As the leading brand in the dynamic world of cruise expeditions, Martin Professional has built a long-running reputation for delivering some of the most captivating, innovative, and reliable entertainment and architectural lighting solutions ever specified. The groundbreaking installation aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s XL Class Carnival Jubilee is another case in point. Exemplifying the pinnacle of cruise ship design, the Jubilee is Carnival’s largest, brightest, and boldest ship-to-date with a capacity exceeding 6,400 guests and 1,750 crew members.
When designing the Jubilee, the Carnival team needed a lighting partner that could check a long list of boxes, including performance, quality of light, durability, service, and support. Through a long and successful partnership outfitting Carnival’s entire fleet of advanced vessels, Martin was selected to provide lighting for all of Jubilee’s entertainment venues. To ensure every lighting expectation was met and surpassed, a variety of Martin’s most advanced fixture ranges were specified, including MAC Ultra, MAC Aura, ERA, ELP, Exterior, Atomic, VC, and more.
“They’re (Martin) always constantly showing us new fixtures, introducing us to new things and new ideas, and introducing better, brighter and more reliable products.” – James Chipman, Production Lighting Supervisor, Creative Development Team, Carnival Cruise Line.
We had a chance to catch up with Morten Gjotz, Global Cruise, Marine, and Theme Parks Sales Director for Martin Professional and HARMAN Professional Solutions. Morten just finalized the Jubilee installation and was responsible for ensuring every detail involving a Martin product was perfect from start to finish. He shared how Martin infused world-class production value into this project to continue setting the standard for cruise ship entertainment lighting.
Morten, did the Jubilee team share any feedback on the install or their thoughts on Martin as their preferred lighting partner?
Great question. We interviewed a range of Jubilee team members to really gain a good understanding of their thoughts on the install. We included many of these interviews in our video case study that you can watch here but here is some of the feedback we received:
“Having the best equipment that we can get creates the ability for us to really immerse the room in light… lighting can be impactful to create moods, to create atmospheres, and the better the product that we have, the better we’re allowed to create that.”
– James Chipman, Production Lighting Supervisor, Creative Development Team, Carnival Cruise Line.
“Martin fixtures are quite reliable and are easy to be maintained and easy to be cleaned. It’s easy for us to train the technicians because the way Martin fixtures are made are modular, and it’s easy to remove parts, clean them up, and put them back together.”
– Silviu Ardelean, Supervisor, Entertainment Technical, Carnival Cruise Line.
“And we like the development and support that Martin brings. They’re always constantly showing us new fixtures, introducing us to new things and new ideas, and introducing better, brighter and more reliable products.”
– James Chipman, Production Lighting Supervisor, Creative Development Team, Carnival Cruise Line.
“For me, serviceability is key. That’s the number one thing that I look for. Can I have this fixture on day after day running hard for their shows for 7 to 10 years? And the answer is yes. So being able to interact with Martin as a company, the support is there… they’re very responsive.”
– Alexander Nelson, Entertainment Lighting and Special Effects, Carnival Cruise Line.
Tour the Carnival Jubilee & Martin Lighting Installation
What sets Martin apart in terms of the design and engineering of its fixtures, making them well-suited for the unique demands of cruise ship installations?
For over 20 years, Martin has actively engaged with the global cruise community, prioritizing their unique lighting needs. Every product and solution we offer is meticulously designed, developed, and rigorously tested to ensure long-term performance in cruise and marine environments. Our extensive and proven product portfolio makes us a leading provider in the global cruise market, delivering premium lighting solutions that meet the demanding standards of the industry.
Morten Gjotz and members of the Carnival Entertainment Team.
Our direct and long-term partnerships with cruise lines and their partners distinguish us from other players in the market. We are committed to delivering high-performance solutions with exceptional longevity, backed by comprehensive global support. This approach ensures a valuable and enduring business partnership for our clients.
Several times a year, technical leaders from major cruise lines visit our R&D headquarters in Denmark. They explore our latest solutions, gain insights into our future pipeline, and provide our teams with invaluable feedback. This direct interaction helps us prioritize and focus on developing new and exciting solutions to meet their ever-evolving needs.
