by Ana Figueroa
Last updated: 3:00 PM ET, Wed March 28, 2018
16-year old Darian Lipscomb from Prospect, VA received a big surprise this week, courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. A cruise aficionado, Lipscomb is already a veteran of four Carnival sailings. He also uses the Snapchat handle @CarnivalCruise.
This week, Carnival made an elaborate play to convince Lipscomb to transfer that handle over.
On Monday, mobile billboards and outdoor signs featuring CFO (Chief Fun Officer) Shaquille O'Neal went up across Lipscomb's home town. Sample messages read, "Hey Prospect, does anyone know Darian?" and "Hey Darian. It's Shaq. I've Got an Offer For You."
On Tuesday, the line showed up at Lipscomb's home to make him an offer. In exchange for the handle, they're taking him and his family on the inaugural voyage of the new Carnival Horizon.
Lipscomb and three family members will travel from Prospect to Barcelona next week.
It will be Lipscomb's fifth Carnival cruise and first-ever sailing in Europe.
The line promises plenty of onboard surprises for Lipscomb, as well. They'll be dutifully captured and shared across social media channels.
In total, the value of the cruise plus transportation well exceeds $5,000.
"We thought this would be a fun way to claim our handle and reward a 'superfan' at the same time" said Robyn Fink, director, consumer public relations at Carnival Cruise Line. "We're so excited to give Darian and his family this once in a lifetime seagoing experience on Carnival's newest ship, Carnival Horizon."
Carnival Horizon's 14-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona will call in Malaga, Spain, Lisbon, Portugal and Halifax, Nova Scotia. After arriving in New York, the ship will offer Caribbean sailings.
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