Fifty may be a golden year, but instead it is steel that’s making Carnival Cruise Line’s 50^th birthday extra special as the first metal was cut today for Carnival Jubilee which will be arriving to Galveston, Tex. in November 2023.

The festivities took place in Papenberg, Germany, as Carnival Cruise Line and Meyer Werft representatives attended the ship’s steel cutting ceremony, representing the first significant milestone in the vessel’s construction.

The steel cutting ceremony, a maritime tradition, was made uniquely celebratory by Carnival Jubilee’s shipbuilders, as confetti and a champagne toast heightened the excitement of starting construction on the world’s latest fun ship. At the shipyard’s laser center, silhouette of the ship was cut from the steel and signed by everyone in attendance. A special plaque was also cut from the same piece of steel to commemorate Carnival’s 50^th birthday.

“It’s our birthday and with today’s steel cutting for Carnival Jubilee, this is a great way to honor the accomplishments of Carnival Cruise Line’s first 50 years and to celebrate the excitement ahead,” said Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line’s president.

The 182,800-ton ship is part of the Carnival’s Excel-class design first delivered by the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.

“This is the first ship Meyer Werft is building for Carnival Cruise Line and the first time a ship design has been transferred from Meyer Turku to Meyer Werft, which shows our flexibility,” said Jan Meyer, Meyer Werft’s managing director.

Carnival Jubilee will be an important enhancement to the vibrant set of cruise offerings out of Galveston which has established Carnival as the industry leader in the Texas cruise market. She’ll share many of the same exciting experiences already thrilling guests on Mardi Gras, including the award-winning BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, and she’ll also feature some unique design elements and signature venues all her own.  

Carnival Jubilee is sister ship to Mardi Gras, which sails from Port Canaveral, Fla. and has quickly become one of the most popular ships in cruising, as well as Carnival Celebration, which will be based in Miami beginning later this year. Excel-class ships run on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology platform. Carnival Corporation pioneered the introduction of LNG fuel in the passenger cruise sector as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction.

Carnival Jubilee will offer seven-day Western Caribbean cruise vacations from the Port of Galveston beginning Nov. 18, 2023 with stops in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan), Honduras.

            For additional information on Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit www.carnival.com, or contact your favorite travel advisor or online travel site.