Carnival Cruise Line’s second Excel-class ship was floated out to the outfitting dock at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland today.
Carnival Celebration, aptly named as she is set to arrive at the culmination of Carnival’s 50th birthday celebration, will be the line’s second 180,000 gross ton ship after Mardi Gras — both the largest ships Carnival Cruise Line has ever had.
The float-out started this morning, with the opening of the building dock valves. The float-out process will be completed over the weekend.
“We are very proud to build this beautiful ship for Carnival Cruise Lines. The float out marks the beginning of a very intensive phase in the ships construction, as we the inside features and venues will start taking form. By the end of the summer Celebration will be ready for her sea trial and then for delivery later in the autumn”, CEO of Meyer Turku, Tim Meyer, said.
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“This is the exciting part, after the float out, that’s when everything that everyone will love about the ship goes from blueprint to reality,” said Ben Clement, senior vice president of New Builds, Refurbishments and Product Innovation for Carnival Cruise Line, who was in Finland to oversee the milestone. “When there’s a new ship coming, it’s always tough to pick your favorite part, but Carnival Celebration is going to make that choice tougher than ever when she makes her way to Miami.”
Carnival Celebration follows fellow Excel-class ship Mardi Gras, which was also built at Meyer Turku.
Mardi Gras is currently sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, and features an atrium with massive windows, BOLT roller coaster, and a number of new dining concepts for Carnival.
Like Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration‘s public areas will be divided up into six zones. Three of them will be themed the same between the two ships, and three will be unique to each vessel.
Carnival Celebration is scheduled to enter service in November 2022 with a transatlantic voyage from Southampton, England. On November 21, the vessel will embark on its first cruise from Miami to the Caribbean.
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