Carnival Cruise Line Is Bringing Back the Magic and Guests Will Enjoy Coca-Cola Beverages Across Its North American Fleet, Beginning Later This Summer

  Carnival Cruise Line announced today it will partner with The Coca-Cola Company as its preferred beverage partner across its North American fleet. Starting later this summer, Carnival guests will once again enjoy a refreshing selection of Coca-Cola beverage choices, including classic soft drinks, zero-sugar and low-calorie options and sparkling flavored water.   "Carnival Cruise Line and Coca-Cola are two iconic brands that celebrate fun, family, friendship, food and fabulous memories,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.  “We are excited to welcome back Coca-Cola's diverse lineup of beverages which our guests love and which will enhance the food and beverage experience that is always part of a great cruise vacation on Carnival. Both our brands are built on bringing people together making The Coca-Cola Company and Carnival Cruise Line a perfect partnership.”   As they sail from one of Carnival’s 13 U.S. homeports to destinations around the world, Carnival Cruise Line guests will enjoy their favorite Coca-Cola brands including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Powerade, Topo Chico, fairlife and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, among others.   “We’re thrilled to be back on board with Carnival, literally! From an ice-cold Coca-Cola with lunch, a Topo Chico by the pool, or a Powerade after exploring a destination, we’ll have the perfect drink for every moment of the journey,” said Dagmar Boggs, president, Foodservice & On-Premise, The Coca-Cola Company, North American Operating Unit. “This partnership is all about enhancing the guest experience, and we’re thrilled to offer a beverage lineup as diverse and exciting as the adventures Carnival guests embark on.”   Carnival anticipates the partnership will be fully integrated across its North American fleet by the end of September 2025.  Carnival ships in Australia already serve Coca-Cola beverages.

Carnival Cruise Line is launching a new loyalty program and a new name: Carnival Rewards. It will have new features, new ways to earn status, and new reward categories. The new program will go live in June 2026, and guests will continue earning rewards through the existing program Very Important Fun Person program until then. Carnival Rewards is introducing a dual-earning structure where guests accumulate both Carnival Rewards points that can be redeemed on Carnival purchases and status qualifying stars that will determine a guest’s tier status. Instead of focusing solely on the number of nights guests sail, Carnival Rewards will offer more opportunities to earn rewards and achieve higher status levels based on spend, including cruise fare and onboard activities. The new program will be closely tied to everyday spending on the co-branded credit card with Barclays – the Carnival Rewards Mastercard – giving cardmembers the opportunity to earn points and status faster. “The evolution of our loyalty program to Carnival Rewards represents our commitment to creating more meaningful recognition” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "By introducing a points-based system, we're enabling greater flexibility so guests can personalize their rewards in ways that matter most." Guests will earn Carnival Reward points as well as status qualifying stars on every eligible Carnival purchase, including cruise fares and onboard purchases. The cruise line says the dual structure gives guests more control over their rewards and status. As part of the transition to Carnival Rewards’ launch on June 1, 2026, members’ existing status will carry over and serve as a new entry point into the program for a two-year period through May 31, 2028. Diamond members will retain their status for a six-year period through May 31, 2032.

 

A Cruise Industry First, the Program Will Introduce a Points-Based System Featuring Personalized Perks and New Ways to Earn Status, Including Credit Card Spend

