Carnival Celebration completes sea trials in Baltic

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship Carnival Celebration has completed sea trials and is inching closer to its debut voyage at the Port of Miami

Carnival Celebration set sail on its first round of sea trials on 5 September from Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard, where sister ship Mardi Gras was built. The vessel had a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers on board to test the ship’s technical, mechanical and navigation systems.

Captain Vincenzo Alcaras said the vessel underwent several tests during its sea trials, to determine the ship’s capability and performance. “We’ve done many manoeuvring tests, such as endurance tests, steering tests, speed tests and thrusters tests. The ship performed wonderfully, and shortly, we will start cruising.”

The 180,000-dwt, LNG-powered Excellence-class ship will become the operator’s largest upon delivery, capable of accommodating up to 6,500 passengers.

Carnival Celebration will arrive in PortMiami in November, and following an inaugural six-day voyage to the eastern Caribbean, the ship will launch year-round, seven-day cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean from PortMiami beginning 21 November. The week-long voyages will visit San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cozumel, Mexico and Grand Turk.

Carnival Celebration will feature many of the attractions seen on Mardi Gras, including BOLT, an onboard roller coaster at sea, an atrium spanning three decks and Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken restaurant.

The ship will also have a new Miami-themed zone aboard: named after the address of Carnival’s original headquarters, 820 Biscayne will celebrate the culture, architectural styles and flavours of the home city where the line was founded in 1972.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE TAKES DELIVERY OF MARDI GRAS

Carnival Cruise Line has taken delivery of its new ship Mardi Gras, which is due to enter service in April 2021.

The LNG powered ship will feature Bolt, which Carnival claims will be will the "rollercoaster at sea".

Venues, restaurants and entertainment options will be dispersed throughout Mardi Gras’s six distinct zones.

The ship’s centrepiece will be its three-deck-high atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows and movable LED screens that open to reveal an ocean view.

It will be able to accommodate 5,200 guests and 2,000 crew, with guests able to choose from 11 categories of stateroom and suite.

Mardi Gras will depart Turku in Finland later this month before heading to North America.

It will initially operate seven-day Caribbean itineraries from Port Canaveral, with its inaugural fixed for 24 April 2021.

"Notwithstanding the delays related to the pandemic, there is tremendous enthusiasm and pent-up demand for this ship," said Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.

"Next we will work on the development of her sister ship, Carnival Celebration, which arrives in 2022 and has sold very well since inventory opened in October."

Carnival Mardi Gras to Feature Roller Coaster at Sea

Carnival Cruise Line today announced that the Mardi Gras will have the first roller coaster at sea when the ship debuts in 2020 out of Port Canaveral.

Built by Germany-based Maurer Rides, BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster is a "heart-pounding rush of adrenaline offering nearly 800 feet of exhilarating twists, turns and drops with riders reaching speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour," the company said.

It is an all-electric roller coaster that allows two riders in a motorcycle-like vehicle to race along a track 187 feet above sea level.

“Mardi Gras will be our most innovative ship ever with some truly special features and attractions, highlighted by BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “BOLT will continue the tradition of Carnival providing exciting new ways for our guests to ‘Choose Fun.’ We are so thrilled to introduce this one-of-a-kind, game-changing, exhilarating attraction – our guests are going to love it!”

The ride will begin with a launch sequence and race car-like levels of acceleration, Carnival said. The experience culminates with a high-powered hairpin turn around the 5,200-guest ship's funnel.

Riders’ speeds are posted after the race, and guests will have their photo taken during the ride. Guests will be able to choose their own speed.