How Carnival Festivale Is Different From Its Siblings

August 13, 2025 Randy Young

In February 2024, Carnival announced its fourth Excel Class ship would debut in 2027. Named after the original Festivale that sailed in 1978, this ship continues to pay tribute to Carnival’s original fleet. The Carnival Festivale will debut in May 2027, and Carnival just opened its itineraries for bookings. But how is it different from its sister ships, Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee? Let’s look at the changes.

Carnival Festivale’s Theme is Music

Each of Carnival’s Excel Class ships has a unique theme that sets it apart from its siblings. For the Festivale, the theme revolves around music.

“Music is the universal language that brings families and friends together, and Carnival Festivale will amplify that unique connection. The experiences we’ll deliver will appeal to every generation,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “Everyone, no matter their age or interest, will find their rhythm on this ship.”

Studio 724 Replaces French Quarter, The Gateway, and Currents

The two-story themed zone next to the Grand Central atrium will be called Studio 724. The space is dedicated to the music-making process. It will have interactive experiences that react with lights, sounds, and animations to music that guests create on board.

The Spark Bar

On Deck 6 of the space is a new bar called The Spark. It replaces the Fortune Teller Bar, Latitudes, and Ink PH.D. from the other Excel Class ships. The layout in this bar is different from the last two ships, which had rectangle bars in the walkway. Instead, the layout is closer to the Mardi Gras’ Fortune Teller Bar, with the curving bar seating hugging the inside wall.

Carnival describes it as “the kind of bar where musicians and songwriters gather to get their own inspiration going.” The custom bar will feature a menu that revolves around music.

Alchemy Bar

Studio 724 will also be home to the Alchemy Bar, but in a new location. The Alchemy Bar is incredibly popular on all Carnival ships, but on other Excel Class ships, the location is less than ideal, being located off a main walkway and having limited seating. On Festivale, it is now located on Deck 6 right off the Grand Atrium, where the Brass Magnolia, Golden Jubilee, and the Golden Mermaid are on the other ships. The space will no longer by two stories though, with the upper level being converted to casino space.

With a dedicated space, this popular Carnival bar can have a more intimate atmosphere and live music as guests enjoy some of their favorite Carnival cocktails.

The Mix Bar

Swapping places with the Alchemy Bar will be the Mix Bar on Deck 7. Guests will find creatively named cocktails like the Synth and Hi-Fi. They can also make their own unique drink by layering flavor “tracks” beneath a turntable-themed bar.

Limelight Lounge

The Limelight Lounge, which is used for comedy, a nightclub, and daily activities, will also be found in this area, but will get a completely redesigned look and feel to match the music-inspired theme of Studio 724.

The Festival Replaces La Piazza, 820 Biscayne, and The Shores

Deck 8 will be home to a new themed zone, The Festival. (The Festival on the Carnival Festivale, not confusing at all.) The space will span indoor and outdoor areas and attempt to create the “authentic social atmosphere and energy of outdoor music festivals in a cruise ship setting.” Dynamic lighting and music will transform the space from day to night.

Here, guests will find the Festival Grounds Coffee & Bar, which serves up premium coffees (in addition to Java Blue in Grand Central) and festival-inspired cocktails.

The Festival zone will also have a pizza and deli station. Pizza Palooza will make fresh pizzas (until it gets too late and guests have to go to the buffet for sub-par pizza), and Rhythm & Rolls Deli rounds out the casual dining options with gourmet sandwiches. Both venues are inspired by festival food trucks.

This area will be loosing the Watering Hole Bar, the outside bar which on other Excel Class ships is in-between Summer Landing and this zone. It’s not a huge loss as the bar doesn’t seem open very often.

Sunsation Point Replaces The Ultimate Playground

The biggest change that guests will notice as soon as they see Festivale is Sunsation Point. This new area spans three decks at the back of the ship and takes over the former Tides Pool, Mini Golf, and Bolt Roller Coaster area.

Deck 16

carnival festivale vista pool — The Vista Pool has a dedicated splash area for kids in swim diapers.

