Carnival Corporation has signed an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard to construct a new addition to its Excel-class of ships for the Carnival Cruise Line brand. The new vessel, boasting a gross tonnage of 180,000, is scheduled for delivery in 2028. The new vessel will operate using liquefied natural gas (LNG), marking a significant step towards sustainable cruising. The ship is designed to accommodate over 6,400 guests and 1,800 crew members, underscoring Carnival's strategy for large-scale, high-capacity cruise ships.

This massive ship will become the 11th Excel-class vessel within Carnival Corporation’s across four of its brands, and it will be the fifth such ship under the Carnival Cruise Line brand. This follows closely on the heels of the fourth Excel-class ship's debut set for the spring of 2027, showcasing a steady and strategic expansion of Carnival's fleet.
Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, highlighted the popularity and operational benefits of the Excel-class ships, with the positive reception of the Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee introduced between 2021 and 2023. 

Josh Weinstein, Chief Executive of Carnival Corporation, emphasized the strong performance of Carnival Cruise Line and the company’s strategic approach towards capacity growth. 

“This measured capacity growth strategy will result in our adding one to two ships per year beginning in 2027, and we will be identifying additional fleet plans over the coming months for our cruise lines to meet capacity demand and improve execution across all aspects of our operation, with the benefit of yielding higher return on invested capital,” Weinstein said.