  Carnival Cruise Line announced today it will launch its new loyalty program with a cruise industry first, adding new features, new ways to earn status, new reward categories and a new name: Carnival Rewards™. The new program will take effect in June 2026, providing guests plenty of time to learn about the changes while they continue to earn status in the current Very Important Fun Person (VIFP)™ program that will be their entry point into the new program.   Carnival Rewards is introducing a dual-earning structure where guests accumulate both Carnival Rewards points that can be redeemed on Carnival purchases and status qualifying stars that will determine a guest’s tier status. Instead of focusing solely on the number of nights guests sail, which is the model Carnival currently follows under its VIFP program, Carnival Rewards will offer more opportunities to earn rewards and achieve higher status levels based on spend, including cruise fare and onboard activities. The new program will be closely tied to everyday spending on the co-branded credit card with Barclays – the Carnival Rewards Mastercard – giving cardmembers the opportunity to earn points and status even faster. More details on the credit card will be announced later.   “The evolution of our loyalty program to Carnival Rewards represents our commitment to creating more meaningful recognition for our valued guests. Our current VIFP program has served us well for many years and while we’ve enjoyed truly extraordinary growth in our loyal customer base, it has become challenging to deliver the exceptional experience our Diamond and Platinum members deserve,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “By introducing a points-based system, we're enabling greater flexibility so guests can personalize their rewards in ways that matter most to them. This transition honors our past while building a future where loyalty is recognized through both cruising frequency and overall engagement with the Carnival experience, bringing Carnival Rewards into the top tier of travel loyalty programs that provide our guests with ways to earn status and points through their everyday spending on the Carnival Rewards Mastercard."   Guests will earn Carnival Reward points as well as status qualifying stars on every eligible Carnival purchase, including cruise fares and onboard purchases. The dual structure gives guests more control over their rewards and status.  

• Points can be redeemed for almost anything Carnival offers including onboard activities, spa treatments, specialty dining and even toward a future cruise.
• Stars introduce a new way to unlock higher status among four tiers: Red, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Status is earned over a two-year period and retained for the following two years.

  As part of the transition to Carnival Rewards’ launch on June 1, 2026, members’ existing status will carry over and serve as a new entry point into the program for a two-year period through May 31, 2028. Diamond members will retain their status for a six-year period through May 31, 2032. This ensures that all current loyalty status is honored while giving members time to familiarize themselves with the enhanced rewards. Guests will continue earning VIFP status as usual until the new program launches. In addition, upon launch of the Carnival Rewards program, current cardmembers, as well as any new cardmembers between now and the launch of the updates, will have the balance of their Fun Points converted to Carnival Rewards points in their Carnival Rewards account.   To learn more about Carnival Rewards and explore what’s to come, guests can visit carnivalrewards.com and current Carnival loyalty members will receive emails throughout the transition process ahead of the June 2026 conversion with the latest updates. Carnival will provide detailed information, tools to track status, point balances and tips to maximize rewards under the new system.

Carnival Corporation & plc has announced the purchase of a property in Miami’s Waterford Business District which will become its new global headquarters. The site is just south of Miami International Airport, and will be developed for a new HQ campus. The company has called Miami-Dade County home for more than 50 years. Carnival Corporation plans to build a multi-building campus initially designed to house over 2,000 team members. When complete in 2028, the new global headquarters will become the company’s main North America office. It will for the first time unite in a single location most of its North America shoreside team members from across the corporation and its various cruise line brands. These include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard and Costa Cruises. It will bring together team members previously located in other regions. “Co-locating our North America shoreside team members on a shared campus will foster even greater knowledge sharing, efficiency and career growth,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corp. The Miami campus will be customized to meet the cross-functional needs of Carnival Corp and its cruise line operating units. It will initially include 600,000 – 700,000 square feet of workspace across the headquarters building and an onboard entertainment training and rehearsal facility. Buildings will be designed to feature a variety of versatile work areas, including open collaboration zones, individual workplaces, and ample meeting rooms. “There is no better place for us to be based than Miami,” Weinstein added. Details of the transaction have not been disclosed. Additional information about the new headquarters will be announced as design and development gets underway.  

