By Jackie Sheckler Finch

With Election Day looming on the horizon, Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new candidate. Seuss’ popular Cat in the Hat has thrown his trademark stovepipe hat in the ring.

For an election special, Carnival will offer a variety of fun educational shipboard activities to teach children about the election process and the importance of voting. The events will coincide with the release of a new Dr. Seuss book “One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote.”

“We’re so happy that Carnival is serving as the ‘Official Seagoing Headquarters’ for The Cat in the Hat for President,” said Susan Brandt, president of licensing and marketing for Dr. Seuss Enterprises, LP.

“We know The Cat will have fun on board as the Kids’ Candidate, showing kids that every vote counts,” Brandt said.

Joined by his running mates –Thing 1 and Thing 2 – The Cat in the Hat will be decked out in his special presidential attire on each Carnival ship. The huge feline will be shaking hands, passing out stickers, leading parades and smiling for photo opportunities. The Cat’s platform is “It’s fun to have fun but you have to know how.”

Part of Carnival Cruise Line’s exclusive Seuss at Sea program, the activities include patriotic face painting and arts and crafts sessions where kids can create colorful posters that will be used in a Seuss-a-palooza Presidential Parade led by The Cat himself.

Ballot boxes will be placed in Camp Ocean/Camp Carnival on each ship, allowing kids’ voices to be heard as they vote on their favorite Dr. Seuss book and receive a custom-made certificate for voting. Children also are invited to star in The Cat in the Hat’s official campaign commercial which will be shown on the in-cabin TV channels on each ship.

“Carnival is the number one cruise line for families and we’re delighted to team up with our partner Dr. Seuss Enterprises to celebrate the release of this fantastic new book and the launch of The Cat in the Hat’s presidential campaign to help kids understand the importance of voting in a fun yet educational way,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

Seuss at Sea is a fleetwide Carnival program operated in conjunction with Dr. Seuss Enterprises that features exciting youth, family, dining and entertainment experiences inspired by the amazing world and words of Dr. Seuss. The program includes such popular activities as the Seuss-a-palooza Parade and Story Time and The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in the Hat and Friends.

Dr. Seuss Bookville, a colorful family reading venue, is featured aboard Carnival Freedom and the new Carnival Vista which debuted earlier this year.

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line