Carnival Cruise Line has officially unveiled the name of its first next-generation ACE Class cruise ship. As a tribute to a ship that defined several generations of cruise ships, Carnival is choosing to name the first ship in the new class the Carnival Destiny.
Live Stream Announcement
The news came during a livestream from the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. Leaders from both Carnival Cruise Line and Fincantieri celebrated the milestone. They marked the official start of construction on Carnival’s newest class of ships live for the world to see!
The announcement kicks off an exciting new chapter for Carnival Cruise Line! The new Carnival Destiny will be the largest ship ever built for the cruise line. The 1996 Carnival Destiny made history as the world’s first passenger cruise ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons. In 2013, Carnival Destiny went through a dramatic transformation to become the Carnival Sunshine.
About the 2029 Carnival Destiny
The new Carnival Destiny will become the first ship in Carnival’s ACE Class when Fincantieri delivers it in 2029. Fincantieri is building the ship in Italy, where it will measure approximately 230,000 gross tons. Carnival says it will feature more than 3,000 staterooms and accommodate nearly 8,000 guests, making it the largest ship in the cruise line’s history.
The ship falls in the middle between MSC’s new World-class and Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class ships. Those ships come in around 215,000 gross tons and 250,000 gross tons, respectively.
Steel Cutting Tradition
The steel-cutting ceremony marks the official beginning of a ship’s construction. It is one of the most celebrated milestones in the shipbuilding process. During the ceremony, the first pieces of steel are cut for the new vessel. This symbolic act marks the transition from planning and design to physically bringing the ship to life.
Held at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, the ceremony officially launched construction of Carnival Destiny, the first ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s new ACE Class. Carnival also confirmed that two additional ACE Class ships are planned to follow in 2031 and 2033.
New Entertainment, Dining, and More Onboard
While Carnival has not yet revealed many details about Carnival Destiny’s onboard offerings, the cruise line has shared that approximately 70% of the entertainment venues, dining experiences, and public spaces will be completely new to the ACE Class.
That means guests can expect a significant evolution of the Carnival experience, with brand-new concepts alongside the fun atmosphere the cruise line is known for. While much of the ship will introduce exciting new features, one thing for sure won’t change: Carnival Destiny will provide FUN for cruisers of all ages for many years to come.
We’ll continue following today’s announcements from Fincantieri and post updates as Carnival shares additional details about Carnival Destiny. Stay tuned for information on attractions, itineraries, accommodations, and future homeport.
A Nod to the Original Carnival Destiny
The name Carnival Destiny carries special significance in Carnival Cruise Line’s history. The original Carnival Destiny entered service in 1996 and made headlines around the world as the first passenger cruise ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons, setting a new benchmark for the cruise industry.
At approximately 101,350 gross tons, the ship measured 893 feet (272 meters) in length. She welcomed more than 2,600 guests at double occupancy, with a maximum capacity of over 3,300 passengers. The ship featured multiple pools, the cruise industry’s first two-story dining room, and a three-story outer deck. Carnival Destiny helped build what guests expect from a modern cruise vacation.
In 2013, the ship underwent a major transformation as part of Carnival’s Fun Ship 2.0 enhancement program and was renamed Carnival Sunshine. By reviving the Destiny name for its first ACE Class ship, Carnival is paying tribute to one of the most influential vessels in the company’s history while looking ahead to the next era of cruising.
Our Live Reaction
Check out our Live Reaction to the ACE-class announcement of Carnival Destiny. Even though it was the middle of the night in Phoenix, we wanted to go live to share the news with all of our followers. You’ll find a very sleepy Mark and Rocky, so don’t judge too much when you realize we’re backwards. 😉
Carnival Destiny Updates
As Carnival continues to reveal new details, we’ll be following every announcement from Fincantieri and sharing updates as they become available. In the meantime, be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss any of the latest Carnival Destiny news.