Carnival Cruise Line has chosen Port Canaveral as the homeport for its fourth Excel-class ship, the Carnival Festivale, slated to commence week-long cruises from the Space Coast in 2027. The ship will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), reflecting a commitment to more environmentally friendly cruising practices.
The Carnival Festivale, a 180,000-ton vessel, will take over the current seven-day Caribbean schedule of its sister ship, Carnival Mardi Gras. In doing so, the Carnival Mardi Gras will transition to three- and four-day voyages, becoming Carnival’s first Excel-class ship to operate such a short cruise program, replacing Carnival Glory on this itinerary.
“We’re thrilled that Carnival Cruise Line has selected Port Canaveral as the homeport for their latest Excel-class ship,” said Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “We are very proud of our 35-year relationship with Carnival Cruise Line and this deployment is a reflection of our partner’s confidence in our Port to consistently deliver a high-quality experience for its guests.”
Since 2021, Port Canaveral has housed Carnival’s first Excel-class ship, Carnival Mardi Gras, marking the beginning of LNG-powered cruising in North America. The introduction of Carnival Festivale in Central Florida supports Port Canaveral’s standing as a pioneer in clean fuel solutions, facilitated by a special fuel barge. This development will increase the number of LNG-powered ships at Port Canaveral to six.
Carnival Festivale, the latest in the Excel-class, will provide a variety of amenities including a large water park and other new innovations. Its week-long cruises will cover notable destinations in The Bahamas and Caribbean, with itineraries including Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk for the eastern Caribbean route, and Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Isla Roatan for the western route.
