocktails are available, served in a custom pint glass with a portion of each sale benefitting Operation Homefront. Pint glasses are also available for purchase.

Duffy said she expects to replace all the sports bars across the fleet with the Heroes Tribute Bar eventually. The bar still features a sports ticker and multiple TVs, so sports fans can catch games there.

Carnival Panorama sailed on its inaugural voyage yesterday after a star-studded christening celebration.