Construction Starts on the New Carnival Destiny: A Superlative LNG Mega-Ship

On Friday, July 10, 2026, the steel-cutting ceremony for the new Carnival Destiny was celebrated at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone. The massive cruise ship of the new "Ace Class" is scheduled for delivery in 2029 and, at 230,000 gross tonnage (GT), will be the largest passenger ship ever built in Italy. Back in 1996, the first Carnival Destiny broke the 100,000 GT mark – today, the revitalization of the traditional name celebrates an entirely new industrial milestone.

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The new Carnival Destiny breaks with previous design traditions and turns more towards nature. The "Outward-Facing Megaship" features huge glass fronts, a widened outdoor promenade (Lanai deck), and countless balcony cabins, allowing guests to enjoy an undisturbed view of the sea from starboard to port. The more environmentally friendly LNG propulsion system also underscores the strategic goal of meeting stricter emission standards and establishing a modern bridging technology on the world's oceans.

To be able to realize such dimensions in the first place, the shipyard had to upgrade massively beforehand. Two brand-new, 110-meter-tall Goliath cranes with a combined lifting capacity of 1,600 tons now enable the highly efficient macro-block construction method. These gigantic cranes were fully assembled in advance in Chioggia and delivered upright by ship to avoid costly downtime.

With the new Ace Class, the Carnival Corporation is focusing entirely on its most profitable brand. A modern, data-driven gastronomy concept will provide completely new culinary experiences on board, while the ship will exclusively call at in-house mega-destinations like Celebration Key. Starting in 2029, the Carnival Destiny promises to lastingly redefine vacations at sea through more space, innovative design, and advanced technology.