by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 10:50 AM ET, Wed April 9, 2025
Carnival Cruise Line is celebrating the start of construction for its newest ship, Carnival Festivale.
On Tuesday, crews cut the first piece of steel for the new ship at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany—and hosted a traditional steel-cutting ceremony to celebrate.
The 180,000-gross-ton ship will be Carnival’s fourth Excel class ship. It will be powered by liquified natural gas and will be able to 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,” says Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
The ship will have two music-themed zones on Decks 6, 7 and 8, featuring media and interactive experiences and outdoor music performances.
The top three decks of the ship will feature a new outdoor zone called Sunsation Point, complete with a family-friendly water park called Carnival Waterworks Ultra. Guests will be able to enjoy six slides, two splash pads and dedicated baby splash areas, plus an elevated adventure trail, sports court, ropes course, miniature golf course and themed arcade spaces.
Carnival Festivale will also boast several new dining concepts, plus long-time favorites like Guy’s Burger Joint, Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse, and Shaq’s Big Chicken. The ship will sail from Port Canaveral alongside sister ship Carnival Mardi Gras.
“From the music-themed zones to the expansive new water park we’ve planned for this ship, she will continue the tradition of infusing innovative new features into our fleet,” says Duffy. “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.”
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