Carnival Cruise Line is embarking on a new era with the naming of the Ace-class Carnival Destiny, the first of three announced Ace-class ships scheduled to enter service in 2029.
Last week, corporate leaders from Carnival and shipbuilder Fincantieri gathered in Monfalcone, Italy, for a steel-cutting ceremony marking the start of construction on the new megaship. At 230,000 gross tons, Destiny is the first cruise line to exceed 200,000 gross tons and can accommodate more than 8,000 passengers when fully booked.
Carnival Destiny aims to be the most “outward-facing” megaship at sea, with new ways to experience the ocean, from ocean-view balcony cabins to reimagined lanai decks and 4.5 acres of glass, including multi-layered glass walls. In addition, more than 70% of Destiny’s dining facilities, bars, lounges, entertainment and attractions will be new concepts.
“Carnival Destiny is building on the traditions that once changed cruising, reimagining what guests can experience at sea,” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Lines, said in a news release. “With this ship, we are once again elevating the guest experience, creating a ship that feels more expansive, while helping guests feel more connected and ultimately have more fun.”
The new ship, which shares its name with the original Carnival Destiny built by Fincantieri, debuted in 1996 as the world’s first cruise ship with a gross tonnage of over 100,000 tons, making it 30% larger than any other cruise ship at the time. The original ship is still in service and was renamed Carnival Sunshine in 2013 after extensive renovations.
Andy Newman/Associated Press
In 1996, Carnival Destiny was said to be the largest cruise ship ever built. In this photo, a small cruise ship appears smaller in the background. The Destiny was roughly the size of three football fields, taller than the Statue of Liberty, and too wide to pass through the Panama Canal. (Andy Newman/Associated Press)
Over the past 30 years, Fincantieri has delivered 76 vessels across the Carnival Corporation portfolio, which includes eight cruise lines.
Although many details about the new ship have not been disclosed, Carnival announced that Destiny’s itineraries will include destinations in the Paradise Collection, a group of destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico, such as Celebration Cay and Relax Away on Half Moon Cay.
Meanwhile, the company is working on the Excel-class Carnival Festival, which will next arrive at Port Canaveral and join the fleet as the cruise line’s largest ship in service to date. In 2029, when the first Ace ship touches down, it will be a solar eclipse.
In 2027, Carnival will also reach a milestone of having a total of 30 ships across its fleet.
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