The addition of five new ships through 2033 will provide Carnival Cruise Line with opportunities to innovate further and continue building on the Carnival (fun) experience, Christine Duffy, president, told Cruise Industry News.

“New ships also give us the opportunity to diversify our offering across our 14 U.S. homeports as we plan new deployments, appealing to both new-to-cruise as well as our loyal cruisers,” she said.

“Our Excel class has been extremely popular with guests sailing from Port Canaveral, Miami and Galveston, and we’re thrilled to bring two more LNG-powered Excel sisters into our fleet.

“And of course, we’re focused on the plans for our next new class, with three additional newbuilds to follow the Excel class – giving us new opportunities to deliver creative new concepts for our guests.”

Meanwhile Celebration Key, which opens July 2025 in Grand Bahama, is a standout project as a destination, Duffy said, that will be a one-of-a-kind offering to guests and will also provide the majority of the ships in the Carnival fleet with a new itinerary stop.

Currently, Carnival has scheduled more than 1,400 sailings year-round on 20 ships featuring Celebration Key from 10 U.S. homeports.

The $600 million flagship project remains the largest of its kind ever undertaken by Carnival Corporation and, with four berths, is expected to host 2.2 million passengers a year.

Duffy described Celebration Key as a game-changer – celebrating all things Carnival while offering a uniquely Bahamian experience and honoring the beauty of Grand Bahama.

“We also are enhancing Half Moon Cay in The Bahamas,” Duffy continued, describing the destination as being known for its beaches and crystal-clear waters.”

It has been renamed Relax Away, Half Moon Cay.

Carnival will mark the opening of Celebration Key with the first visit set for July. Also new for this year, will be year-round service from Norfolk for the first time.

“We’ve announced great new itineraries for 2026-27 with new sailings from all our U.S. homeports, Australia and our seasonal sailings in Alaska and Europe,” Duffy added.

What is the key to delivering the Carnival experience? “First and foremost, it’s the people,” Duffy answered.

“When you walk onto a Carnival ship, you’re immediately greeted by the friendliest crew at sea. They work to create an environment that’s welcoming and inclusive, and that’s really what makes our experience fun.

“It’s also the constant mission to elevate and enhance the experience. Whether it’s with the design of newbuilds, or refurbishments, our new destination Celebration Key, entertainment, or food and beverage, everyone at Carnival is working toward making your next cruise even more fun than your last cruise – no matter how you define fun.”

Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine Winter 2024-25