Carnival Corp Orders Fifth Excel-Class Ship for CCL
by Sarah Milner
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Carnival Corporation & plc has announced the addition of another Excel-class cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line (CCL), marking the fifth such ship for the namesake brand and the 11th in its global fleet.
The news comes just over a month after Carnival ordered a fourth Excel-class ship for CCL, which marked the company’s first newbuild order in five years.
Designed to carry over 6,400 guests and 1,800 crew, the latest LNG-powered ship will be manufactured by Meyer Werft and is set for 2028 delivery.
“Carnival’s Excel-class fleet will soon be a quintet of these very popular ships,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Since the introduction of Mardi Gras in 2021 and the subsequent expansion with Carnival Celebration in 2022 and Carnival Jubilee in 2023, these Excel-class ships are driving excitement, demand, and strong guest satisfaction ratings.”
Carnival plans to add one to two ships per year beginning in 2027 to increase capacity. This order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be completed later this year.
The news comes as the parent company announced record bookings for its first quarter.
“This has been a fantastic start to the year,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc. “Even with less inventory available for the remainder of the year, booking volumes hit an all-time high, driven by demand for 2025 sailings and beyond.”
