Carnival Jubilee
Product brand
UnclaimedCarnival Jubilee is a large Excel-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Carnival Jubilee is a cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line and the third vessel in the line's Excel class. Although the ship was ultimately developed for Carnival Cruise Line, its construction originated in an order associated with Carnival Corporation's sister brand AIDA Cruises. The order for a third ship of that broader platform was announced in February 2018, with an initial target for delivery in the first half of 2023. Carnival later announced in June 2021 that it would take delivery of the ship for its own fleet instead. Construction began at Meyer Werft's shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, on 18 March 2022. Carnival Jubilee was the first Excel-class ship built by Meyer Werft at Papenburg, distinguishing it from the earlier ships in the class. The vessel was assembled from large prefabricated blocks, with the final block installed during the winter of 2023. It floated out in July 2023, after which its distinctive wing funnel was fitted outside the building hall. In October 2023, the ship was transferred by river and sea from Papenburg to Eemshaven in the Netherlands, where it prepared for testing and delivery. The ship completed its first round of sea trials in the North Sea on 14 November 2023. Construction delays affected the original operating schedule and led to the cancellation of its first planned cruises. Carnival Jubilee was delivered to Carnival Cruise Line on 4 December 2023 and entered commercial service on 23 December 2023, sailing from the Port of Galveston in Texas. Its deployment gave Carnival a large, newer-generation ship based in the important Gulf Coast cruise market. At approximately 182,015 gross tonnage, Carnival Jubilee is among the largest cruise ships in the world. As an Excel-class vessel, it represents Carnival's move toward very large ships with substantial onboard accommodation, entertainment, dining, and leisure capacity. The ship's identity is tied to Carnival Cruise Line's mass-market vacation positioning rather than to an independent consumer-goods brand: it is a named vessel and flagship-style operating asset within the company's fleet. Carnival Jubilee's early career also included a maritime rescue. In January 2024, the ship rescued two men in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico. The incident became one of the first notable operational events publicly associated with the vessel after its entry into service. The ship remains an active Carnival Cruise Line vessel, with its known operating profile centered on departures from Galveston and itineraries in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean region.
History
Carnival Jubilee is the third ship of Carnival Cruise Line's Excel class. Its development began as part of a wider Carnival Corporation order associated with AIDA Cruises. In February 2018, a third ship for AIDA was announced with an intended delivery in the first half of 2023. The vessel's eventual ownership and brand allocation changed during the planning process: Carnival announced in June 2021 that it would take the ship for Carnival Cruise Line instead. The ship's construction began on 18 March 2022 at Meyer Werft's Papenburg shipyard in Germany. It was the first Excel-class ship built by Meyer Werft at Papenburg. Large sections were assembled at the yard, and the final block was installed during the winter of 2023. Carnival Jubilee floated out in July 2023. After the float-out, the ship's wing funnel was installed outside the building hall, an important stage in completing its exterior configuration. In October 2023, the completed vessel was transferred from Papenburg to Eemshaven in the Netherlands. It underwent its first round of sea trials in the North Sea on 14 November 2023. The construction program experienced delays, and the ship's first planned cruises were cancelled. Carnival Jubilee was nevertheless delivered to Carnival Cruise Line on 4 December 2023. The ship entered service on 23 December 2023 from the Port of Galveston in Texas. This deployment positioned the vessel in a major United States cruise market and connected its early operating career with Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean itineraries. With gross tonnage of approximately 182,015 GT, Carnival Jubilee is one of the world's largest cruise ships and one of the most significant additions to Carnival Cruise Line's fleet in its generation. In January 2024, shortly after beginning service, Carnival Jubilee rescued two men in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico. This event was an early publicly reported incident in the ship's operating history. Carnival Jubilee remains an active ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.
- 2024
Gulf of Mexico rescue
[1]Carnival Jubilee rescued two men in a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico.
- 2023
Float-out and transfer to Eemshaven
[1]Carnival Jubilee floated out in July 2023, received its wing funnel, and was transferred from Papenburg to Eemshaven in October for final preparation and testing.
- 2023
Sea trials completed
[1]The ship completed its first round of sea trials in the North Sea on 14 November 2023.
- 2023
Delivery and entry into service
[1]Meyer Werft delivered Carnival Jubilee on 4 December 2023. The ship entered service on 23 December from the Port of Galveston.
- 2022
Construction begins at Meyer Werft
[1]Construction of the vessel began at Meyer Werft's Papenburg shipyard on 18 March 2022.
- 2021
Carnival Cruise Line takes delivery allocation
[1]Carnival announced that the ship would be delivered to Carnival Cruise Line rather than its originally associated sister brand, AIDA Cruises.
- 2018
Third AIDA-associated ship order announced
[1]A third ship for AIDA Cruises was announced, with delivery initially planned for the first half of 2023. The project later became Carnival Jubilee for Carnival Cruise Line.
Products and positioning
A large, contemporary Carnival Cruise Line vacation ship designed for high-capacity cruise holidays, with a strong home-port connection to Galveston and the Gulf of Mexico market.
Excel-class cruise ship · 2023
Carnival Jubilee
Carnival Jubilee is a large passenger cruise ship and the third vessel in Carnival Cruise Line's Excel class. Built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, it has approximately 182,015 gross tonnage and provides the accommodation, dining, entertainment, and leisure facilities associated with a contemporary high-capacity cruise vacation. The ship entered service from Galveston in December 2023.
Brand decisions
2023
Cancellation of initial cruises following construction delaysOtherBackground
Construction delays affected the ship's originally planned schedule before delivery.
Action taken
The first planned cruises were cancelled, and the ship was delivered on 4 December 2023 before entering service later that month.
Aftermath
Carnival Jubilee began operating on 23 December 2023 from Galveston.
2021
Reallocation from AIDA Cruises to Carnival Cruise LineStrategyBackground
The ship originated in a construction program announced for a sister brand, AIDA Cruises, but Carnival Corporation later changed the intended operating brand.
Action taken
Carnival announced in June 2021 that Carnival Cruise Line would take delivery of the vessel.
Aftermath
The vessel became Carnival Jubilee, the third Excel-class ship in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.
Recent events
- 2024
Carnival Jubilee rescues two kayakers in the Gulf of Mexico[1]
Other
In January 2024, the ship rescued two men who were aboard a kayak in the Gulf of Mexico.
- 2023
Carnival Jubilee delivered to Carnival Cruise Line[1]
Other
Meyer Werft delivered Carnival Jubilee to Carnival Cruise Line on 4 December 2023 after construction delays and the cancellation of its initially planned first cruises.
- 2023
Carnival Jubilee enters service from Galveston[1]
Product launch
Carnival Jubilee began commercial service on 23 December 2023, operating from the Port of Galveston in Texas.
Sources3 sources
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