Key Aspects:
- Carnival Festivale has officially floated out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, marking a major milestone in the construction of Carnival Cruise Line’s next new ship.
- In May 2027, the ship will debut with a 15-day transatlantic voyage from Southampton before beginning year-round cruises from Port Canaveral.
- The 182,015-gross-ton vessel is Carnival’s fourth Excel-class ship following Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship has officially hit the water for the first time, marking one of the most significant milestones in the construction of Carnival Festivale. The cruise line shared a video of the milestone on Facebook, showing the vessel floating out at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.
“Another exciting milestone for Carnival Festivale! She’s officially in the water and one step closer to her maiden voyage,” Carnival wrote.
The float-out marks a turning point in the Excel-class ship’s construction that began on April 8, 2025, with a steel-cutting ceremony. This was followed by the ship’s keel-laying four months later in August 2025.
In March 2026, the ship’s construction reached another major milestone when its engines were officially installed. Cruise Hive most recently reported on the vessel’s construction progress in August 2026, when work included the installation of its azimuth thruster pods.
While the 182,015 gross ton ship is now afloat, work aboard Carnival Festivale is far from complete. Construction will now progress through its next phases ahead of the ship’s 2027 debut.
Attention will increasingly turn to outfitting the vessel’s interior spaces and completing its onboard systems ahead of testing. Eventually, the ship will head to sea for a series of sea trials, during which its navigation, propulsion, maneuverability, and other systems will be put through their paces before delivery to Carnival Cruise Line.
Festivale Moves Closer to 2027 Debut
Carnival is expected to take delivery of the vessel in spring 2027, though the specific delivery date has not been announced. The ship will welcome its first guests on May 2, 2027, with a 15-day transatlantic maiden voyage to Port Canaveral.
This voyage will depart from Southampton and call at La Coruña, Vigo, Madeira/Funchal, Tenerife, and Grand Turk. It will arrive in Port Canaveral on May 16, 2027, where it will begin year-round Florida deployment, operating primarily six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises.
A traditional naming ceremony is expected sometime after the ship’s debut. However, there has been no official announcement of the ceremony’s date nor of who the ship’s godparent may be.
What Can Guests Expect Aboard?
At 1,133 feet in length with capacity for 5,356 guests at double occupancy, Carnival Festivale will become one of Carnival’s largest ships to date. It is the fourth Excel-class vessel, joining Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
Following Carnival Festivale, a fifth Excel-class ship, Carnival Tropicale, is also under construction at Meyer Werft. Tropicale shares many of the features coming to Festivale and is slated to debut in 2028.
Festivale will introduce several features not found aboard its three Excel-class sister ships. Among the most prominent is Sunsation Point, a family-focused outdoor area spanning three decks.
The area will include WaterWorks Ultra, which Carnival has described as its largest water park at sea. Six waterslides will be featured, including two family raft slides that can accommodate multiple guests at once. The ship will also introduce new music-themed spaces and expanded accommodations designed for families.
