Carnival Cruise Line has announced the name of its new XL-class ship to be delivered in 2020.
To be named Mardi Gras, the newbuilding will be the largest Carnival Cruise Line ship ever constructed and the first in North America to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
At 180,000 tons, the new Mardi Gras will be more than six times the size of its namesake, the first Carnival Cruise Line ship that entered service in 1972.
“Our first ship Mardi Gras was a historic vessel, introducing a brand new style of cruising to the vacationing public. What better way to pay tribute to our company’s nearly 50-year history of creating wonderful vacation memories than by naming this groundbreaking vessel after our original and beloved ‘Fun Ship,'” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, commented.
Currently under construction at Meyer Turku in Finland, the 5,200-plus lower berth vessel will feature a length of 337 meters and a width of 42 meters. The steel cutting ceremony for the new ship was held in November 2018.
As World Maritime News previously reported , the ship will be based in Port Canaveral, Florida, which will feature a new terminal.
A second XL ship will start construction in 2020 and be delivered in 2022.