Carnival has a knack for naming things literally (there’s already a Mardi Gras, a Celebration, a Jubilee), so it’s no surprise Festivale (its latest launch) is pitched as a floating party. Think outdoor music events, a three-deck family adventure zone and a waterpark the size of a small town leisure centre. This certainly isn’t a ship for quiet Sudoku in the library.
A family zone stacked three decks high
Pictured here (and above) Carnival Mardi Gras is sister ship to Festivale
Nothing says ‘relaxing at sea’ like hurtling past the funnel at 40mph.
The headline act is Sunsation, a family adventure sprawl that runs over three decks. Up top, the new Carnival WaterWorks Ultra has six slides ranging from child-friendly wiggles to full-on screamers, plus raft rides and side-by-side racing slides. By the sounds of Carnival's plans if you aren't wet, dizzy or carrying a towel at all times, you’re likely not doing it properly.
On Deck 17 sits the Vault Restrocade, a nostalgic arcade with old-school joysticks beside modern button-bashers, and the Treehouse, a net-and-bridge obstacle course strung above the deck like an urban assault course (toddlers, mercifully, get their own playground).
Evenings see Sunsation light up with music and DJs, which might even be enough to persuade reluctant teenagers out of their cabins for an evening or two.
Music at the heart
If Sunsation is the playground, Studio 724 is the experiment. Here, interactive tech responds to sound in real time with lights and animations, letting guests mix, record and play with music.
Meanwhile, The Festival on Deck 8 is exactly what it sounds like: a promenade dressed like a carnival, lined with food stalls, bars and a live-music programme that Carnival claims will feel like a genuine festival at sea. Earplugs not included.
Festivale still ticks the traditional boxes: adults-only retreat, spa, casino, comedy club, bars galore. But the ship is firmly leaning into the “festival energy” vibe Carnival has been cultivating, especially for its family-focused UK audience.
The maiden voyage: why it matters for the UK
The ship’s very first sailing leaves Southampton in spring 2027; a clear signal that Carnival sees the UK as a launchpad for its biggest projects. The maiden itinerary isn’t shy either: La Coruña and Vigo in Spain, Madeira, Tenerife, then across the Atlantic via Grand Turk to her new home in Port Canaveral, Florida.
Once she settles in, expect Festivale to offer regular runs around the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, but for UK travellers, being first on board is the headline. Southampton will get the confetti, the naming-day excitement and the chance to road-test the slides before Floridians get their hands on them.
And coming next…
Festivale won’t be Carnival’s only new toy. Sister ship Carnival Tropicale is already slated for 2028, bringing the Excel-class fleet up to five. But for now, all eyes are on Southampton in 2027; and the small matter of a ship that thinks it’s Glastonbury on water...