Carnival Cruise Line has announced its Innovation Itinerary plan which details the new features and innovations to come within the company in the next 5 years.
The new Carnival Festivale
Looking ahead to spring 2027, Carnival Cruise Line will unveil Carnival Festivale, its fourth ship in the Excel range, inspired by the very first Festivale of the 70s. The ship will make Port Canaveral its home port.
With its three new zones, Carnival Festivale promises a total immersion in the world of music. Decks 6, 7 and 8 will host interactive spaces that celebrate musical creation and the energy of outdoor concerts. Thanks to immersive multimedia technologies, these zones will offer a unique sensory experience for all ages.
Designed for families, Festivale will offer 1,000 connecting cabins — a 70% increase over previous Excel ships — and a space dedicated to the Turtles program for toddlers (6 months to 2 years old). The youth spaces will also be redesigned to accommodate even more educational and fun activities.
The upper deck, renamed Sunsation Point, will become the epicenter of family fun with the Carnival Waterworks Ultra, the largest water park in the fleet. Six new slides, two children’s playgrounds and even baby-friendly areas will turn the days into unforgettable moments. What’s new? The night opening of the water park, with DJs and light entertainment, to extend the magic to the stars.
In terms of flavours, while staples such as Guy’s Burger Joint and Big Chicken remain on the agenda, new culinary concepts will appear in collaboration with iconic chef Emeril Lagasse. A new restaurant will replace ChiBang!
New ships on the horizon
After the Festivale, it’s time for Carnival Tropicale in 2028, the fifth ship in the Excel range, which will perpetuate the legacy of the company’s founding names. While his home base has yet to be confirmed, he will share several innovations from the Festivale while adding exclusive concepts.
But the real revolution is brewing with Project Ace: a new class of ships of impressive proportions — 230,000 tons, 8,000 passengers, and more than 3,000 cabins. These three behemoths, expected between 2029 and 2033, will be the largest ever built for Carnival and will redefine modern cruising. On the program: new culinary experiences, new entertainment and redesigned outdoor spaces.
New deployments: increased offer, more flexibility
The arrival of the Carnival Festival in Port Canaveral will lead to a strategic reorganization: Mardi Gras will now offer shorter cruises from the same port, a boon for families and new cruise passengers looking to experience the Carnival world for a long weekend.
Also with accessibility in mind, Carnival will resume year-round cruises from Mobile, Alabama, starting in the spring of 2027. An increase in supply is also expected in Baltimore, where a Conquest-class ship is expected to replace the Carnival Pride, offering 1,000 additional seats.
The new private destinations: the Paradise Collection
The innovation journey doesn’t stop at ships. Carnival invests heavily in exclusive destinations to offer its passengers tailor-made little corners of paradise.
In July, Celebration Key will open its doors in the Bahamas. More than 1,400 cruises are already planned until 2027 for this stopover designed for absolute pleasure.
In 2026, RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay will begin its expansion, including a dock to accommodate the Excel-class giants and future Project Ace ships. The goal: to offer more space without compromising the natural beauty of the island.
Finally, Mahogany Bay, located in Roatan (Honduras), will be renamed Isla Tropicale and transformed into a tropical oasis with a swimming pool, water bar, private cabanas, an expanded beach and a new beach club.
