Carnival’s Project Ace Ships to Feature Reimagined Decks, Dining, and Entertainment
Carnival Cruise Line has been full of exciting news in just 24 hours! We now know the names of the fourth and fifth Excel class ships, have learned about a name change and enhancements for Mahogany Bay, and have details on deployment changes for both ships and homeports.
One small nugget of information that may have slipped by some cruisers in the wake of so many announcements, however. We now know the official project name for the upcoming new class of ships – Project Ace.
The new ships, expected to be approximately 230,000 gross tons, were first announced in July 2024. Despite the tantalizing prospect of the largest-ever ships built for Carnival Cruise Line, few other details have been released since.
Now, we know that Project Ace will be spearheading a new platform for the cruise line, ushering in a new era of Fun Ship cruising.
“Looking ahead, we have the opening of Celebration Key this July, followed by our expansion at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in 2026; the delivery of our fourth and fifth Excel ships in 2027 and 2028; and then the introduction of three ships in our new platform, Project Ace, beginning in 2029,” Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, said.
The new ships are being built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, which has already proven an excellent choice for larger ships, including Sun Princess (160,000 gross tons), MSC Seascape (170,000 gross tons), and Carnival Firenze (135,500 gross tons).
The three vessels already ordered for Project Ace are slated for delivery to Carnival Cruise Line in 2029, 2031, and 2033. Each will be able to welcome nearly 8,000 guests at full capacity, though the standard double occupancy capacity is not known.
If the ships feature many family-oriented staterooms that can host four and five guests, it is possible the double occupancy capacity could be significantly lower.
The overall size will put the new ships on par with Royal Caribbean’s immensely popular Oasis-class ships, which range from 225,000 gross tons to 236,000 gross tons, and only slightly behind the Icon class – currently the world’s largest cruise ships at 248,700 gross tons.
Exciting plans are already being developed for the new features of the new ships.
“These ships clearly represent the next generation of Fun ships,” said Duffy. “This class will introduce new dining outlets, entertainment, and re-imagined outer deck amenities. Our New Build team is in the midst of designing these vessels, so stay tuned for more as we get closer to delivery.”
Carnival Cruise Line is always evaluating the popularity of different venues and features, and making adjustments as necessary. For example, libraries have been removed from most ships because of a lack of popularity, while non-smoking casinos are being added as more guests prefer the smoke-free space.
Changes in youth spaces, new additions to the specialty dining lineup, and new adrenaline-inducing features to thrill guests are all likely to be part of Project Ace.
Where Will the New Ships Sail?
Carnival Cruise Line has not confirmed (or denied!) where the new ships will be homeported or what type of itineraries they may sail.
Duffy did mention some interesting clues, however.
“They will be experiences unto themselves, and, partnered with itineraries that call in part on our exclusive destinations, will provide amazing cruise vacations for guests,” she said.
Carnival Cruise Line’s “exclusive destinations” include Celebration Key and RelaxAway Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, as well as the soon-to-be-renamed Isla Tropicale on Roatan, Honduras.
This seems to indicate that at least one of the Project Ace ships may offer Caribbean cruise itineraries, perhaps from Port Canaveral, PortMiami, or Galveston. Each of those homeports that already services an Excel-class ship – Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee, respectively.
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Of course, it is not unusual for new ships to sail very diverse seasons for their first year or two, bringing new experiences and unique itineraries within reach of multiple homeports.
For example, a season in Europe would be a natural choice for one new ship, while another might make its maiden voyage in Alaska, Australia, or even Asia.
Regardless of their eventual deployment, Project Ace is sure to be an innovative and exciting new generation for Carnival Cruise Line, offering fun times for all guests to enjoy for years to come.
Carnival’s Project Ace Ships to Feature Reimagined Decks, Dining, and Entertainment