It’s official! Carnival Cruise Line has begun construction on the largest cruise ship ever built for the company with the first bit of steel cut for the 5,200 passenger vessel at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The new 180,000-ton XL vessel is full of “firsts” for Carnival – she will be the first ship to operate in North America using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will be the first ship to bear new livery for the line.
The steel-cutting ceremony marked the official start of construction for the ship which will be delivered in 2020 followed by a second XL ship in 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Carnival Cruise Line’s founding.
One look at the ships livery and one can see it’s definitely different from other Carnival cruise ships. According to the line, “the design builds upon the company’s iconic color scheme that has made Carnival one of the most recognizable brands in travel and is highlighted by a stately navy blue hull inspired by officers’ uniforms along with vibrant red and white accents running the entire length of the 1,130-foot-long ship.”
“This new ship promises to be truly special, from its groundbreaking technology and one-of-a-kind features to its distinctive livery and hull design that is both timeless and forward-thinking while paying tribute to our nearly 50-year history of making wonderful vacation memories for our guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
The ship, which will be given a name in December, will call Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, FL home beginning in 2020. Itineraries will be announced in January 2019 and more information on dining, activities, entertainment and onboard features will be released throughout 2019.