Carnival Jubilee in one read
Carnival Jubilee is the newest Excel ship and, by Cruise Critic member rankings, the best-rated ship in the entire Carnival fleet. She's the only one of the three built by Meyer Werft in Germany — her sisters came from Finland — and her showpiece is Currents, an underwater-themed digital atrium where six enormous LED "windows" wrap you in projected ocean, paired with The Shores, a boardwalk zone.
She sails 7-night Western Caribbean year-round from Galveston, and she was the first brand-new ship ever homeported there. Her christening — by Gwen Stefani, on what would have been Carnival founder Ted Arison's 100th birthday — was the first ship naming in Galveston's history. She is, in short, the ship to book if you want the freshest hardware Carnival has and you can sail from Texas.
Fit scores, not review scores — a lower relaxation number means she suits a quiet trip less well, not that she's a lesser ship.
Anyone within reach of Galveston who wants the newest, best-rated ship Carnival sails — and families who want the most spectacular zone in the fleet in Currents.
You're on the East Coast wanting a short getaway (Mardi Gras) or a Miami departure (Celebration), or you want a calm, uncrowded ship — she's popular, and it shows.
Is Jubilee your ship?
Four quick questions and we'll give you an honest read on whether she fits — not a sales pitch.
Where she sails
Durable pattern, not a fixed schedule — confirm your exact sailing.
Galveston, year-round, a full week. Jubilee sails 7-night round-trip Western Caribbean from the Port of Galveston — typically Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatán. She was the first brand-new ship Carnival ever based there, and she's the anchor of the line's fast-growing Texas presence.
That homeport is the whole story for booking her. For the Texas and central-U.S. drive-to market, she's the newest, best-rated ship in the fleet within driving distance — no flight to Florida required. If you're on the East Coast, her sisters give you the same class closer to home, so the calculus comes down to whether Galveston works for you.
Onboard: her zones & standouts
She shares her sisters' core venues, but her two signature zones are the most talked-about in the class.
Cruise Critic members rank Jubilee the top ship in the Carnival fleet, ahead of both her sisters. Being the newest hull helps, but it's really Currents and The Shores — two genuinely new zones that feel like nothing else at sea — that push her over the top. Emeril's aboard her is Bistro 717, after her German shipyard's hull number.
Cabins & suites
The neighborhoods
- Family Harbor — family cabins with a private lounge; she leans hardest into families of the three.
- Havana — Cuban-themed cabins with an exclusive pool and bar.
- Cloud 9 Spa — cabins with Thermal Suite access.
- Cove Balcony — low, close-to-the-water balconies.
Suites & Loft 19
- Carnival Excel suites — the premium tier with unlimited Loft 19 access.
- Excel Presidential Suite — among the largest rooms in the fleet.
- On the fleet's most in-demand ship, suites and desirable cabins go early — book well ahead.
Her sisters
Same class, same hull — here's how the other two Excel ships differ from Jubilee.
The honest read
Even the fleet's #1 ship earns honest caveats. The consistent one is crowds: a widely-read review said Jubilee "almost always feels crowded," with lines at the free venues at peak dinner times and drink service that can tip into hard upselling. Being the newest and top-rated ship also means she's in demand — occupancy and fares run high, and the best cabins and dining times go early.
None of that dents her ranking, and it isn't unique to her — it's the price of sailing the most popular big ship in the fleet. Go in knowing she's a busy ship, book your dining and any suite well ahead, and plan around the peak hours. Do that, and you're on the best-rated ship Carnival has.
Our verdict
If you can sail from Galveston, Jubilee is the newest and best-rated ship Carnival has — and Currents alone is worth the walk-through even if you never book a specialty meal. She's the clearest pick of the three for the Texas and central-U.S. market, and for anyone who simply wants the freshest hardware in the fleet.
Book her for the newness, the Currents spectacle and the Gulf convenience — just book early and book dining ahead, because she's popular for a reason. Her godmother, Gwen Stefani, named her in Galveston in February 2024 — the first ship christening in the port's history, on what would have been founder Ted Arison's 100th birthday.
Ask Seabound about Jubilee
Tell us about your trip.
Homeport, group size, kids' ages, budget and length — and we'll tell you honestly whether Jubilee is your ship or another Carnival fits better.
Instant answers from our guides · always verified against current Carnival information before you book.
Quick answers
Is Carnival Jubilee the newest Carnival ship?
She's the newest Excel-class ship, in service since December 2023. Two newer Excel ships are on the way — Carnival Festivale in 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028 — but as of 2026 Jubilee is the freshest hull sailing.
What is Currents on Carnival Jubilee?
Currents is her signature zone — an underwater-themed digital atrium with six giant LED 'windows' that project the ocean around you, a wave-shaped ceiling, themed bars and Emeril's Bistro 717. It's widely considered the most spectacular indoor space in the Carnival fleet.
Where does Carnival Jubilee sail from?
Year-round from the Port of Galveston, Texas, on 7-night round-trip Western Caribbean itineraries — typically Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatán. Confirm your specific sailing, as deployments shift.
Is Carnival Jubilee the best Carnival ship?
Cruise Critic members rank her #1 in the Carnival fleet, ahead of her Excel sisters. That reflects her newness plus the Currents and The Shores zones. 'Best' is subjective — but she's the highest-rated ship the line sails.
Does Carnival Jubilee have the BOLT roller coaster?
Yes, in her Ultimate Playground zone, for about $15 a ride — along with the WaterWorks water park, a ropes course and mini-golf. (The next Excel ships, Festivale and Tropicale, replace BOLT with a large water park instead.)