Delivery of Carnival Cruise Line’s new ship, Carnival Jubilee, has been delayed, forcing the line to cancel its planned transatlantic journey from Southampton next year.
Jubilee, which is under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany’s Papenburg, had been due to be delivered in October 2023 in time to sail to Galveston in Texas from Southampton on 30 October.
However, the ship will now be delivered in early December 2023. Carnival Cruise Line has cancelled the Southampton departure as a result, as well as five Caribbean sailings from Galveston.
The ship will now transit directly to Galveston to sail the 2023/24 festive season, which its first guest cruise departure fixed for 23 December 2023.
Carnival said guests and travel agents had been advised of the delay. "This is disappointing news, but with the notification from the shipyard, we are advising our guests as quickly as we can," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
"We appreciate their understanding as we work to deliver another spectacular ship that will provide a vacation experience our guests deserve and will absolutely love."