Carnival Corporation Announces New Excel-Class Ship for Carnival Cruise Line Set for 2027
Carnival Corporation & plc is embarking on an exciting expansion for its Carnival Cruise Line brand with the signing of a contract for a fourth Excel-class cruise ship with renowned German shipbuilder Meyer Werft. Set to debut in the spring of 2027, this vessel marks the 10th Excel-class ship within the corporation’s global fleet, which spans across four of its brands, further solidifying Carnival’s position as a leader in innovative cruise experiences.
Weighing in at 180,000 tons and designed to accommodate over 6,400 guests, this new addition will join the ranks of Carnival Cruise Line’s existing Excel-class ships—Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee—which have already made significant waves in the cruise industry with their late debut last year. A notable feature of this upcoming ship is its reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology, highlighting Carnival Corporation’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, noting, “Our Excel-class ships have been a tremendous addition to the Carnival fleet and proven very popular with our guests. This new ship enables us to continue the growth of our incredible fleet as we welcome our loyal guests back to cruise more frequently and attract new-to-cruise guests to experience all that a Carnival cruise has to offer.”
Carnival Corporation’s CEO, Josh Weinstein, also commented on the strategic growth and operational strategy, emphasizing the company’s commitment to a responsible capital approach and its focus on enhancing the global fleet with state-of-the-art ships that exceed guest expectations. He mentioned, “With one newbuild scheduled for delivery in 2025, none for 2026, and this order being our only expected newbuild in 2027, our responsible capital approach will support utilizing our substantial free cash flow over the next several years to strategically improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce our leverage levels and continue to transfer value from debt holders to shareholders.”
This new ship represents Carnival Corporation’s first newbuild order in five years and is a testament to the company’s measured capacity growth strategy, aiming to add one to two ships per year beginning in 2027. This strategy is designed to meet the high demand across its portfolio of world-class cruise lines, ensuring an attractive return on investment and enhancing shareholder value through improved operational execution and revenue growth.
As Carnival Corporation prepares for the launch of this latest Excel-class ship, it reaffirms its position as an innovator in the cruise industry, offering guests unparalleled experiences at sea while maintaining a commitment to environmental sustainability and operational excellence.