Carnival Cruise Line’s next new ship, Carnival Festivale, has reached a major construction milestone after floating out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany for the first time.
The 182,015-gross-ton ship is now afloat as work continues towards its planned entry into service in May 2027. Carnival Festivale will become the fourth Excel-class ship in the Carnival fleet, following Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.
Carnival marked the float-out with footage of the vessel at the shipyard, saying: “Another exciting milestone for Carnival Festivale! She’s officially in the water and one step closer to her maiden voyage.”
Although the float-out represents an important stage in the building programme, considerable work remains before Carnival takes delivery. Attention will now increasingly focus on completing the ship’s interiors and onboard systems before sea trials test areas including propulsion, navigation and manoeuvrability.
Construction Progresses Towards Spring Delivery
Construction of Carnival Festivale formally began with a steel-cutting ceremony on 8th April 2025, followed by the laying of the ship’s keel in August 2025.
Its engines were installed in March 2026, while work later in the year included the installation of the vessel’s azimuth thruster pods.
Carnival is expected to take delivery of the completed ship in spring 2027, although a specific handover date has not been announced.
The first passenger sailing is scheduled to leave Southampton on 2nd May 2027. The 15-day transatlantic maiden voyage will visit La Coruña and Vigo in Spain, Funchal in Madeira, Tenerife in the Canary Islands and Grand Turk before reaching Port Canaveral on 16th May.
Carnival Festivale will then begin a year-round deployment from the Florida port, primarily operating six- and eight-day Caribbean itineraries.
Details of the ship’s traditional naming ceremony have yet to be announced, including its timing and the identity of its godparent.
New Features Planned For Carnival Festivale
Measuring 1,133 feet in length and accommodating 5,356 guests at double occupancy, Carnival Festivale will be among the largest ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet.
While it shares the Excel-class platform used by Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, the new ship will introduce several features not available on the first three vessels in the series.
Among the most significant additions will be Sunsation Point, a family-focused outdoor area extending across three decks. It will incorporate WaterWorks Ultra, which Carnival has described as its largest water park at sea.
The water park is planned to feature six waterslides, including two family raft attractions capable of carrying multiple passengers at the same time. Carnival Festivale will also feature new music-themed spaces and additional accommodation designed for families.
The Excel-class fleet is set to expand again a
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