Video from the steel cutting ceremony is available here.

Construction Officially Begins on Carnival Cruise Line’s Next New Ship

PAPENBURG, April 9, 2025 – Just days after Carnival Cruise Line announced its next new ship will be named Carnival Festivale, construction is now officially underway with the first piece of steel cut Tuesday at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Video from the steel cutting ceremony can be seen here.

            The steel cutting ceremony is the first milestone of the ship’s construction, and the shipyard hosted a traditional ceremony to launch the beginning of the shipbuilding journey. Carnival Festivale will be Carnival’s fourth Excel class ship, powered by Liquefied Natural Gas. At 180,000 gross tons, the ship will accommodate up to 6,400 guests.

“The steel being cut for our next new ship is music to my ears, which is in tune with many of the themed experiences Carnival Festivale will bring to our guests. From the music-themed zones to expansive new water park we’ve planned for this ship, she will continue the tradition of infusing innovative new features into our fleet,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Each of her three sister ships is a great success and we are excited to once again partner with Meyer Werft as we continue to build upon the revolutionary Excel platform.”

            Carnival revealed on Sunday that the ship will feature two music-themed zones on Decks 6, 7, and 8 will celebrate how music connects people — one inspired by the creative process with cutting-edge media and interactive experiences, and another on Deck 8 symbolizing the energy of outdoor music performances. A new outdoor zone, Sunsation Point, will span the top three decks, offering vibrant family fun. Its highlight is Carnival Waterworks Ultra, the most family-friendly water park at sea, featuring six slides, four of which are new and include two family raft rides, two splash pads, and dedicated baby splash areas. Additional features include a treehouse-inspired elevated adventure trail, sports court, ropes course, re-imagined miniature golf, and themed arcade spaces. Sunsation Point will also host evening events with extended water park hours, DJs, and activities, marking the first time Carnival opens Waterworks at night.

Sailing from Port Canaveral alongside sister ship Mardi Gras, Carnival Festivale will also offer new dining concepts, along with Carnival favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint, Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, and Shaq’s Big Chicken. More details will be announced soon, including reservation and itinerary information, and those who want to be the first know can be notified by signing up here.

For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation on Carnival, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit http://carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site. 

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ABOUT CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Carnival Cruise Line, part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), is the first cruise line to sail over 100 million guests and is proud to be known as America's Cruise Line, for carrying more Americans and serving more U.S. homeports than any other. Since its founding in 1972, Carnival has continually revolutionized the cruise industry and popularized the cruise vacation as an affordable and fun travel option. Carnival operates from 13 U.S. and two Australian homeports, as well as seasonally from Europe and employs more than 50,000 team members representing 120 nationalities.

Carnival’s fleet of 29 ships reflects an exciting period of growth that continues with the addition of five ships through 2033: a fourth and fifth Excel class ship scheduled for 2027 and 2028 respectively; followed by three additional new ships from an innovative new class currently under development. Carnival’s next new guest offering will be the all-new exclusive destination, Celebration Key, set to debut on Grand Bahama this summer.

MEDIA CONTACT: media@carnival.com