Carnival Cruise Line's new flagship, the Carnival Celebration, arrived at its home port of PortMiami and was christened by actress Cassidy Gifford. The festivities highlighted Carnival's 50th anniversary celebration of fun.
The Carnival Celebration, an Excel-class sister ship to the groundbreaking Mardi Gras, begins year-round service from its hometown of Miami.
“This ceremony for our new flagship, Carnival Celebration, is the perfect culmination of our 50th anniversary, as this ship honors our past and signifies the fun and growth to come,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Carnival Celebration builds on the success of our Mardi Gras and the many innovations we introduced with our Excel class, including a roller coaster on the top deck, and offers unique features of its own that provide guests with a truly amazing new cruise experience for fun and creating memories.”
The Carnival Celebration's godmother, Cassidy Gifford, christened the ship with the traditional breaking of a champagne bottle, alongside Captain Vincenzo Alcaras. Gifford was also accompanied by her mother, Kathie Lee Gifford, who was the godmother of the Carnival Celebration's namesake, the M/S Celebration, which was similarly christened in 1987.
In addition to an impromptu performance by Kathie Lee, attendees also got a sneak peek at Carnival Celebration’s spectacular entertainment lineup, which included an aerial performance. A concert by Kool & The Gang, featuring their dance classic “Celebration!”, brought the evening to a close. The event was also streamed online so Carnival fans could join in the festivities from anywhere.
The first Carnival Celebration guests to embark from Miami will depart on a special six-day cruise, visiting Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Nassau. On November 27, the ship will begin week-long Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises departing every Sunday, visiting popular destinations such as the Dominican Republic and St. Thomas, as well as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico.
The Carnival Celebration accommodates more than 5,200 guests and features over 20 restaurants and a dozen bars and lounges across six unique zones. The ship's Miami-themed zone, 820 Biscayne, is named after Carnival's original headquarters address and is designed as a tribute to Miami's vibrant culture and its diverse dining and beverage scene.
The ship's top deck features the award-winning, all-electric BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, which has been thrilling guests at Mardi Gras since its debut in 2021. The top deck also houses the resort-style Loft 19, directly accessible from the upscale Excel Suites, one of 11 suite styles offered across the 180 total suites on board. The ship boasts more than 2,600 staterooms in total.
The Carnival Celebration is the second ship in Carnival's fleet, and the first based in Miami, with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion system, which is part of Carnival Corporation's pioneering green cruise platform.
