VIDEO: Fincantieri Monfalcone cuts steel for new Carnival Destiny

L to R: Chairman of Fincantieri Biagio Mazzotta, CEO of Carnival Corporation Josh Weinstein, Director of Monfalcone Shipyard Cristiano Bazzara, President of Carnival Cruise Line Christine Duffy, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri Pierroberto Folgiero, Chairman of the Carnival Corporation Board of Directors Micky Arison, General Manager of Fincantieri's Merchant Ship Division Luigi Matarazzo.

In a ceremony at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone, Italy, shipyard, Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation today cut steel for Carnival Destiny, the first of three new Ace-class ships for Carnival Cruise Line — and celebrated a 30 years of a strategic partnership that began with the original Carnival Destiny, delivered in 1996.

The original Destiny was the world’s first cruise ship to exceed 100,000 gross tons. The new Carnival Destiny will be considerably larger. With a gross tonnage of approximately 230,000 tons, it will be the largest ship ever built by Fincantieri and the largest ever constructed in Italy, marking the company’s entry into the segment of ships exceeding 220,000 tons.

Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Carnival’s Ace-class ships, with deliveries scheduled for 2029, 2031 and 2033, will feature more than 3,000 cabins and accommodate over 8,000 passengers at full capacity. The new ships will be equipped with advanced technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency, waste management and emissions reduction, with the goal of further minimizing overall environmental impact.

Carnival Corporation says that Carnival Destiny will “deliver a bold evolution in how guests engage on board. More than 70% of its venues and attractions will be entirely new concepts for Carnival, spanning reimagined dining, next-generation bars and lounges, immersive entertainment and vibrant outdoor spaces.

“Carnival Destiny builds on a legacy that changed cruising once before, reimagining what guests can experience at sea,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “With this ship, we’re elevating the guest experience again creating a ship that feels more expansive, while helping guests feel more connected and ultimately have more fun.”

Carnival Destiny will sail to destinations in the Paradise Collection by Carnival, the largest portfolio of exclusive destinations in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico in the cruise industry.

Additional details on Carnival Destiny’s features and experiences will be released later this year with delivery of the ship scheduled for Summer 2029. Two additional Ace-Class ships are planned for 2031 and 2033.