Just days after Carnival Cruise Line announced that its next ship will be called Carnival Festivale, construction is now officially underway with the first steel cutting done on Tuesday at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
The steel-cutting ceremony marks the first milestone in the ship's construction, and the shipyard held a traditional ceremony to kick off this new shipbuilding journey. The Carnival Festivale will be the fourth ship in Carnival's Excel-class, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). At 180,000 gross tons, the ship will have the capacity to accommodate up to 6,400 passengers.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “From the music-themed areas to the huge new water park we have planned, this ship will continue the tradition of incorporating innovative new features into our fleet.”
“Each of its three sister ships has been a great success, and we are very excited to partner with Meyer Werft again as we continue to develop our revolutionary Excel platform,” Duffy added.
Carnival revealed on Sunday that the new ship will feature two music-themed zones on decks 6, 7, and 8, celebrating how music connects people: one zone will be inspired by the creative process, with interactive experiences and cutting-edge multimedia technology; and another, located on deck 8, will represent the energy of outdoor concerts.
A new outdoor area called Sunsation Point will span the ship's three upper decks, offering vibrant activities for the whole family. Its main attraction will be Carnival Waterworks Ultra, the most family-friendly water park at sea, featuring six water slides, four of them brand new (two of which are for family rafts), two splash zones, dedicated baby areas, an elevated treehouse-inspired adventure course, a sports court, a ropes course, a redesigned miniature golf course, and themed arcade spaces.
Sunsation Point will also host nighttime events, with the water park open at night, DJs and special activities, marking the first time Carnival has extended Waterworks' hours into the evening.
The Carnival Festivale will set sail from Port Canaveral, along with its sister ship Mardi Gras, and will feature new food concepts in addition to old favorites such as Guy's Burger Joint, Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse or Shaq's Big Chicken.
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