All Martin, solutions are developed to premium standards, featuring our iconic optical performance and quality of light. Central to our commitment is the principle “Engineered for the Eye,” ensuring every product delivers exceptional visual experiences.
Did Carnival share why they specifically selected Martin to be their lighting partner for this installation?
Yes, Carnival highlighted their key reason for choosing Martin. Quite simply, our fixtures are designed to be workhorses, enduring years of extensive, 24/7 operation. The genuine, premium performance, quality, and ease of maintenance and repair make Martin solutions a top choice for long-term, reliable use.
“For all new cruise builds and major dry docks, we deliver onsite training sessions for Carnival’s lighting technicians. These sessions, led by our senior global technical supervisors, cover preventive maintenance, cleaning, repairs, and troubleshooting.”
What kind of comprehensive support and training did Martin provide to the installation team and the ship’s crew to ensure seamless integration and operation of the new lighting systems?
For all new cruise builds and major dry docks, we deliver onsite training sessions for Carnival’s lighting technicians. These sessions, led by our senior global technical supervisors, cover preventive maintenance, cleaning, repairs, and troubleshooting. Additionally, we provide in-depth training and support using our Martin Professional 3D Partsfinder, that features exploded views for easy and accurate parts identification. We continually receive feedback on this unique and valuable offering as being highly appreciated by many of the cruise lines we support and their technical teams for many years.
Can you share how Martin’s fixtures created both immersive and visually stunning experiences across the various entertainment venues on the Jubilee?
We are proud to have supported the incredibly talented Carnival Entertainment team and lighting designer Brian Monaham in ensuring their creative visions were not only realized but exceeded. By providing some of the best lighting solutions on the market, our close partnership and ongoing engagement enabled powerful synergies that resulted in immersive, stunning, and enduring shows and visuals.
“Having the best equipment that we can get creates the ability for us to really immerse the room in light… the better the product that we have, the better we’re allowed to create that.” – James Chipman, Production Lighting Supervisor, Creative Development Team, Carnival Cruise Line.
In addition to world-class support, why would cruise lines want to consider Martin and HARMAN Professional to support all their audio, video, control, and lighting needs?
In addition to lighting, HARMAN Professional integrates nine of the world’s leading premium audio, video, and control brands, combining hundreds of years of innovative legacy with a strong track record in the global cruise industry. If you value the performance, support, and long-lasting quality of Martin lighting, you can expect the same excellence, reliability, and unparalleled performance from our audio, video, and control solutions and brands.
“For me, serviceability is key. That’s the number one thing that I look for. Can I have this fixture on day after day running hard for their shows for 7 to 10 years? And the answer is yes. So being able to interact with Martin as a company, the support is there… they’re very responsive.” – Alexander Nelson, Entertainment Lighting and Special Effects, Carnival Cruise Line.
What sets Martin apart from other lighting manufacturers in terms of quality and durability?
With a constant focus on premium quality and attention to detail in everything we do, we support our products with intensive testing, including lifetime assessments. We put all our products through a barrage of rigorous and stringent environmental and stress tests to ensure that they are ready to perform at the highest levels for many years in the real world. This is a very important mission for us as we want our customers to always be able to truly rely on our products and trust that they are built for the many unique complexities that cruise ship installations come with.
What advice would you give other lighting professionals considering Martin for cruise ship or other unique venue installations?
Reach out to us for the best total experience. We are eager to engage, serve, and establish long-lasting partnerships worldwide. Martin lighting solutions are renowned for their longevity on cruise ships. We are proud to offer premium support, ongoing availability of spare parts, valuable maintenance tools and training, and top-quality products. We make it easy to work with us globally. As part of HARMAN Professional, the most globally-inclusive professional AVL company with the widest offerings, we bring together a talented, passionate, and professional team that’s committed to delivering on your vision, whatever it may be.
EXPLORE FURTHER
Get to know many of the products that were utilized on the Carnival Jubilee, including technical details, specifications, videos, and more.
- Carnival Jubilee Case Study: Video – Digital
- Martin Products Utilized in the Carnival Jubilee Installation
- Martin Product Portfolio
- Insights Blogs
- Case Studies
- Videos
- Training
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks to Carnival Jubilee, Carnival Entertainment, Brian Monaham – BPM Lighting Designs, and Videlio Funa.
