Key Aspects:
- Carnival and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream have teamed up to release a “sunscreen” flavored ice cream.
- The real flavor is described as coconut with a hint of salt and sounds perfect for a cruise vacation.
- While not available to the public, the ice cream might be made available onboard Carnival ships.
Ice cream and sunscreen: two things you need on any cruise vacation. But do you really need them together? Carnival Cruise Line thinks so, and they’ve joined forces with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to create a first-ever sunscreen-flavored ice cream.
Yeah, you read that right. I had to read it twice too, but it’s not a typo or mistake, and since it’s September, it’s not good timing for an April Fool’s joke.
“In protest of summer ending, we’ve decided to eat our sunscreen!” Carnival Cruise Line announced. “In partnership with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream we’ve created the first ever sunscreen ice cream.”
The fun flavor is legit, bringing together the best of summer flavors in a one-of-a-kind treat described as “coconut with a dash of salt.” This combination would certainly evoke a tropical destination and a hint of sea spray, perfect for summer getaway vibes.
“It’ll remind you of lounging on Lido with every scoop,” Carnival said in response to curious fan inquiries.
Other guesses for the flavor include banana, raspberry, and lemon, all bright and summery tastes. Could a whole line of cruise-themed flavors be in the works?
“If mixing ice cream and sunscreen is wrong then we don’t want to be right. It’s still summer over here with us and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream,” the cruise line posted on Instagram.
Ingredients for the admittedly unconventionally-named ice cream do sound decadent: coconut cream, milk, cane sugar, cocoa butter, natural flavors, vanilla extract, and sea salt.
Packaging for the unique flavor also plays homage to Carnival Cruise Line and summer with the classic red, white, and blue shades along with Carnival’s iconic whale tail logo.
Of course, the Van Leeuwen name is in that company’s elegant font, and the ice cream is packaged in pints.
The limited edition flavor is not available for public sale at this time. It is being offered to social media influencers and reactions are quickly going viral, with Carnival fans eager for their own taste.
“I’ve always said sunscreen smells good enough to eat,” one guest commented. “I’d crush this.”
I don’t think I’m smelling the right sunscreen, though I wouldn’t mind a strong SPF with ice cream scents.
Will Carnival Guests Be Able to Try This New Ice Cream?
Many guests have asked if the new flavor might be available onboard Carnival ships, and the answer isn’t quite an outright no.
“If the buzz is big enough, a limited-time run of the flavor could be on the horizon,” the announcement noted.
Could that be a hint that the curious new ice cream could be coming to Carnival Horizon? Currently homeported year-round from Miami, the ship offers both Southern and Western Caribbean sailings: exactly the itinerary where coconut and salt-kissed flavors would be perfect.
Whenever a guest asks if the flavor is available, the cruise line is also informally asking if guests would try it. Responses are resoundingly positive, with many guests eager for a taste.
Read Also: Carnival Explains Why Self-Serve Ice Cream Option Won’t Change
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream began in 2008 and has a history of high quality ingredients, including Ceylon cinnamon and vanilla from Papua New Guinea. While classic flavors such as dulce de leche and strawberry are staples, the company also has a wide range of more unusual tastes.
“Lovely Day for a Guinness” is another limited edition flavor, with Guinness beer flavored ice cream mixed with chocolate chunks. “Buttermilk Berry Cornbread” and “Earl Grey Tea” are two other unique flavors currently available.
Previous unexpected collaborations have included “Hidden Valley Ranch” along with “Kraft Macaroni and Cheese” and even “Pizza” ice cream. To be honest, Sunscreen flavor isn’t sounding too bad.
The chain currently has more than 70 “scoop shops” and the ice cream is widely available at top grocery stores, even if it’s not (yet!) on the Lido deck.
