Carnival Cruise Line’s upcoming Excel-class ships – which are currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany – will be more innovative than ever before. But sometimes, progress means saying goodbye to previously loved amenities to make room for bigger and better.
One key change that is coming to the next two Excel-class ships – named Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale – is that the Family Harbor lounge and staterooms will no longer be available.
Currently, this area is featured onboard the Vista-class ships (Carnival Vista, Carnival Panorama, and Carnival Horizon) and the first three Excel-class vessels (Carnival Celebration, Mardi Gras, and Carnival Jubilee).
The lounge in particular is well-liked because it provides a more kid-friendly atmosphere for families – featuring an exclusive breakfast spot and family-centric activities like video games, movies to watch, and board games.
However, this option will be traded in for more connecting staterooms that can better accommodate vacationing families.
“Carnival sails more families than any other cruise line, welcoming one million children per year; and to better serve those families, Carnival Festivale will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel ships,” Carnival President Christine Duffy revealed during a recent press event.
“The expansion of the interconnecting rooms is in lieu of the Family Harbor staterooms on the existing Excel ships,” she continued.
Her statements were focused on Carnival Festivale, likely because this ship will debut first in spring of 2027. However, this update also applies to Carnival Tropicale, which will enter service a year later in the spring of 2028.
Connecting cabins are often ideal for families because they offer a bit more space, privacy, and the convenience of an extra bathroom – and usually at a more affordable price. They are also a good option for parents who would like their own room while still staying close to their kids.
This also helps families adhere to Carnival’s policy regarding kids staying alone in staterooms, which states that “guests 14 years of age or younger must be booked with a relative or guardian (25 years of age or older) in the same cabin or a connecting cabin.”
Families Already Miss the Harbor Lounge
While families can still take advantage of the Harbour Lounge on other Carnival cruise ships, many were sad to see that it won’t be onboard the new-builds.
“Going to miss the Family Harbor lounge on the newer ships,” one cruiser posted on Reddit. “I know the newer ships will have more connected rooms, which is great, but I am still sad to see the FH concept being abandoned.”
As many in the comments section agreed, the Harbor Lounge offered unparalleled convenience – with some expressing appreciation for the top notch customer service from the crew members who work there.
“Waking up early with the kids and only have to walk down the hall to get breakfast was amazing. They also have an espresso machine where I can make all sorts of coffees that are much better than what they have at the buffet upstairs,” the cruise fan continued.
“Anytime we didn’t know what to do on the ship, we would swing by there and the kids would be entertained. We would play a board game or they could watch a movie. There were snacks and desserts,” she added.
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But while it’s valid to feel disappointment when changes are made, Carnival really is trying to enhance the experience for families through these strategic decisions.
While many details about the new ships are still forthcoming, Carnival did already announce that the new additions will revamp all of the youth spaces onboard.
“Carnival Festivale will also introduce a dedicated space for Carnival’s Turtles program which is for children six months to two years, and more experiences for them on the open decks. Overall spaces for Carnival’s youth programs will also be enhanced to support additional programming,” Duffy’s announcement said.
Additionally, the BOLT Ultimate Sea Coaster that can be found on the existing Excel-class vessels will be replaced by a new offering, called Sunsation Point, that will feature an expanded water park and other outdoor family-friendly fun that spans across three decks.
