Carnival Cruise Line’s new flagship, Carnival Celebration, arrived at its PortMiami homeport and was officially welcomed into the fleet with a grand christening ceremony. Actress Cassidy Gifford, joined by Carnival President Christine Duffy, performed the traditional breaking of the champagne bottle to mark the occasion.
Carnival Celebration, the innovative Excel-class sister ship to the groundbreaking Mardi Gras, is set to launch year-round service from Miami. The new ship builds on the success of Mardi Gras and offers unique features of its own, including a top-deck roller coaster and over 20 dining venues, making it the perfect symbol of Carnival’s 50-year legacy of providing fun and memorable cruise experiences.
The naming ceremony, held in the ship’s three-deck-high atrium, Celebration Central, was attended by a crowd of guests who were treated to a preview of Carnival Celebration’s entertainment programming. The event featured an impromptu performance by Cassidy Gifford’s mother, Kathie Lee Gifford, who sang the memorable tune from the 1980s commercials that helped popularize the Carnival brand. The evening was capped off with a concert by Kool & The Gang, performing their dance classic, “Celebrate!” The event was also broadcast online, allowing Carnival fans to join in on the festivities from anywhere.
With a capacity for over 5,200 guests and more than a dozen bars and lounges, Carnival Celebration offers a truly incredible cruising experience. The ship features a Miami-themed zone, 820 Biscayne, which is a tribute to Miami’s cultural vibe and dining and beverage offerings. The ship’s top deck boasts the award-winning all-electric roller coaster, BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, and the resort-style Loft 19, accessible directly from premium Excel suites. With over 2,600 staterooms, Carnival Celebration is a true celebration of fun and luxury.
Carnival Celebration is also the first ship in the Carnival fleet, and the first to homeport in Miami, to have a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system, demonstrating Carnival Corporation’s commitment to green cruising. The ship’s first guests will depart on a six-day Thanksgiving cruise, with visits to Grand Turk, Amber Cove, and Nassau. The ship will then begin a rotation of week-long Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings, departing every Sunday and visiting popular destinations such as the Dominican Republic, St. Thomas, Cozumel, and Costa Maya, Mexico.