By
Laura Hyde |
Carnival Cruise Line marked a new construction milestone for its latest Excel-class ship, Carnival Jubilee, when it floated out of Meyer Werft’s covered building dock in Papenburg, Germany, in July.
Hundreds of spectators gathered for a first look at Carnival’s newest ship, which was revealed to have an important design feature on its bow during the float out – a Texas star.
“The Texas star on Carnival Jubilee’s bow is a symbol of our commitment to the Port of Galveston,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “As the first cruise line to sail year-round from Galveston, we have a long history with the community, and our next new ship is our latest investment in support of the local economy’s impressive growth while delivering innovative experiences for our guests. I’m looking forward to Carnival Jubilee showing off her Texas pride starting later this year.”
Following the float out, which turned into a tailgate-style party, Carnival Jubilee briefly cast off from the outfitting pier for various tests on the bow thrusters and stabilisers. The ship will now undergo final outfitting before sea trials, which are scheduled for November.
The new Carnival Jubilee shares its name with a classic Carnival ship which also sailed from Galveston in 2002 but is four times larger than its predecessor. It will include many features already seen onboard sister ships, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, such as the first roller coaster at sea, BOLT: The Ultimate Seacoaster, as well as six fun-filled zones, two of which are completely unique to Carnival Jubilee. All three ships are equipped with low-emission LNG propulsion.
Carnival Jubilee is the first Carnival Cruise Line ship to be built in Germany. Once complete it will sail year-round from the Port of Galveston on western Caribbean itineraries, beginning in late December 2023.