Carnival Celebration - the second CCL-Carnival Cruise Line-operated LNG-powered vessel, had its coin ceremony held on June 15th, at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
The centuries-old custom in shipbuilding symbolizes good fortune for the vessel and its crew.
Carnival Celebration’s officers Captain Vincenzo Alcaras, Chief Engineer Fabien Gervaise, Hotel Director Pierre Camilleri, and members of CCL's New Build team joined Meyer Turku representatives to help weld a box containing coins, which had temporarily been placed under the keel of the ship at the start of construction, to a permanent position close to the mast.
Carnival Celebration will commence service in early November 2022 with a 14-day Transatlantic crossing (RepositionCruises.com) from London/Southampton (England UK) to PortMiami (Florida USA). Her arrival will continue the celebration of Carnival’s 50th birthday. The newbuild will debut along with the company’s redesigned Terminal F at PortMiami, which is due to be among the first cruise terminals to be shore-power ready in 2023.
Carnival Celebration is from the XL-Class, having as sisterships the fleetmates Carnival Mardi Gras (2021) and Carnival Jubilee (2023). All the three units in this series are from the German shipbuilder Meyer Werft (shipyard Turku Finland). As with all other "Fun Ships", the shipowner is Carnival Corporation - the world's largest passenger shipping company.
The XL-Class is similar as design and facilities to Helios-Class ships produced for Carnival Corporation's brands Costa and AIDA by Meyer Werft in Papenburg Germany. Other Excellence-Class liners (Carnival Celebration sisterships) are Carnival Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Jubilee (2023), P&O Iona (2020), P&O Arvia (2022), Costa Smeralda (2019), Costa Toscana (2021), AIDAnova (2018), AIDAcosma (2021).