Carnival Festivale
Excel (XL) class · Caribbean & Bahamas, Other
Scheduled to enter service in May 2027, Carnival Festivale will be the fourth Excel-class ship and revive the name used by one of Carnival's earliest ships. The new ship is expected to be delivered from an Italian shipyard. Its maiden voyage is planned to begin with a transatlantic crossing from Southampton on May 2, 2027, followed by year-round alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral. The eight-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary is planned to include Aruba and Bonaire, making it a broad itinerary for an Excel-class Carnival ship. Details before launch remain provisional, and the published values may change.
Current position (external site)View on VesselFinder (IMO 1060289)External site. Position information has not been checked by Cruise Atlas.
For travelers from Japan
A guide to public baths, Japanese food and language support, payment in yen, smoking, dress codes and power outlets, based on available official and other sources. Details may vary by itinerary and season. Check the official website for current information.
Similar facilities, such as a thermal suite
No Japanese language support
Payment in yen not accepted
English text in preparation.
Official: confirmed by the cruise line or another official source / Secondary source: confirmed by other sources / Estimated: inferred by Cruise Atlas / Not stated: no information found in official sources
At a glance
What is included and what costs extra
- Meals (main restaurants)Included
- AlcoholExtra charge
- GratuitiesExtra charge
- Wi‑FiExtra charge
- Specialty diningExtra charge
- Shore excursionsExtra charge
Main dining, buffet meals, and many included food items are covered. Alcohol, Wi-Fi, automatic gratuities, and paid specialty restaurants require separate payment.
- Extra chargeDrinks (one beer)$8
- Extra chargeSoft drinks and water$3.75
- Extra chargeDrink packageCheers! beverage package: $69.95/day when purchased in advance to $74.95/day when purchased after boarding, or about $83.94-$89.94/day including the 20% automatic service charge.
- Extra chargeWi‑FiSocial to Premium, about $20-$28/day (when purchased in advance).
- Extra chargeGratuities (automatic service charge)About $17.00/day (2026 level).
- Extra chargeSpa (60 minutes)$199+
- Extra chargeLaundryOnly paid laundry and pressing services are available on Excel-class ships.
- Shore excursionsShore excursions are optional and cost extra.
Prices are shown in the onboard currency; no currency conversion is applied.
Boarding, atmosphere, and links
- All ages
- A large Excel-class family ship with the BOLT roller coaster, a water park, and a wide variety of specialty restaurants. The atmosphere is casual and lively.
- As an Excel-class ship, it mainly attracts families and casual repeaters.
Carnival Festivale uses a dual-fuel engine powered primarily by LNG (liquefied natural gas). As an Excel-class ship, it is reportedly designed to significantly reduce SOx and particulate-matter emissions.
Ship character
- • Travelers wanting a new ship
- • Eastern Caribbean with Aruba and Bonaire
- • Families
- • Travelers needing confirmed details before launch
- • Travelers needing Japanese-language support
- • Travelers seeking a quiet ship
Sources
- Officialcarnival.com
- Secondary sourcecruiseindustrynews.com
- Secondary sourcecarnival-news.com
- Secondary sourcecarnival-news.com (2)
- Secondary sourcesec.gov
Cabins by category
| Cabins | Size | Occupancy and beds | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Interior Stateroom A standard Interior cabin in the Excel class. There are no windows or balconies, but some rooms accommodate 4 guests with sofa beds or ceiling pull-down beds for families. | 14–17 m² (151–183 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin beds) + sofa bed or ceiling-mounted pull-down bed; some cabins accommodate up to 4 people. | Connecting |
Ocean View Stateroom These rooms have no balcony but feature ocean-view windows and more space than Interior rooms. Some accommodate up to 4 guests with an additional bed. | 17–20 m² (183–215 ft²) | 2-4 people Mainly twin beds (can be joined into a queen depending on room type); some cabins accommodate up to 4 people with a sofa bed or Pullman bed. | WindowConnecting |
Balcony Stateroom The most numerous standard category across all rooms. Extended Balconies are 1.5 times the size of standard balconies. | 18–24 m² (194–258 ft²) | 2-4 people Twin beds (can be joined into a queen) + sofa bed. The extended balcony type is 1.5 times the usual size. | BalconyConnecting |
Ocean Suite / Excel Suite / Excel Corner Suite / Excel Aft Suite A suite category with several tiers, centered on Ocean Suites and including upper-tier Excel Suites, Excel Corner Suites, and Excel Aft Suites. | 28–56 m² (301–603 ft²) | 2-5 people (varies by cabin type) King bed (convertible to twins) + sofa bed. Higher-level types have an additional pull-out or upper bed. | BalconyConcierge |
Excel Presidential Suite The largest top suite in the Excel class. Indoor and balcony space total about 104 m², making it one of the largest suites in Carnival's history. It features a private bedroom, living room, hot tub, dining table, 2 sunbeds, and a wraparound balcony. | 104 m² (1,119 ft²) | 2-4 people (official description is based on 2 people; sofa beds may allow slightly more) King bed (convertible to twins) in the bedroom, sofa bed in the living room. | BalconyConcierge |
Approximate figures from official and reliable sources. Cabins vary by ship, category, and sailing.