Carnival Cruise Line has outlined ambitious strategic plans for the next five years. The line's President Christine Duffy provided details on new ships, deployment, fleet enhancements and exclusive destinations at a media briefing at PortMiami. Carnival Cruise Line unveiled plans for its next new ship, Carnival Festivale, which will feature a new outdoor zone on the top three decks, named Sunsation Point. "Since our inception in 1972, we have defined and led the modern cruise industry and our plans for the next five years and beyond are no different," said Duffy. "Having just integrated two ships into the Carnival fleet in Australia, we now stand at 29 ships, the largest in our history." Duffy revealed that the fourth ship in Carnival's Excel class will be named Carnival Festivale,. Debuting in spring 2027, Carnival Festivale will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Reservation and itinerary details will be released this summer. Carnival Festivale will debut three brand new zones; two of which on Decks 6, 7, and 8 will celebrate music with new themed venues and experiences. One zone is inspired by the process of creating music, while the other zone on deck 8 symbolizes the vibe of outdoor music performances. For families, Carnival Festivale will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel ships. The expansion of the interconnecting rooms is in lieu of the Family Harbor staterooms on the existing Excel ships. Carnival Festivale will also introduce a dedicated space for Carnival's Turtles program which is for children six months to two years, and more experiences for them on the open decks. Overall spaces for Carnival's youth programs will also be enhanced. On Deck 18, a main feature of Sunsation Point is Carnival Waterworks Ultra, a family friendly water park at sea. This new area will replace BOLT, the Ultimate Seacoaster that is the top deck feature on the existing Excel ships. The water park will feature six slides, four of which are new to Carnival, including two family raft slides. It includes splash pads and dedicated baby splash areas. There will also be a sports court, ropes course and jogging track along with a new miniature golf course, outdoor games and themed arcade spaces. In the evening, Sunsation will host special evening events that have extended water park hours, in addition to a DJ and other activities. This is a first for Carnival to open Waterworks at night. Duffy also revealed that the name of the line's fifth Excel class ship will be Carnival Tropicale, also one of the original names of early Carnival ships. The homeport and open for sale date will be unveiled well ahead of the scheduled delivery of the ship in spring 2028. Many of the new features on Carnival Festivale will also be included on Carnival Tropicale, as well as some new concepts and theming. Additionally, Carnival has three mega ships which will be delivered in 2029, 2031 and 2033 set to boast over 3,000 guest staterooms, able to accommodate nearly 8,000 guests.

  * Names revealed for fourth and fifth Excel-class ships * ‘Project Ace’ to introduce Carnival Corp’s largest-ever ships * ‘Paradise Collection by Carnival’ launched for private destinations   Carnival Cruise Line has outlined its upcoming plans for new ships and destination experiences as part of a five-year ‘Innovation Itinerary’ concept.   It has confirmed that its fourth Excel class ship will be named Carnival Festivale, launching in spring 2027. The vessel will sail from Port Canaveral, with further information regarding itineraries to be announced this summer.   The ship will introduce new onboard areas, such as music-themed venues and an outdoor family zone on the top three decks, named Sunsation Point, which will replace the Bolt rollercoaster. Additionally, it will have 1,000 interconnecting cabins, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel class ships.   Meanwhile, the fifth Excel-class ship will be named Carnival Tropicale, with the homeport and open for sale date to be unveiled ahead of the scheduled delivery of the ship in spring 2028. Carnival Tropicale will include many of the new features to be found on Carnival Festivale, alongside additional new concepts and theming.   The cruise line will also launch the largest ships in the Carnival Corporation global fleet as part of a project named ‘Project Ace’. Three ships will enter service in 2029, 2031 and 2033, respectively, with each carrying almost 8,000 passengers.   Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “These ships clearly represent the next generation of ‘Fun’ ships. They will be experiences unto themselves, and, partnered with itineraries that call in part on our exclusive destinations, will provide amazing cruise holidays for guests. This class will introduce new dining outlets, entertainment and re-imagined outer deck amenities.”   In addition, Carnival Corporation’s collection of cruise destinations across the Caribbean and Mexico – used by many of its brands – are to be promoted as part of a ‘Paradise Collection by Carnival’. This comprises:   * Celebration Key: Located in Grand Bahama, opening July 19, 2025. It will feature five ‘portals’, each with a different theme, including family-friendly activities and adult-only areas. * RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay: Enhancement work for the private island – to be completed by the end of 2026 - includes the addition of a pier that can support Excel class and Project Ace ships. * Isla Tropicale: In 2026, Mahogany Bay, in Roatan, Honduras, will be renamed Isla Tropicale. A pool with a swim up bar and new cabanas will be added. Future enhancements will also include an expanded beach and a beach club.   Duffy said: “Since our inception in 1972, we have defined and led the modern cruise industry and our plans for the next five years and beyond are no different. The excitement and energy continue at Carnival. Having just integrated two ships into the Carnival fleet in Australia, we now stand at 29 ships, the largest global fleet in our history.   “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, plus fleet enhancements and new investments at some of our existing destinations.”

