“Carnival’s Seaside Theatres” — jumbo-sized LED screens currently featured poolside on five Carnival “Fun Ships,” including the new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor which debuted earlier this month – will be expanded to an additional five vessels over the next year.

The massive 270-square-foot screens display a variety of programming, including movies, concerts, news, sporting events and the entertaining “Morning Shows” which are hosted by the ships’ respective cruise directors. Additionally, during Carnival’s lively deck parties, music videos, along with live shots of the band and party guests, are displayed.

The first “Seaside Theatre” debuted aboard the 110,000-ton Carnival Liberty in 2005 and the concept proved so popular with guests that the facilities have been incorporated into all of the line’s subsequent new ship projects, including the 130,000-ton Carnival Dream currently under construction and set to debut Sept. 12, 2009.

The 101,000-ton Carnival Destiny and 102,000-ton Carnival Triumph will also be retrofitted with “Seaside Theatres” during scheduled dry docks later this year with the 110,000-ton Carnival Conquest and Carnival Glory set to receive the screens next year. In addition to Carnival Liberty and Carnival Splendor, other ships equipped with Seaside Theatres include Carnival Valor, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Victory.

“The ‘Seaside Theatre’ concept has resonated very positively with guests, providing a fun and interesting outdoor diversion that is enjoyed both during daytime and nighttime hours,” said Ruben Rodriguez, Carnival’s executive vice president of marketing and guest experience. “In addition to popular movies and major sporting events, our shipboard staff has made maximum use of the ‘Seaside Theatres,’ broadcasting custom-designed programming such as the engaging Morning Shows which have been a tremendous hit with guests,” he added.

The 12-foot-high by 22-foot-wide screens utilize the same technology featured in large stadiums and New York’s Times Square and can be seen during both the day and evening hours. In addition to superior picture quality, the state-of-the-art entertainment system includes a 70,000-watt sound system, providing concert quality sound, even outdoors.

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past six months or so, let me be the first to tell you: Because of fuel prices, most U.S. airlines are strapped for cash. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and so we’ve seen an explosion of moneymaking schemes to recoup some of the dollars being sucked up at the fuel pump. Now that fees for frequent flyers and other airline transactions are in place, major U.S. carriers are looking for a new way to turn on the cash hose: advertising.

Continental —along with Delta, Northwest, United, and US Airways—have signed with Sojern, a marketing company that targets travelers, to put advertisements on boarding passes. According to Tim Winship, writing for our sister site SmarterTravel.com, ads are going to play a much bigger role in air travel than they ever have before. Boarding passes are just the beginning.

Disney Cruise Line has applied for a 10-year permit (valid from 2010 to 2019) to visit Glacier Bay, one of the most popular destinations for scenic cruising on Alaska itineraries. Current regulations restrict the number of vessels that can visit this national park, as well as the number of days lines can have ships there throughout the season. Disney’s application for a permit is a clear sign that the line is considering offering Alaska cruises.

A spokeswoman for Disney Cruise Line confirms that Alaska cruises are in consideration, but says that the cruise line is always evaluating new itinerary possibilities. Indeed, Disney — known for its Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries — has tried out several new cruising regions over the past few years. Disney Magic tried out the Mediterranean in 2007 and the Mexican Riviera in 2005 and 2008. Next year, the ship will add two new Eastern Caribbean itineraries — one featuring Tortola and the other St. Croix, both new ports for the cruise line.

Might Disney send Magic to Alaska in 2010? Or is it seeking options for its new, larger ships, which will debut in 2011 and 2012? Right now it’s anyone’s guess but we’ll keep you posted as new developments occur.

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