Families, adults-only areas, and practical information
- • Camp Ocean — A free kids program for children aged 2-11, divided by age group.
- • Casino — A casino with slot machines and table games. Restricted to guests aged 21 and over.
- • Serenity Adult-Only Retreat — A retreat area restricted to guests aged 21 and over.
- Onboard currency
- USD
- Gratuities
- Automatic gratuities are added to your onboard Sail & Sign account for each night of the cruise. The amount can be adjusted, including reduced, at the Guest Services desk.
- Payment
- Cashless onboard
- Voltage
- Both 110V (North American standard) and 220V (European style) are available at cabin outlets.
- Formal nights
- 1 "Cruise Elegant" night is scheduled on cruises of 5 nights or fewer, and 2 on cruises of 6 nights or more. Most are held on sea days (such as day 2 or the last sea day).
- Medical facilities
- Every ship has a permanent medical center, with 1 to 2 doctors and 3 to 5 nurses on board depending on ship size, available 24 hours. It follows CLIA/ACEP standards. Consultations, medication and tests are private-pay (non-insured) services charged separately, and insurance generally cannot be used at the counter; you pay first and then claim.
- Bringing items onboard
- Guests aged 21 and over may bring one unopened 750 ml bottle of wine/champagne per person in carry-on luggage, on embarkation day only (fortified wines over 15% alcohol are not allowed). A corkage fee of $15 per bottle is charged if you drink it in public areas such as the main dining room or bars, but there is no charge for drinking it in your cabin.
- Mobile and connectivity
- Through the maritime roaming partners of major carriers, you can make calls, send SMS and use data on the high seas with your own phone and phone number (displayed as "Cellular at Sea" and the like). Many flat-rate plans are excluded and billed by usage, so checking in advance is essential. To keep costs down, it is common to switch to Wi-Fi calling via a Wi-Fi package.
- Japanese support
- Staff —Menus —Announcements —
Dining
Multiple main dining rooms included in the fare.
Hours: Breakfast, lunch, dinner (fixed seating/open seating)
A large complimentary buffet.
Hours: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (open most of the day)
24-hour room service.
Hours: 24 hours
A Japanese restaurant where guests can enjoy sushi, sashimi, ramen, and more à la carte.
- California roll$9
- Spicy roll$10
- Ramen$8
A course-style restaurant where you can enjoy a teppanyaki performance right in front of you.
- Set course of appetizer + main (choice of chicken / filet / lobster tail / salmon / shrimp) + dessert
A steakhouse centered on premium beef dishes.
- Appetizer + main + up to 2 side dishes + dessert course set
- Wine pairing (add-on option)+$23
A seafood specialty restaurant supervised by chef Rudi Sodamin.
- Set course of appetizer + main (choice of lobster, scallops, crab-stuffed lobster tail, steak, etc.) + dessert
Facilities and activities
An electric roller coaster described as the first at sea. This paid attraction runs on a dedicated elevated track.
A free water park with several water slides.
A casino with slot machines and table games. Restricted to guests aged 21 and over.
A free kids program for children aged 2-11, divided by age group.
A paid spa offering thermal suites, massages, and facials.
A retreat area restricted to guests aged 21 and over.
A free ropes course.
A free sports area with mini golf, basketball, and other facilities.
A main theater hosting free performances of original shows and other productions.