Carnival Cruise Line hosted a celebration on Thursday honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary aboard the Carnival Paradise at Port Tampa Bay.

Carnival welcomed local community partners, veterans, business leaders and government officials to commemorate the historic milestone and reinforce Carnival’s deep connection to the Tampa community.

“As America’s cruise line, we’re proud to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in our homeport cities,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “We’re bringing people together to honor our nation, celebrate the local community and thank those who protect our freedom.”

Guests were greeted with a spectacular 40-foot-tall inflatable patriotic bald eagle prominently displayed on the top deck of Carnival Paradise during the embarkation process. Grounded in Carnival’s long-standing tradition of honoring military personnel, the celebration included a dedicated military tribute recognizing active-duty service members, local veterans and first responders in attendance. Each member of the military was presented with a specially designed, limited-edition America250 challenge coin. Adding to the fun, Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat made a special appearance, donning a patriotic outfit to celebrate the anniversary.

The Tampa event is one of Carnival’s America250 patriotic events throughout the summer, which include homeport community celebrations in Long Beach, Baltimore and Jacksonville.

Guests across the fleet will experience special onboard activities and several ships will meet up to watch spectacular fireworks shows on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.