More Carnival Cruises Than Ever: New Ships, Ports, and Year-Round Sailing from Mobile!

Three Carnival ships docked at Cozumel

With Carnival Cruise Line about to debut their brand new exclusive destination, Celebration Key in just a few months, the cruising excitement is already in the air, but Carnival decided they are not finished with new and exciting announcements. 

Carnival Cruise Line Expands in Australia with Two New Ships!

Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line just recently arrived back in Miami after accepting delivery of two new (to the fleet) ships, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter for the Australian market. With these additions, Carnival now holds the title of Australia's leading cruise operator and has a record-breaking 29 ships in its global fleet.

Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter

The newly rebranded ships, formerly from P&O Australia, have been transformed to deliver Carnival’s signature fun while keeping some beloved P&O features. Carnival Adventure will sail from Sydney, while Carnival Encounter will make its debut from Brisbane. P&O is under Carnival Corporation but does not operate in the US market.

With this expansion, Carnival is set to sail more than 500,000 guests from Australia this year, doubling the fun and offering more variety in its Sydney and Brisbane homeports.

Destinations: Carnival's New Paradise Collection

Carnival Cruise Line is taking destination experiences to the next level with its new Paradise Collection, designed exclusively for Carnival guests. 

One of the biggest highlights is Celebration Key, Carnival’s first exclusive destination, as I’ve talked about in the last few weeks, is opening in July 2024. I will be on one of the first sailings headed there and can’t wait to bring you this new destination! Celebration Key promises the ultimate beach day experience and will be visited by 20 Carnival ships from 10 U.S. homeports on over 1,400 sailings through 2027. 

Additionally, Half Moon Cay, already a great exclusive beach destination, will see a major upgrade by summer 2026 with a new pier to accommodate Carnival’s largest ships, while maintaining the island’s natural beauty.  There will be a new private beach club plus relaxing cabanas on the beach with more beachside activities.  New complimentary lunch spots and more island-themed bars will further enhance this tropical paradise.  Carnival and Holland America Cruise Line (both owned by Carnival Corporation) will visit RelaxAway Half Moon Cay.

New Beach Club and dining at RelaxAway Half Moon Cay

But wait, there’s more! Another exciting change is the transformation of Mahogany Bay in Roatán, Honduras, into Isla Tropicale in 2026, featuring a pool with a swim-up bar, cabanas, and an expanded beach club. Carnival’s commitment to enhancing these beloved destinations ensures guests can enjoy more of the Caribbean’s charm and relaxation.

Rendering of the new beach club at Isla Tropicale (aka Mahogany Bay, Roatán)

Fleet Expansion News: Carnival’s Exciting New Ships

Carnival Cruise Line is making waves with its fleet expansion, announcing the addition of new Excel class ships and the groundbreaking Project Ace vessels. 

Leading the way is Carnival Festivale, set to debut in spring 2027 from Port Canaveral, Florida. As the fourth ship in the Excel class, Festivale will feature innovative zones celebrating the power of music, including interactive, sound-driven experiences and outdoor performance spaces. Designed with families in mind, the ship will offer 1,000 interconnecting rooms and the largest water park at sea, Carnival Waterworks Ultra, featuring six slides, splash pads, and family-friendly fun. 

Also announced is the fifth Excel class ship, Carnival Tropicale, scheduled for spring 2028 with even more new features. 

Waterworks Ultra - extreme water park for families on the new ships!

With both the Festivale and Tropicale, Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea, will be replaced with Sunsation Point, which will be an outdoor zone on the top 3 decks.  This is where the family-friendly waterpark - Carnival Waterworks Ultra will be located.  I have to wonder why they ditched Bolt.  My husband and I have sailed on all 3 of the current Excel class ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee) and wonder if it's due to maintenance and upkeep, as we did experience Bolt breaking down several times on all of our sailings.  There was a charge to ride as well, I believe $15 per ride, and this seemed to be a disappointment to passengers. 

In case you are wondering (like I was), never fear about whether Shaq’s Big Chicken will be on the new ship. Carnival has confirmed Big Chicken and other fan favorites will still be onboard - Guy’s Burger Joint and Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse plus new options coming from Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer, Emeril Lagasse!

Best chicken sandwiches at sea!

Another win, I believe, is with the arrival of Carnival Festivale to Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras will transition to shorter sailings.   This is a great opportunity for those who want to sail on an Excel class ship but don’t want to commit to long sailings.  Currently all 3 ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration and Jubilee) mostly sail 7-nights and longer itineraries. 

Looking further ahead, Carnival revealed its ambitious Project Ace, set to redefine cruising with three mega-ships arriving in 2029, 2031, and 2033. Each ship will boast 230,000 gross tons and accommodate nearly 8,000 guests, making them the largest in the Carnival fleet. These next-generation Fun Ships will introduce new dining, entertainment, and enhanced outdoor amenities, promising unforgettable experiences on a grand scale. Carnival’s dedication to innovation and family-friendly cruising continues to shape its future as the world’s most popular cruise line.

You read that right.  These new mega ships will hold 8,000 passengers. I cannot imagine what that will be like.  This is larger capacity that the current largest ship at sea, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas which can hold 7,600 passengers.  There seems to be a competition as to who can build the largest ship.  I have to wonder how far this will go?  Personally, I would love to see these cruise lines build new ships that are smaller and more intimate.  I know you can get that type of experience on premium luxury brands but that also comes with a premium price tag. I would love to know others' thoughts on this.  Comment, message, email me your thoughts!

My Favorite Carnival News: Year-Round Cruising from Mobile!

Mobile Cruise terminal (Photo Credit: Mobile.org)

Y'all, I am beyond excited to share this news!  In 2027, Carnival is bringing a ship to Mobile, Alabama for year-round cruising! Seriously, this is HUGE! For those of us in Central Mississippi, this means even more cruising options right in our backyard. Between New Orleans and now Mobile, we’ve got two incredible homeports just a short drive away.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I've been a bit bummed that Carnival Spirit—which has been sailing from Mobile—always heads to Alaska for the summer. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Alaska cruises are amazing, but summer is prime time for Caribbean getaways too! Now, we don’t have to worry about that anymore. Carnival heard us loud and clear and is finally giving Mobile the love it deserves with year-round cruising.

The city of Mobile and all the surrounding areas are buzzing with excitement, and honestly, I am too! This is such a win for everyone who loves to cruise but doesn’t want to fly to get on a ship. It makes planning that much easier and gives us more flexibility for those last-minute getaways or family vacations.

I can’t wait to start booking these year-round sailings from Mobile and helping y’all take full advantage of this amazing new option! Seriously, how exciting is it to have another fantastic cruise port right in our backyard? Mobile is about to become one of our absolute favorite cruise spots!

And it’s not just Mobile that has me pumped—it’s EVERYTHING Carnival just announced! We’re talking new destinations, incredible new Excel class ships, Carnival Festivale and Tropicale, the innovative Project Ace mega-ships, and so much more. This is Carnival stepping up their game, and I am here for it!

Get ready to explore the world from the Gulf Coast and beyond, because with all these new ships and destinations coming our way, it’s going to be an epic time to cruise! Let’s get planning—who’s with me?

Click the Let’s talk button at the top of the page to set up a phone call or Email me at melissa@wandersbymelissa.com.