Shipyard Provides Insider Update on Carnival Festivale Construction

The Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany has provided a unique insider’s look at the construction of Carnival Cruise Line’s upcoming fourth Excel-class ship, Carnival Festivale.

In a one-minute video released on Friday, August 7, 2026, the team shows the intricate process of installing one of the propulsion pods on the ship’s hull, a critical step in the ship’s construction.

The video opens with the pod being firmly attached to appropriate cranes and rigging so it can be lifted into place, with engineers and construction workers overseeing every step of the process.

Just before the pod is secured in place, purple Loctite 128068 is applied to the joint. This purple, acrylic-based anaerobic flange sealant “cures when confined in the absence of air between close-fitting metal surfaces.”

The video also shows that the first propulsion pod is already mounted and firmly in place. Carnival Festivale (and all her Excel-class sisters in the Carnival fleet) has two azimuth thrusters that will eventually propel her 182,800 gross tons.

While the installation process is fascinating and something that cruise guests don’t typically witness, background action in the video is equally intriguing.

At several points, welding can be seen underway, confirming that multiple steps are going on simultaneously on these huge construction projects.

The 20-to-24-second mark of the video shows the words “Carnival Festivale” on the ship’s aft hull in the background. The letters have not yet been painted, and scaffolding hangs above them, but there is no doubt which ship is featured.

It may be a surprise to cruise guests that the azimuth thrusters do not yet have propellers, but they will before the ship is complete.

“The final propellers will only be installed shortly before the launch,” the shipyard explained. “Once the facility is complete, the pods generate so much thrust that the Carnival Festivale reaches a top speed of 21.5 knots – almost 40 km/h [25 miles per hour].”

Construction Updates Share Ship Progress

Meyer Werft and Carnival Cruise Line have shared several key moments in Carnival Festivale‘s construction process. The steel was first cut for the ship on April 8, 2025, while the keel was laid less than a year ago, on August 14, 2025. This was the first step in the actual physical assembly of the vessel.

By mid-February 2026, all 949 crew cabins had been completed for the vessel and work was set to begin on guest staterooms. The cabins were manufactured off-site and would later be installed in the ship.

The ship’s massive engines were installed in March 2026 and in April 2026, a sneak peek inside the shipyard showed that most of the ship’s hull was complete and being pieced together.

Sharing such progress can help build excitement and anticipation for a new vessel as well as help guests feel connected to the ongoing construction process.

When Will Carnival Festivale Be Complete?

Still ahead in the ship’s construction are more internal and external details and installations, as well as hull painting and interior design. Carnival Festivale is scheduled to welcome her first guests on May 19, 2027 for a 4-night Bahamas cruise from Port Canaveral.

Before that maiden voyage, the ship will undergo her final outfitting, pass her sea trials, be delivered to the cruise line, bring crew onboard, and make her first transatlantic voyage to her Florida homeport.

Schedules can change, however, and it is possible the vessel may debut sooner or later than expected. Shipyard schedules, labor disputes, supply chain issues, severe weather, and other factors all impact the exact timing of these complex operations.

Once in service and after her unique 4-night maiden voyage, Carnival Festivale will offer 6- and 8-night Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries visiting ports such as Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, and St. Maarten, depending on sailing date. Each cruise is also scheduled to visit Celebration Key, Carnival Cruise Line’s private destination in the Bahamas.