Carnival Cruise Line’s Fourth Excel Ship Carnival Festivale to Sail From Port Canaveral Beginning In 2027
By Space Coast Daily // April 8, 2025
180,000-tonship will assume current Caribbean schedule of her sister ship, Carnival Mardi Gras
BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — Port Canaveral will be the homeport to Carnival Cruise Line’s fourth Excel-class ship, the LNG-powered Carnivale Festivale, which will launch week-long cruises from the Space Coast in 2027.
Related Story:Norwegian Cruise Line Takes Delivery of 156,300 Ton Aqua at Shipyard in Italy, Will Arrive at Port Canaveral in April
The 180,000-ton Carnival Festivale will assume the current seven-day Caribbean schedule of her sister ship, Carnival Mardi Gras, which will shift to three—and four-day voyages. It will replace Carnival Glory on this itinerary and become the first Excel-class ship to operate a short cruise program.
“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 reflects our partner’s confidence in our Port to deliver a high-quality experience for its guests consistently.”
Port Canaveral is the homeport of Carnival’s first Excel-class ship, Carnival Mardi Gras, which entered service in 2021 as the first cruise ship in North America powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
Deploying the LNG-powered Carnival Festivale to Central Florida reaffirms Port Canaveral’s pioneering role in this innovative clean fuel solution delivered by a unique fuel barge. With the addition of Carnival Festivale, Port Canaveral will be home to six LNG-powered ships.
As the latest incarnation of the Excel class, Carnival Festivale will offer a wide range of popular amenities and new features, such as a sprawling water park on the uppermost decks and a host of other innovations.
On its week-long cruises, Carnival Festivale will visit some of the most popular destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean cruises visit Nassau, Amber Cove, and Grand Turk, while the western route features Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Isla Roatan.