 

Line Lays Out Strategic Plans to Further Solidify Its Position as the Cruise Industry Innovator and Leader

    Building on a period of expansive growth, Carnival Cruise Line is outlining its strategic plans over the next five years with the introduction of its “Innovation Itinerary,” focused on three pillars: sailing the most fun fleet at sea; creating compelling experiences and destinations; and building more Carnival loyalists. The line’s President Christine Duffy provided details on new ships, deployment, fleet enhancements and exclusive destinations at a media briefing today aboard Carnival Celebration at PortMiami.   “Since our inception in 1972, we have defined and led the modern cruise industry and our plans for the next five years and beyond are no different,” said Duffy. “The excitement and energy continue at Carnival! Having just integrated two ships into the Carnival fleet in Australia, we now stand at 29 ships, the largest global fleet in our history. 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, plus fleet enhancements and new investments at some of our existing destinations. We are poised to continue our leadership position as both America’s Cruise Line and the World’s Most Popular Cruise Line.”   New Ships:   At the event, Duffy revealed that the fourth ship in Carnival’s award-winning Excel class ships will be named Carnival Festivale, continuing the tradition of giving these ships the names of the first Carnival ships that popularized cruise vacations for so many Americans.   Debuting in spring 2027, Carnival Festivale will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Reservation and itinerary details will be released this summer. In the meantime, those who want to be the first know can be notified by signing up here.   Carnival Festivale will keep in the Carnival tradition of bringing innovation and fun with each new ship and will debut three brand new zones; two of which on Decks 6, 7, and 8 will celebrate music with new music-themed venues and immersive experiences, representing the ways in which music brings people together. One zone is inspired by the process of creating music, using cutting-edge media, interactive moments, immersive sound and transformative lighting to activate it throughout the cruise, while the other zone on deck 8 symbolizes the energetic vibes of outdoor music performances.   Carnival sails more families than any other cruise line, welcoming one million children per year; and to better serve those families, Carnival Festivale will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel ships.  The expansion of the interconnecting rooms is in lieu of the Family Harbor staterooms on the existing Excel ships. Carnival Festivale will also introduce a dedicated space for Carnival’s Turtles program which is for children six months to two years, and more experiences for them on the open decks. Overall spaces for Carnival’s youth programs will also be enhanced to support additional programming.   Carnival Festivale will also feature a new outdoor zone on the top three decks, named Sunsation Point, that is a vibrant and exhilarating family fun zone that promises endless entertainment and unforgettable memories for guests of all ages.  On Deck 18, a main feature of Sunsation Point is Carnival Waterworks Ultra, the most family friendly water park at sea and the ultimate destination for splashy excitement. This new area will replace BOLT, the Ultimate Seacoaster that is the top deck feature on the existing Excel ships.   The expansive water park will feature six exhilarating slides, four of which are new to Carnival, including two family raft slides and, in the spirit of catering to all ages, slides that allow guests as little as three feet tall!  Two different splash pads offer endless aquatic playtime with kids’ slides and spray toys, while dedicated baby splash areas that will let even the littlest cruisers get in on the fun. The treehouse inspired elevated adventure trail and toddler areas provide dry play activities with plenty of shaded seating nearby. A sports court, ropes course and jogging track along with a new miniature golf course, outdoor games and themed arcade spaces are also included in this zone. In the evening, Sunsation Point bursts with vibrant illumination and the fun continues into the night with special evening events that have extended water park hours, in addition to a DJ and other activities.  This is a first for Carnival to open Waterworks at night and activate multi deck zones for guests of all ages to enjoy together in the evening.   Since this ship will be sailing from Port Canaveral alongside Mardi Gras, there will be new dining options. Carnival’s Chief Culinary Officer Emeril Lagasse is working closely with the Food and Beverage team to develop new concepts, including a new dining outlet that will replace ChiBang!  But guests don’t have to worry as fan favorites Guy’s Burger Joint, Pig & Anchor Smokehouse Brewhouse and Big Chicken are a few of the staples that will continue.  