Carnival Cruise Lines stands for fun -- it always has. But now that fun is becoming a whole lot splashier and more sophisticated. When the Fun Ship line wanted to make a big splash promoting the Carnival Magic’s new year-round homeport of Galveston, it hired the hot band Maroon 5, led by Adam Levine, who has grown even more high-profile since becoming a coach on the singing reality show “The Voice.” Maroon 5 performed an hour-long set on Pier 21 at the Port of Galveston last Sunday, Nov. 13, after an introduction by John Heald, Carnival’s always-entertaining senior cruise director.

There was no seating on the pier, so all 4,000 or so attendees stood in one big crowd, but no one seemed to mind. They were waving iPhones and small cameras, trying to capture the moment and the thrill of watching the performance in such a small venue on a perfect sunny day. Carnival gave tickets to the port and convention and visitors bureau to distribute within the local community. The line also gave away more than 1,000 tickets on Facebook and did a number of ticket giveaways with media partners, including radio stations, newspapers and websites. Heald invited his blog readers to attend and a number of them received tickets.

The folks in Galveston seemed to appreciate the concert but they also are embracing the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic in a big way.

The folks in Galveston seemed to appreciate the concert but they also are embracing the 3,690-passenger Carnival Magic in a big way. I arrived for the event a day early so I could spend some time exploring Galveston on my first-ever visit. During my night at the Wyndham Hotel Galvez, I noticed every employee was wearing a button that proclaims “Galveston ♥s Magic.” Many businesses in town posted signs with similar messages.

Carnival has operated out of Galveston for 11 years now, carrying 28,000 passengers in 2000 and 325,000 last year.

Now, with the Magic and the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph in Galveston, Carnival expects to carry more than 450,000 guests annually from the gulf port -- a 38 percent increase over 2010. The two ships replace the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest and 2,052-passenger Carnival Ecstasy, both of which moved to New Orleans. The Carnival Triumph offers four- and five-day Caribbean cruises, while Carnival Magic operates seven-day cruises.

The city hugs the Gulf Coast and the beaches are just across the street from many of the major hotels and resorts, including the Hotel Galvez.

Galveston’s local business community warmly responds to cruising because the cruise lines and their passengers spend money -- to the tune of $1.1 billion in direct spending in Texas in 2010, according to a recent CLIA study. Galveston also is an ideal destination for a one-, two- or longer pre- or post-cruise stay. The city hugs the Gulf Coast and the beaches are just across the street from many of the major hotels and resorts, including the Wyndham Hotel Galvez.

Galveston also is located on an island that a lot of history, as well as a funky vibe, and plenty for activities for visitors. Top attractions include the 242-acre Moody Gardens, which has tropical flowers and a rainforest housed in three glass pyramids; the Schlitterbahn Waterpark; the Lone Star Flight Museum; and neighborhoods of restored historic homes. Much of the history centers on the Gulf, naturally, especially the 1900 storm that killed 6,000 and Hurricane Ike in 2008. But Galveston survives and prospers, and today makes for a fascinating, beachside vacation spot. And if you’re looking for even more information, check out the Port of Galveston website’s travel agent resource section. For more information on Carnival, travel agents can visit www.GoCCL.com.

Theresa Norton Masek is editor in chief of Vacation Agent magazine and covers cruises for TravelPulse.