Technical launch in Papenburg for Carnival Festivale, the next flagship of the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, due in 2027.

Carnival Festivale, the new Excel-class flagship of the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, has touched water for the first time since the start of its construction. The Meyer Werft shipyard announced the operation on its social media channels, explaining that flooding the dock allowed the vessel to be moved inside the large hall in Papenburg, Germany, thus freeing up the necessary space to assemble a new ship. The covered structure of the German shipyard indeed allows for simultaneous work on the construction of two large units.

Carnival Festivale’s debut is scheduled for May 2027 with its first official voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida. From its new homeport, the unit will join its sister ship Mardi Gras, offering six-to-eight-night cruises to the most fascinating Caribbean destinations, with calls also planned at the company’s new private island, Celebration Key.

Meanwhile, shipyard work is proceeding at full pace on the group’s other projects as well: at the beginning of September, construction began on Carnival Tropicale, the last sister ship of the Excel series, which will enter service in 2028 from the port of Galveston, Texas. Both ships, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), will debut entirely new spaces, including Sunsation Point, a family-focused area that will host the fleet’s largest water park, complete with six different slides and shaded areas for younger children to play. The two units will finally be distinguished by the theme of their interior environments: while the Festivale will offer venues and attractions linked to the world of music, the Tropicale will be inspired by the charm and atmosphere of the golden age of entertainment.