Carnival Project ACE Is Officially Here
Carnival Cruise Line has officially unveiled its next generation of cruise ships, known as Project ACE.
The announcement came during a special event held alongside the steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy, where construction officially began on the first ship in the new class.
This is one of the biggest fleet announcements Carnival has made in years. The cruise line confirmed three ACE Class ships are on the way, with deliveries scheduled for 2029, 2031, and 2033.
Carnival also confirmed the name of the first ship: Carnival Destiny.
The name pays tribute to the original Carnival Destiny, now sailing as Carnival Sunshine, which made history as the first passenger ship ever built to exceed 100,000 gross tons. It was also Carnival’s first ship built in Italy, making the name a fitting choice for Carnival’s newest class.
What Is Carnival Project ACE?
Project ACE is Carnival Cruise Line’s newest class of cruise ships, currently under construction by Fincantieri.
While Carnival’s Excel Class introduced ships like Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, Carnival Jubilee, and the upcoming Carnival Festivale & Carnival Tropicale, the ACE Class will become the next evolution of the fleet.
Throughout the presentation, Christine Duffy, Carnival’s President, used the phrase “More Sea to See,” saying that the Destiny will be “the most outward-facing ship in our fleet, with more ocean views across more spaces.”
Carnival Destiny Will Be the First ACE Class Ship
One of the biggest surprises from the announcement was the return of the Carnival Destiny name.
Rather than creating an entirely new ship name, Carnival chose to honor one of the most important ships in its history.
The original Carnival Destiny changed the cruise industry when it debuted as the first passenger ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons, and now the name will return aboard Carnival’s largest ships ever built.
The presentation also included the phrase:
“A Mark In Time – 30 Years Cut in Steel.”
The message recognizes the partnership with Fincantieri, the legacy of the original Carnival Destiny, and the beginning of construction on Carnival’s newest flagship.
What We Know About the ACE Class So Far
Carnival didn’t reveal every detail during the presentation, but it did confirm several highlights.
More Ocean Views
The ACE Class will feature a reimagined lania deck along with 4.5 acres of glass, giving guests more opportunities to enjoy ocean views throughout the ship.
The Most Ocean-View Balconies at Sea
Carnival also announced that the ships will have the most balconies with ocean views at sea, giving more guests access to balcony accommodations than any previous Carnival ship.
Mostly New Restaurants, Bars, and Entertainment
One announcement that really caught our attention was that 70% of the dining, beverage, and entertainment venues will be completely new.
That’s a significant number.
Rather than simply bringing existing restaurants from Excel Class ships over to the ACE Class, Carnival appears to be building an entirely new onboard experience.
As food lovers, this is probably one of the things we’re most excited to learn more about over the next few years.
Project ACE Timeline
Carnival confirmed three ACE Class ships are currently planned.
- Carnival Destiny — 2029
- Second ACE Class ship — 2031
- Third ACE Class ship — 2033
Construction officially began with today’s steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy.
Our First Thoughts
There are still plenty of questions left to answer.
Carnival hasn’t revealed renderings of every space onboard yet, and we’re still waiting to learn more about accommodations, entertainment, itineraries, and many of the new restaurants.
But one thing is already clear.
Carnival isn’t simply building a larger Excel Class ship.
With mostly new dining concepts, more balconies, expanded ocean views, and an entirely new class name, Project ACE looks like Carnival’s biggest investment in the future of its fleet in decades.
As more details are announced, we’ll continue to provide updates with everything we learn about Carnival Destiny and the ACE Class.