More details on dining options will be available in the coming months.   Duffy also revealed that the name of the line’s fifth Excel class ship will be Carnival Tropicale, also one of the original names of early Carnival ships. The homeport and open for sale date will be unveiled well ahead of the scheduled delivery of the ship in spring 2028. Many of the new features on Carnival Festivale will also be included on Carnival Tropicale, as well as some new concepts and theming.   Looking further ahead, Carnival’s exclusive new ship platform, currently called Project Ace, includes three ships at 230,000 gross tons each being built by Fincantieri that will be delivered in 2029, 2031 and 2033, respectively. With over 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in the Carnival Corporation global fleet and will be able to deliver fun to more guests than any ship in the world when carrying almost 8,000 guests at full capacity.   “These ships clearly represent the next generation of Fun ships. 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,” 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.”   Deployment Updates:   When Carnival Festivale is delivered in spring 2027 and begins sailing from Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras will move to offering short cruises from the same homeport.   “As new ships are introduced, this will allow us to upgrade capacity and hardware in key markets, with a particular focus on short cruises,” explained Duffy. “With short cruises on Mardi Gras, our guests who may not have the time to take a weeklong vacation can experience all the amazing features of our Excel class.”   Carnival has always been a leader in offering short cruises which appeal to first-time cruisers and families with more limited vacation time.  Carnival offers short cruises from all of its homeports in the U.S. and Australia, with the exceptions of Baltimore and Seattle.   Duffy also reiterated Carnival’s commitment to serving the line’s secondary markets which are an important part of its portfolio as America’s Cruise Line by continuing to be an accessible vacation for 50 percent of the U.S. population that is within a five-hour drive of a Carnival cruise.   As part of this commitment, Carnival will return to year-round operations in Mobile, Alabama beginning in spring 2027.  Carnival previously sailed year-round from Mobile and currently sails seasonally. In addition, Carnival is exploring moving a larger Conquest class ship to Baltimore in 2027 that can accommodate about 1,000 more guests than Carnival Pride, the Spirit class ship currently deployed from Baltimore.   Guest Experience:   Since first introducing Fun Ship 2.0 in 2011, Carnival has continually sought to enhance the guest experience on its ships.  In order to continue to innovate, Carnival will be evolving the guest experience on its existing ships by making strategic enhancements.  Changes will include décor modernization, new dining, beverage and entertainment experiences that will draw from features and concepts that will be introduced on its new ships. More details will be revealed as dry dock and enhancement plans are finalized.   Destinations:   It’s not just ships that are part of the Innovation Itinerary, it’s also about exclusive destinations. Carnival Corporation already has the largest collection of cruise destinations across the Caribbean and Mexico that are utilized by many of its corporate brands. Carnival Cruise Line, as the largest year-round operator in these regions, is the line that frequents these destinations the most. Given this, the destinations are being enhanced and will be marketed as the new Paradise Collection by Carnival and include:  

• The first exclusive destination that has been designed for Carnival guests, Celebration Key is a game-changer, opening in July.  It offers guests the ultimate day in paradise. Twenty Carnival ships from 10 U.S. homeports on more than 1,400 sailings are already open for sale and will make visits to Celebration Key through 2027, with more to come.
• The line recently announced the expansion of RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, which has been consistently rated as one of the top destinations in the Caribbean. The addition of a pier that can support Excel class and Project Ace ships will allow Carnival to bring its largest ships to this beautiful destination. The expansion is focused on unlocking more of the beach paradise Carnival guests love, making sure to preserve the pristine beach and lush, natural beauty of this island paradise. The destination’s enhancements will begin to be completed by summer 2026 and continue through the end of the year.
• Coming in 2026, Mahogany Bay, Carnival’s destination in Roatan, Honduras, will be renamed Isla Tropicale and expanded to include a pool with a swim up bar and cabanas. Future enhancements will also include an expanded beach and a beach club.

