Carnival unveils Carnival Destiny as first ship of its next-generation ACE Class -Video
c: CCL
Carnival Cruise Line has officially launched construction of its most ambitious cruise ship project to date.
During a traditional steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard in Italy, the company revealed the name of its newest vessel, Carnival Destiny, which is scheduled to enter service in summer 2029 as the first ship in Carnival's brand-new ACE Class.
The ACE Class represents the next step in Carnival's fleet evolution beyond the successful Excel Class. Three ships are currently on order, with Carnival Destiny to be followed by sister ships in 2031 and 2033.
According to Carnival, the new class has been designed to bring guests closer to the sea than ever before. The ship will feature more than 4.5 acres—approximately 18,000 square metres—of glass, creating panoramic ocean views throughout the vessel. Carnival describes the design as the most outward-facing megaship concept the company has ever developed.
The onboard experience will also introduce a significant departure from previous Carnival ships.
More than 70 percent of the venues and attractions, including restaurants, bars, lounges, entertainment spaces and outdoor areas, will be completely new concepts created specifically for the ACE Class.
During the ceremony, Carnival also presented a holographic 3D preview of the future vessel. Carnival President Christine Duffy described Carnival Destiny as the beginning of a new era for the cruise line. The name itself pays tribute to the original Carnival Destiny, which entered service in 1996 as the world's largest cruise ship before later being transformed into today's Carnival Sunshine.
The ACE Class marks another major milestone in Carnival's long-term fleet expansion strategy. Following the latest Excel Class ships built by Meyer Werft in Germany, Carnival is once again partnering with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for its next generation of flagship vessels. Carnival Destiny will become the first representative of this new class when she joins the fleet in 2029.