Deck 16 has space to relax with family-friendly activities and dining options. The space will have a dedicated bar, Sunsation Sips, offering frozen slushies for all ages. The Vista Pool here is open to all ages and features a splash pad area for kids in swim diapers (a first for Carnival). While here, guests can also enjoy Big Chicken and Swirls Ice Cream. This area will loose two hot tubs that were on its sister ships in favor of a larger pool/splash area.

Deck 17

On Deck 17, guests will find Vault Retrocade, a retro-styled arcade with classic and modern games. This space will have a new bar, The Scenic Overlook Bar, with beautiful aft views, TVs for sports, and games like pool and giant Jenga. Next door will be a mini golf course that will be illuminated so it can be used at night.

carnival festivale scenic overlook bar — *The Scenic Overlook Bar* is a brand new bar with amazing views.

Deck 18

Deck 18 will be home to the Carnival WaterWorks Ultra which they bill as the “most family-friendly water park at sea,” a superlative that is impossible to verify. It is the biggest water park in Carnival’s history. The water park features six waterslides, including two family raft slides, dueling racing slides, and the classic mini-Twister.

The deck also has The Treehouse, a new concept that is an adventure trail filled with nets, obstacles, and a dry slide. The space is also home to a dry toddler playground. Festivale will also have a Sports Court and Ropes Course in front of the funnel like on other Excel Class ships.

Evenings at Sunsation Point

Making Sunsation Point even more unique is that it will be open some evenings. Live DJ music and colorful LED lighting will transform Sunsation Point into a new type of nightlife. It’s the first time Carnival’s water park will be open in the evenings.

Festivale Has More Interconnecting Rooms

Carnival ships always have a family focus, and this ship may be even more so. To accommodate families, the Festivale has 1,000 interconnecting cabins, almost 70% more than its sister ships. For families that cannot fit in one cabin, it offers a convenient way to create a larger cabin with the connecting door in between.

Oddly, Carnival has chosen to remove the Family Harbor Lounge and Family Harbor cabins from the Festivale. This dedicated family space made it easy to grab light bites or snacks for kids and to have a lounge for kids to go to without having to travel to the upper decks. Removing it seems like an odd decision for a family focused ship.

More Kids Spaces on Festivale

The Festivale will also have a dedicated space for children six months to two years old. It will also add more experiences for the youngest cruisers and enhanced youth spaces.

As previously mentioned, the Festivale will also add a new splash pad for children in swim diapers and a dry playground.

It’s Not Just About the Kids

While many of the new features are geared towards kids, Carnival Festivale will still have adult-only areas. The complimentary Serenity Area is 21+ and, like it’s sister ships, it will have an adult-only pool. It’ll also get an extra hot tub for a total of 3 adult-only hot tubs.

In addition, the Havana Area, available only to guests booked in the premium Havana Cabins, is still only for guests 16 and up. While the area is still not as nice of the Vista Class implementation, it’s still a more relaxing place to get away.

The casino also gets a small expansion, taking over the second story from the bar off the atrium. It will still feature a large bar and is divided into smoking and non-smoking, meaning you don’t have to walk through a cloud of smoke if you don’t want to.

Festivale Will Sail From Port Canaveral Starting May 2027

The Carnival Festivale will debut on May 2, 2027, with a 15-day sailing from Southampton to Port Canaveral. Then on May 19, 2027, it will run a special 4-day cruise before beginning its standard 6- and 8-day sailings from Port Canaveral.

Our Take: Carnival Stepping Up to the Competition

With the Festivale, you can see Carnival evolving their tried-and-true product. While the first three Excel Class ships were very similar, Festivale has been fine-tuned. It is pretty clear that Sunsation Point is essentially Carnival’s response to Royal Caribbean’s incredibly popular Icon Class ships, which have the Surfside Family Neighborhood. It is no coincidence that the water park has six waterslides, the same number as Royal Caribbean’s Category 6 Waterpark, and that they introduced a baby splash area (Royal Caribbean has Baby Bay on many of their newer ships).

It is also nice that the Festivale is not cookie-cutter. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, which will debut this month, is nearly identical to Icon of the Seas. Similarly, Norwegian’s Prima and Viva were carbon copies of each other. With Carnival continuing to have two unique zones on each Excel Class ship, it gives you a reason to sail all the ships.