  Loyalty:     Duffy rounded out the event by confirming that Carnival will be enhancing its existing loyalty program, the details of which are expected to be announced this summer, with enhancements taking effect in 2026.   “Carnival has an incredibly loyal and passionate fan base who are advocates for our brand, our crew and the amazing vacations we deliver.  We’ve had our existing VIFP loyalty recognition program in place since 2012 and as our fleet and business has grown, so has the VIFP program,” she said. “As we continue to grow, we are modifying the program to unlock greater value and engagement for our loyal guests.”   Duffy said updates will be announced this summer, giving guests and travel advisors plenty of time to learn about the changes.

  Carnival Cruise Line has officially welcomed Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter to its fleet.   A celebration event, led by the cruise line’s president Christine Duffy, was held in Sydney on March 28 for Carnival Adventure, while a similar event took place in Brisbane on March 29 for Carnival Encounter.   The two vessels then departed for their maiden cruises as part of the Carnival fleet: a nine-night sailing on Adventure, departing Sydney and calling at Noumea, Lifou, Mystery Island and Vanuatu; and a three-night cruise on Encounter, roundtrip from Brisbane, featuring two sea days.   Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter – which have transferred from P&O Cruises Australia – recently underwent a two-week wet dock to update onboard areas.   A range of experiences and activities were added, including comedy shows and 80s Rock and Glow nights for adults, and Build-A-Bear workshops, Seuss at Sea and Camp Ocean for children.   The rebranded ships continue to feature elements of the P&O Cruises Australia experience, including the exclusive retreat Byron Beach Club; Edge Adventure Park; and Luke Mangan’s speciality restaurant Luke’s Bar & Grill.   Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Our expansion in Australia demonstrates incredible enthusiasm for our brand and we’re grateful to our loyal guests who continue to drive our ongoing growth, solidifying Carnival as the world’s most popular cruise line. Doubling the fun in our Australia homeports enables us to deliver more sailing options, offer more variety and deepen our partnerships in the Sydney and Brisbane communities.”   Carnival Cruise Line now has the largest fleet in its 53-year history, with 29 ships in operation. The cruise line expects to sail more than 500,000 guests from its Australia homeports this year.

Carnival Cruise Line recently held a two-day 'Grand Finale' event in Prague for its group of travel agent Fun Ambassadors. The trip featured a full day analysing the success of the programme across the past 12 months, including developing agents’ brand knowledge and growing awareness of Carnival Cruise Line’s itineraries. Day two included a tour of Prague followed by a dinner overlooking the Charles Bridge. Jackie Corbett, from Barrhead Travel, said: "It has been an exciting year of fun and learning. As a store, we have doubled our Carnival Cruise Line bookings." Iain Baillie, VP international sales at Carnival Cruise Line, added: "It's been a pleasure to work with our Fun Ambassadors over the last 12 months and the 'Grand Finale' visit to Prague was the perfect way to thank them for their support.” Our trade relationships are vital to our continued success." The Fun Ambassadors programme was established in 2019 and sees 11 travel agents - hand-picked each year for their knowledge of the cruise industry - work with Carnival to provide advice, ideas and feedback on how the line collaborates with its agent partners. Agents attend quarterly meetings with Carnival executives, receive priority access to events and benefit from 10 Loyalty Rocks points per booking. Further details about the 2025 programme will be revealed shortly.  

