Key Aspects:
- Steel has been cut for the first of Carnival Cruise Line’s next class of ships, named Carnival Destiny.
- The new Ace Class will feature more ocean-facing spaces than ever before as well as 70% new public venues and concepts.
- A total of three Ace Class ships have been ordered, with their delivery to the cruise line expected in 2029, 2031, and 2033.
In an announcement the cruising world has waited years for, Carnival Cruise Line has revealed details on Project Ace, the long-awaited next generation of ships, with the steel cutting for the first vessel.
The new class of ships was first teased in July 2024 when three massive vessels were ordered from renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, though little was known at the time other than the predicted size was to be roughly 230,000 gross tons. This makes the new class the largest ships ever constructed in Italy.
Now, we know more, including the name of the first of the Ace Class of ships: Carnival Destiny.
In a livestream event on Friday, July 10, 2026, top cruise line and shipyard executives along with local officials shared the steel cutting for the first of the new vessels, hull number 6371, from Monfalcone, Italy.
Carnival Cruise Line President, Christine Duffy, was on hand to commemorate the significant milestone in Carnival’s history and the new ship’s construction.
“The three Ace Class ships coming in 2029, 31, and 33 are designed to change how guests will experience the sea while on their cruise,” Duffy described. “We like to say that they will have ‘More Sea to See.’”
“She will be the most outward facing ship in our fleet, with more ocean views across more spaces. She will feature a reimagined lanai deck, more than four and a half acres of glass, [and] the most balcony cabins with ocean views at sea.”
Duffy also thanked those involved with the production of the new ship, from the engineering teams and construction crews to the cruise line executives who have helped the cruise line grow and meet its own destiny.
The event was celebrated with memorabilia from the cruise line’s long history with Fincantieri, which began in 1996 with the debut of the original Carnival Destinythen the largest cruise ship in the world and the first passenger ship in history to exceed 100,000 gross tons.
More than 70% of dining, beverage, and entertainment spaces will be brand new, though no further details have been revealed at this time. Announcements about specifics are sure to come over the next three years as the ship is constructed.
As the ship was revealed, 3D panoramic holograms of the new ship offered a first look at her immense size, hundreds of balconies, and overall unique profile.
“We are focused together on innovating for the future, building upon what we know our guests already love,” Duffy said. “In the same way that the original Carnival Destiny did that 30 years ago.”
Comparing the Original Carnival Destiny and the new Carnival Destiny
The initial live remarks of the event were interspersed with pre-recorded reflections on the original Carnival Destiny and how revolutionary the ship was at the time she debuted, including memories of crew members who served on the ship when she was delivered 30 years ago.
Today, 65 crew members who worked on the original ship are still serving with Carnival Cruise Line, including the ship’s very first cruise director, John Heald, who is now the cruise line’s brand ambassador.
The new ship truly will be the future of Carnival Cruise Line and bigger than ever. But how will she compare to the original?
The original Carnival Destiny measured 102,853 gross tons and could welcome up to 2,642 guests at double occupancy when she debuted. She featured 480 balcony cabins, nearly ten times the previous number of balconies on any other ship. This allowed guests to connect with the sea in unprecedented ways on a cruise vacation.
A first-in-the-industry two-deck dining room, multi-tiered lido deck, and multiple other features made the ship truly stand out.
In 2013, the ship underwent a $155 million Fun Ship 2.0 renovation so massive that she was renamed to Carnival Sunshine with 182 new staterooms added, bringing her capacity to 3,002 guests. The 49-day dry dock also resulted in new venues onboard, including Guy’s Burger Joint, the Cherry on Top sweet shop, the Punchliner Comedy Club, and much more.
Today, Carnival Sunshine is still part of the Fun Ship fleet, homeported from Norfolk, Virginia, offering sailings to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, and the Caribbean, depending on departure date and itinerary length. In May 2027, the ship will move to Europe, offering departures from Barcelona and Rome for the summer before moving to Galveston, Texas in November 2027.
Now, the new Carnival Destiny is targeted to be at least twice as large at 230,000 gross tons, the livestream event confirmed. The ship’s final, official gross tonnage cannot be determined until her construction is complete.
Read Also: Carnival Ships by Size – Ranked Largest to Smallest
She will feature more ocean views than any other ship in the Carnival fleet, with roughly 4.5 acres (196,000 square feet) of glass bringing guests closer than ever to the sea.
There is a great deal more to learn about the new ship, including her new spaces, homeport, and potential itineraries. It is not unusual for those details to be revealed in the months and years leading up to the ship’s delivery and launch.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for all the details on Carnival Destiny‘s construction and innovations as new information is confirmed.
