Carnival Cruise Line is finding its groove as it announces details and continues construction of its new music-inspired ship coming to Port Canaveral in 2027.
Reservations are now open for Carnival Festivale, a 180,000-gross-ton vessel with capacity for up to 6,400 guests. The company’s fourth Excel-class ship will sail alongside its sister ship, Mardi Gras, which arrived in Port Canaveral in 2021.
The new ship will be divided into six zones, including two new immersive ones inspired by music.
“Music is the universal language that brings families and friends together, and Carnival Festivale will amplify that unique connection. The experiences we’ll deliver will appeal to every generation,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, in a news release. “Everyone, no matter their age or interest, will find their rhythm on this ship.”
The ship’s Grand Central atrium is the main hub of decks 6-8 with floor-to-ceiling windows, color-changing lights and a rotating selection of live entertainment.
Studio 724 celebrates the creative music-making process with lights and animations synchronized to sound. This zone will serve as home to The Spark on Deck 6 with cocktails inspired by songs and live music performances, as well as Carnival’s signature Alchemy Bar with its own dedicated stage for entertainment. The Piano Bar 88 can be found on Deck 6 as well.
At Mix Bar on Deck 7, guests can sip cocktails at a turntable-themed bar or visit the Limelight Lounge, designed to match the music theme.
The Festival on Deck 8 aims to bring the energy of outdoor music festivals to a cruise ship setting. A bright promenade connects guests to food and beverage, including the Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar, Pizza Palooza and Rhythm & Rolls Deli.
Sunsation Point spans decks 16-18 and serves as the “Ultimate Family Adventure Zone.” The anchor of this zone is Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, which is Carnival’s biggest and “most family-friendly” water park at sea. The area includes six water slides, splash pads and shaded play areas. The Festivale will be the first to offer extended nighttime hours for WaterWorks on select evenings.
Deck 16 offers relaxation in the Vista Pool, plus refreshments from Sunsation Sips, Shaq’s Big Chicken and Swirls ice cream. Deck 17 includes the Vault Retrocade arcade, the Scenic Overlook bar and the Treehouse, a new concept with netted bridges, obstacles and a dry slide.
The ship also features familiar Excel-class offerings, including Summer Landing — with a pool, a poolside bar, ice cream and barbecue at the aft of the ship on Deck 8 — and Lido, a poolside zone with the RedFrog Tiki Bar and several food options.
Construction is now underway on Carnival’s newest ship, which celebrated its keel laying ceremony earlier this month at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The Festivale will begin its seafaring journey with a 15-night transatlantic voyage in early May 2027, with a scheduled arrival at Port Canaveral on May 16, 2027.
On May 19, 2027, the ship will have its first sailing to the Bahamas on a four-night cruise that includes stops at Carnival’s Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay. It will then begin a schedule of sailing primarily six- and eight-night Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises with regular ports such as San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. All sailings will include a visit to Carnival’s Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island.
Carnival’s Celebration Key opens on Grand Bahama with Shaq sightings, colorful fanfare
Upon the arrival of Carnival Festivale, Mardi Gras, which currently sails itineraries of a week or longer, will switch to short sailings of four and five nights.
The Festivale adds to Carnival’s growing fleet, which currently includes 29 ships and five more slated to arrive through 2033. This includes Carnival Tropicale, the fifth Excel-class ship that sets sail in 2028 and three ships in a new class currently under development.
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