Carnival Festivale Is Officially in the Water

Carnival Cruise Line is getting closer to welcoming its newest Fun Ship — Carnival Festivale — and the excitement is building!

In late September 2026, Carnival Festivale touched the water and floated for the very first time at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. This is a major construction milestone as the brand-new ship prepares for its highly anticipated debut in May 2027.

If Carnival Festivale is on your cruise wish list, here’s everything we know so far about the new ship, when she begins sailing, where she’ll be based, where she’ll travel and some of the exciting experiences Carnival is bringing aboard.

Carnival Festivale Is Now Floating

Carnival Festivale reached an exciting milestone when the building dock at Meyer Werft was flooded, allowing the massive ship to float for the first time.

However, there is an important distinction: this was not yet the ship’s official float-out from the building hall. Carnival Festivale remains at the shipyard as construction and interior work continue ahead of her 2027 delivery.

Still, seeing the ship afloat is a huge moment. What began with the cutting of steel in April 2025 has now taken the recognizable form of Carnival's next Excel-class cruise ship.

The ship is being built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and Carnival lists her at 182,015 gross tons, with accommodations for approximately 5,356 guests at double occupancy and a crew of approximately 1,768 team members.

When Does Carnival Festivale Begin Sailing?

Mark your calendars for May 2027.

Carnival Festivale's maiden voyage is scheduled to depart Southampton, England, on May 2, 2027, on an incredible 15-day transatlantic cruise to her new home in Florida.

The itinerary is scheduled to include:

• La Coruña, Spain

• Vigo, Spain

• Funchal on Madeira Island, Portugal

• Tenerife in the Canary Islands

• Grand Turk

• Port Canaveral, Florida

The ship is scheduled to arrive at Port Canaveral on May 16, 2027.

And that's when the next chapter begins.

Carnival Festivale Will Call Port Canaveral Home

Florida cruisers have another reason to be excited.

Carnival Festivale will be homeported year-round at Port Canaveral, Florida, joining sister ship Mardi Gras at one of Carnival's most important Florida homeports.

Her first cruise from Port Canaveral is scheduled for May 19, 2027.

That inaugural Florida sailing will be a four-day Bahamas cruise visiting two Carnival destinations:

Celebration Key on Grand Bahama and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas.

After that introductory cruise, Carnival Festivale will settle into a schedule primarily featuring six- and eight-day Caribbean vacations from Port Canaveral.

Where Will Carnival Festivale Sail?

One of the biggest advantages of Carnival Festivale's Port Canaveral deployment is the variety of Caribbean destinations guests will be able to experience.

Depending on the itinerary, destinations are expected to include Celebration Key, RelaxAway Half Moon Cay, Amber Cove, San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

Carnival has also confirmed something particularly interesting: every Carnival Festivale sailing will include a visit to Celebration Key, Carnival's exclusive destination on Grand Bahama.

That means guests aren't simply getting one of Carnival's newest ships. They're also getting Carnival's newest destination experience as part of the vacation.

For travelers who prefer longer tropical itineraries, the ship's eight-day Southern Caribbean cruises will venture farther south. For example, one scheduled itinerary includes Bonaire, Aruba and Celebration Key, along with several sea days that give guests plenty of time to explore the ship itself.

What Makes Carnival Festivale Different?

Carnival Festivale will be the fourth ship in Carnival's Excel class, following Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee.

But Carnival isn't simply building another copy of the previous ships.

Festivale is being designed with several new concepts, particularly around music, families and outdoor recreation.

One of the biggest changes is happening at the top of the ship.

Meet Sunsation Point

Instead of BOLT, the roller coaster found aboard Carnival's first three Excel-class ships, Carnival Festivale will introduce an enormous family recreation area called Sunsation Point.

The centerpiece will be Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, which Carnival describes as its most family-friendly water park at sea.

The water park will feature six slides, including four designs that are new to Carnival. There will even be two family raft rides, allowing families to experience the attraction together rather than everyone riding separately.

Carnival has revealed the names of two of its raft attractions: SunSoaker and Turning Tides.

Sunsation Point will span the ship's upper decks and offer more than water slides, giving families additional ways to play and spend time outdoors.

Music Takes Center Stage

The name "Festivale" is fitting because music will be a major part of the ship's personality.

Carnival is introducing two immersive music-inspired zones across Decks 6, 7 and 8.

One area will focus on the process of creating music, using immersive sound, interactive elements, media, lighting and other technology to transform the space throughout the cruise. Another will capture the energy and atmosphere of an outdoor music festival.

Among the new experiences Carnival has revealed is Studio 724, a multimedia experience incorporating light and sound.

Guests will also discover Mix, a new cocktail experience inspired by music production, along with The Festival, an outdoor-inspired area featuring options including Pizza Palooza and Rhythm & Rolls Deli.

At the same time, several Carnival favorites will return, including Alchemy Bar, Piano Bar 88, Limelight Lounge, Big Chicken and Swirls.

Carnival Festivale Is Being Designed With Families in Mind

Families are clearly a major focus of this ship.

Carnival Festivale will have approximately 1,000 connecting staterooms — nearly 70% more than the first three Excel-class ships.

Carnival is also expanding its programming for younger children.

The ship will include a dedicated area for Turtles, Carnival's program for children ages six months to two years, as well as enhanced youth spaces and additional outdoor experiences for younger cruisers.

Between connecting rooms, expanded children's facilities and the massive new water park, Festivale is shaping up to be one of Carnival's strongest options for multigenerational family vacations.

Carnival Festivale Timeline

Here's where things currently stand:

• Late September 2026: Carnival Festivale floats for the first time at Meyer Werft in Germany.

• Fall 2026–Spring 2027: Construction, interior outfitting, testing and preparation continue.

• May 2, 2027: Carnival Festivale is scheduled to depart Southampton, England, on her 15-day maiden transatlantic voyage.

• May 16, 2027: The ship is scheduled to arrive at her new homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida.

• May 19, 2027: Carnival Festivale begins cruising from Port Canaveral with a four-day Bahamas voyage to Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay.

• 2027 and beyond: The ship will primarily operate six- and eight-day Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral.

Should You Start Planning a Carnival Festivale Cruise Now?

Absolutely — especially if you'd like to experience Carnival Festivale during her first year at sea.

New cruise ships tend to generate plenty of excitement, and Festivale has an added advantage for Florida travelers because she'll be sailing from Port Canaveral rather than requiring a flight to another part of the country.

Between the new water park, music-inspired entertainment, family-focused accommodations, Caribbean itineraries and regular visits to Celebration Key, Carnival Festivale is shaping up to be much more than simply another addition to the Carnival fleet.

And now that she's officially floating, we're one big step closer to seeing her sail into Florida.

Ready to Experience Carnival Festivale?

Want to be among the first guests to experience Carnival Festivale?

Together & Beyond Rendezvous can help you plan your Carnival Festivale vacation from start to finish — including selecting the right sailing, choosing your stateroom, planning your trip to Port Canaveral and helping you create the Caribbean getaway that's right for you.

Whether you're planning a family vacation, girls' trip, romantic getaway or solo cruise, we'll help take the stress out of the planning.

Ready to start planning? Click the link below to explore your cruise options, or contact Together & Beyond Rendezvous and let us help plan your Carnival Festivale vacation.

Cruise itineraries, ports, ship features and sailing dates are subject to change. Information is current as of October 2026.

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