Carnival Cruise Line has announced plans for a fifth Excel-class to enter service in 2028.

The line confirmed it had signed an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard to add the latest 6,400-passenger ship to its fleet.

It follows an announcement in February that the cruise line was adding a fourth yet to be named Excel-class ship in 2027.

Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said: “Since the introduction of Mardi Gras in 2021 and the subsequent expansion with Carnival Celebration in 2022 and Carnival Jubilee in 2023, these Excel-class ships are driving excitement, demand, and strong guest satisfaction ratings.

“With the arrival of Carnival Firenze in April, we are completing the addition of five ships to our fleet in less than 20 months, and then we will pivot to another phase of growth with these two Excel ships.”

Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein also reaffirmed the line’s plans to add ‘one to two ships per year beginning in 2027’.