Carnival Corporation has beefed up its renewable energy network with the launch of new solar park projects s at two of its port destinations. It has installed solar at Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Roatán, Honduras, and Puerta Maya in Cozumel, Mexico. These solar installations mark a key step in renewable energy solutions across Carnival Corp’s global port operations. At Mahogany Bay, the solar park includes 400 high-efficiency solar panels and is expected to supply 60-70% of the port’s total energy needs. At Puerta Maya, the newly installed solar panels will provide renewable energy to power the terminal facilities (not including private businesses), and help reduce reliance on conventional electricity. The company rolled out two solar projects last year at Amber Cove Cruise Center in the Dominican Republic and at two of its Port of Barcelona cruise terminals, Palacruceros (Terminal D) and Helix Cruise Center (Terminal E). "Our investments in solar energy are creating meaningful benefits for the communities where we operate," said Juan Fernandez, VP, Destination Operations, Carnival Corporation. "We are focused on making a lasting, positive impact in our destinations." "This investment in renewable energy strengthens the environmental sustainability of Mahogany Bay and Roatán’s position as a leading eco-conscious destination," says Ron McNab, Mayor of Roatán.

Carnival executives were in The Bahamas to launch the five-month countdown to the eagerly awaited Celebration Key. Carnival Cruise Line’s newest private destination in Grand Bahama, will officially open when Carnival Vista completes the inaugural call on July 19, 2025. To mark the occasion, Carnival Corp chief CEO Josh Weinstein and chief maritime officer Lars Ljoen joined Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy for a behind-the-scenes look. It comes as construction enters its final phases. They placed commemorative keys into the 10-storey Suncastle, the centrepiece of the destination’s five distinct ‘portals,’ Celebration Key portals: Paradise Plaza - the gateway to Celebration Key. Starfish Lagoon – a family-friendly area with water slides and a sports court. Calypso Lagoon – an adult-friendly area with the largest freshwater lagoon in the Caribbean and a large swim-up bar. Pearl Cove Beach Club – an adult-only experience with an infinity pool, beachfront daybeds, private cabanas and exclusive super villas. Lokono Cove – a retail village celebrating Bahamian culture through local art and handmade goods.   They also planted palm trees from the Plant a Tree community engagement program, launched last year as part of an initiative.  It has involved replanting thousands of native trees across Celebration Key. Additionally, Christine Duffy participated in the ceremonial filling of one of two freshwater lagoons, the largest in the Caribbean, that will be sustained by Celebration Key’s desalination system. The lagoons span over seven acres and hold seven million gallons of water. Duffy said: "Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with the Bahamas.” “We broke ground on this site less than three years ago and now in five short months we’ll see our first guests enjoy the many experiences we created just for them on Grand Bahama."

  Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Sunshine has returned to service following a month-long drydock.   The 3,700-guest ship sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on February 11 for a six-day cruise to the Bahamas, calling at Freeport and Bimini, following a ceremony attended by Carnival Cruise Line vice president of port operations David Candib, Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander and Stephen Kirkland, executive director at Nauticus, a maritime discovery centre located in Norfolk.   The departure represents the ship’s first from the port and the start of Carnival’s year-round cruising from Norfolk, which will see up to 150,000 guests sail from the port annually.   Carnival Sunshine’s drydock included technical maintenance, along with updates to public areas and staterooms. The ship features a three-level Serenity adult-only retreat as well as food and beverage options such as Guy’s Burger Joint, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, the RedFrog Pub, Havana Bar and the Alchemy Bar.   As part of its year-round deployment, Carnival Sunshine will visit destinations in the Bahamas, Bermuda and Eastern Caribbean. From September 2025, it will sail to Celebration Key, Carnival’s new exclusive destination on Grand Bahama.   Carnival Cruise Line vice president of port operations David Candib said: “Carnival’s 23-year partnership with the City of Norfolk and Nauticus has been a great success, and we’re honoured to build on our relationship by making Norfolk the newest year-round cruise port on the east coast. Year-round cruises mean more options for fun adventures and unforgettable holidays for our loyal guests as well as more tourism and economic impact for the Norfolk community both before and after each cruise.”