Carnival Jubilee Joins the Carnival Fleet as America's Premier Cruise Line Continues Capacity Expansion

Lisa Valadez | 12/5/2023, 3:14 p.m.
Carnival Cruise Line marked the arrival of Carnival Jubilee, the third vessel in its Excel-class series.
Carnival Jubilee

Carnival Cruise Line celebrated the arrival of Carnival Jubilee, the third vessel in its acclaimed Excel-class series, in a delivery ceremony held in collaboration with shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany. Marking the 26th Fun Ship in the Carnival fleet, Carnival Jubilee is en route to Galveston, TX., where it will contribute increased capacity and introduce a thrilling array of new entertainment, dining, and experiences to one of the cruise line's most beloved homeports.

Carnival President Christine Duffy, joined by Ben Clement, Carnival’s Senior Vice President of New Builds, Refurbishments & Product Innovation, and the ship’s senior officers, partnered with Meyer Werft Managing Director Jan Meyer to extend a warm welcome to Carnival Jubilee. This vessel holds the distinction of being the first Carnival ship constructed in Papenburg, Germany. Scheduled to welcome its first guests on December 23 in Texas, Carnival Jubilee will embark on year-round week-long Western Caribbean voyages from Galveston.

“Carnival Jubilee is the fifth additional ship we’ve welcomed into our fleet since 2021 and an integral part of our growth strategy. This ship will bring our most dynamic offering of fun to one of our most popular homeports and will be a great addition to our plans to remain the number one cruise line in Galveston,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “From the thrill of the roller coaster, BOLT, to a piece of paradise at the Serenity retreat, and so much more, we’re delivering a new level of fun for our guests sailing from Galveston that will complement our current and upcoming operations there.”

Alongside Carnival Jubilee, recent additions to the Carnival fleet include Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Luminosa (2022), Carnival Celebration (2022), and Carnival Venezia (2023). Carnival Firenze is set to join the fleet in April 2024.

Carnival Jubilee marks a substantial expansion of capacity from Galveston, a key homeport for Carnival. The cruise line pioneered year-round sailings from Galveston in 2001, and this new ship, adorned with a Texas star on its bow, serves as a testament to the devoted following Carnival has garnered among guests and travel advisors in the region. Joining Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream at the port, Carnival Jubilee is part of a four-ship deployment plan, finalized with the repositioning of Carnival Miracle to Galveston in October 2024.

In the past month, Carnival Jubilee's captain and senior officers conducted final trials to ensure the ship's seaworthiness, completing various technical and nautical operations ahead of its transatlantic voyage, culminating in its arrival in Galveston on December 20. With a capacity for approximately 6,400 guests at full capacity, in addition to 1,750 crew members, the 183,000 gross-ton ship is Carnival’s third to be equipped with a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion system. It is the first cruise ship to run on LNG from Galveston and will operate out of Terminal 25 at the Port of Galveston, which recently underwent a $53 million investment to accommodate the ship and enhance the guest experience.

For more information about Carnival Cruise Line and to book a cruise vacation, you can call 1-800-CARNIVAL, visit http://www.carnival.com, or contact your preferred travel advisor or online travel site.