Work continues at the German shipyard Meyer Werft on the new cruise vessel Carnival Festivale, where construction has reached another stage with the installation of the ship’s main engines. The vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2027, forms part of the latest generation of large passenger ships designed for CCL-Carnival Cruise Line.
Several important construction milestones have already been completed during the early phases of the project. The keel was laid in Papenburg in August 2025, in accordance with traditional maritime practice, with commemorative coins placed beneath the keel block during the ceremony. More recently, the LNG storage tanks were installed within the hull, forming a critical part of the fuel system for gas-powered propulsion.
With these elements in place, the hull structure has continued to advance within the shipyard’s building dock. The forward section of the vessel, including the bridge area, is now largely assembled, while work proceeds on the midship and aft blocks that will complete the overall structure of the ship.
Once the steel construction stage reaches completion, the focus will shift to outfitting. At that point, prefabricated passenger cabins will be installed, followed by the detailed construction of public spaces, technical systems and interior venues.
The vessel remains roughly a year from completion, with delivery planned for the spring of 2027.
Unlike some previous projects, the entire hull is being assembled at the Papenburg yard rather than relying on large prefabricated sections produced by partner facilities. This approach reflects the current production capacity at Meyer Werft and allows the construction process to remain concentrated within a single shipyard.
When completed, the ship will measure ~ 344 meters (LOA length) and approximately 180,000 gross tons/volume, with capacity for 6400+ passengers.
Carnival Festivale is from the Excel-class series, which also includes Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee.
Following delivery, the ship is expected to enter service with a transatlantic voyage beginning in Southampton and concluding at Port Canaveral in Florida in May 2027. From there the vessel will operate regular week-long Caribbean itineraries.
The new ship is also expected to introduce several updated onboard concepts, including venues centered on music and entertainment as well as expanded family-oriented areas. Through these additions, the vessel represents the next stage in the development of Carnival’s Excel-class design as the company continues to expand its LNG-powered fleet.