Carnival Festivale Keel Laying Sets Tempo for Music-Themed Ship

Strike up the band! In keeping with maritime tradition, a keel laying ceremony took place yesterday at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany for Carnival Cruise Line’s newest Excel-class ship, Carnival Festivale, set for delivery in spring 2027. Video from the ceremony is available here.

Brett Vitols, associate vice president of new builds for Carnival Cruise Line and Petu Kummala, associate vice president of interior design and architecture, along with members of Carnival’s new build team, were joined by the Meyer Werft team, including Georg Schauen, project manager for Carnival Festivale, to celebrate the construction milestone by placing commemorative coins under a 598-ton keel block. The coins, inscribed with musical notes, signify good luck for the vessel.

“Carnival Festivale isn’t just joining our fleet, she’ll be setting the tone for how to have fun at sea by blending vibrant designs and guest experiences that you can’t find anywhere else. Music is a universal language that connects people from around the world, and this ship will bring that to life in true Carnival fashion. We’re grateful to work with the skilled team once again at Meyer Werft to bring Carnival Festivale into our fleet,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.

The keel laying took place just one day after Carnival announced new details about the music-themed ship and opened its inaugural season of sailings for sale. Once complete, the ship will sail from Port Canaveral, Fla. as Carnival’s fourth Excel-class flagship, as well its fourth vessel powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Carnival Festivale will introduce immersive, music-inspired zones offering unique experiences for all ages. These zones celebrate the creative process of music-making, the energy of enjoying live music through interactive technology, dynamic lighting and design elements, as well as curated food, beverage and experiences. Sunsation Point, spanning Decks 16–18, is the ultimate family adventure zone anchored by Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, the most family-friendly water park at sea. And with 1,000 interconnecting rooms, expanded youth spaces and new programming for its youngest guests, Carnival Festivale will be the ultimate getaway for families of all ages and interests.