Carnival Cruise Line has revealed the name of the first vessel in its new Ace Class, confirming the ship will be called Carnival Destiny.
The announcement was made during a steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Italy on 10 July, 2026, marking the official start of construction.
Carnival Destiny will measure approximately 230,000 gross tons and carry nearly 8,000 guests at maximum capacity across more than 3,000 staterooms, making it the largest ship in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. It is also set to be the largest vessel built by Fincantieri to exceed 200,000 gross tons, and the largest cruise ship constructed in Italy.
The ship is scheduled for delivery in 2029. Two further Ace Class vessels are scheduled to follow in 2031 and 2033.
The Ace Class is Carnival’s first entirely new ship class since the Excel Class debuted with Mardi Gras in 2021. Carnival said more than 70 per cent of the dining, beverage, entertainment and guest experience concepts onboard will be new to the line.
The ship’s design includes more than 1.82ha of glass, a redesigned Lanai deck, and what Carnival describes as the highest number of ocean-view balcony cabins at sea. Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said the ship was designed around “bringing the ocean into constant view and redefining how guests will connect with the sea”.
The name revives that of the original Carnival Destiny, which entered service in 1996 as the first passenger ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons and was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time. That vessel was later renamed Carnival Sunshine.
Carnival has not yet confirmed the new ship’s homeport, itineraries, specialty dining lineup or suite categories. The company said further details on staterooms, dining and entertainment will be released in November 2026.
Carnival has flagged its Paradise Collection destinations — Celebration Key, Isla Tropicale in Roatan and RelaxAway at Half Moon Cay — as part of its wider portfolio, though it has not confirmed whether Carnival Destiny’s itineraries will be built around them.
Key features
Largest ships in Carnival history: ~230,000 gross tons, surpassing the Excel Class.
High capacity: Nearly 8,000 guests at maximum occupancy; ~6,160 at double occupancy.
Ocean‑focused design: Over 1.82ha of glass, including multi‑storey glass walls.
Views: Most ocean‑view balcony cabins in the fleet.
Outdoors: Reimagined lanai deck with expanded outdoor spaces.
Venues: More than 70 per cent of venues and attractions are brand‑new, including dining, bars, entertainment, and outdoor spaces.
Propulsion: Expected to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology.
Name: Honours the original 1996 Carnival Destiny, the first cruise ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons.
