Sunday, November 6, marked a special occasion as CCL-Carnival Cruise Line’s second Excel-class ship - Carnival Celebration, arrived at the Ocean Cruise Terminal in Southampton (England UK) for a first-look event and marked the company’s first time bringing a newbuild to the United Kingdom in 20 years.
To welcome the liner, CCL hosted travel partners, local officials, and members of the media for a day with guided tours. Southampton port officials and the ship’s senior officers participated in a plaque and key ceremony.
Carnival President Christine Duffy hosted a special “Let’s Celebrate” event in the terminal that included a ribbon-cutting welcoming the first passengers onboard.
Last week, CCL took delivery of Celebration from Meyer Turku Finland, before Captain Vincenzo Alcaras, Chief Engineer Fabian Gervaise, Hotel Director Pierre Camilleri, and the ~1800 crew helped bring the boat to the UK.
Later on Sunday, Carnival Celebration departed on her 14-day transatlantic voyage to PortMiami where the company will soon host her official christening ceremony with Godmother Cassidy Gifford, daughter of Carnival friend Kathie Lee Gifford - the Godmother of the original MS Celebration.
Including Celebration, Carnival is adding 5 new ships to its fleet over the next 2 years in a period of growth unlike any other in the company’s 50-year history.