It doesn’t arrive for nearly TWO years, but Carnival Cruise Line is already drumming up excitement for its next ship by releasing some major details on what passengers can expect.
And judging from the details, the new ship — named Carnival Festivale in a nod to a famous past Carnival ship — looks to be the most family-oriented ship the cruise line has ever built.
Here’s the scoop…
The Line’s Fourth Excel Ship, This Time With a Music Theme
Carnival Festivale will be the cruise line’s fourth Excel-class cruise ship, joining Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee. But as with each of those ships, while the layyout may be the same, Festivale will have some major changes to its theme.
First, its theme will be focused heavily on music. Passengers will see this in the main promenade deck areas that Carnival is calling “Studio 724.” Here, the bars, décor, and even lights and animations will all tie into a music theme. For instance, The Spark will be a bar with drinks inspired by iconic songs and also have live music. Mix Bar will further the music theming.
On Deck 8, “The Festivale” will look to tie into the feel of outdoor music festivals with its design. It will include coffee, pizza, and deli locations that are all music themed to add to the ambiance.
But if you’ve sailed an Excel-class ship before, this area should still look familiar. Yes, there’s different theming across the different ships in the class, but the layout is largely the same.
It’s elsewhere on Carnival Festivale where you’ll see differences that make the ship stand out from anything else in the fleet.
The Introduction of “Carnival WaterWorks Ultra”
By far the biggest new feature is the all-new “Sunsation Point.” Here, Carnival is putting in what it calls the “crown jewel of family fun and entertainment at sea.”
Let’s start with Deck 16. Here there’s the pool but Carnival is also putting in a splash pad, giving an option for families with smaller kids who can’t swim in the pool just yet.
Deck 17 will have a new “Vault Retrocade” for kids (and adults) that want to play some video games. There will also be the Scenic Overlook bar for those that want to take in a view with their drink and a mini-golf course that will have lights to keep playing at night. Carnival is also putting in a new spot called “The Treehouse” that will have an “adventure trail with netted bridges high above the deck filled with fun obstacles and a dry slide.”
It’s Deck 18, however, that’s the game-changer for Carnival. It will feature the first Carnival WaterWorks Ultra. The massive spot on the top and back of the ship will have six different waterslides, with something for every age group from big thrill rides to smaller kid slides. There will also be family raft slides where everyone can ride together.
And unlike most pool decks where things die down in the evening, Carnival plans to have its first nighttime waterpark, complete with DJ as the rides run into the evening on some nights.
More Family-Friendly Perks, Arriving in Port Canaveral in 2027
A couple more family-friendly moves is that the new ship will have 1,000 interconnecting cabins onboard, which Carnival says is almost 70% more than on previous Excel ships. And for parents with smaller kids, the ship will have a new dedicated space to its “Turtles” program at Camp Ocean, giving you and your little one more things to do.
Carnival Festivale will sail from Port Canaveral (also home to sister-ship Mardi Gras) starting May 19, 2027. From there, it will sail 6/8 day routes around the southern and eastern Caribbean, with a focus on Celebration Key.
The cruise line has already opened up sailing for booking so you can reserve your room (or at least browse the itineraries) already.
