Carnival Cruise Line has officially named its new flagship Carnival Celebration.

The ship’s godmother, actor Cassidy Gifford, christened the ship with a traditional breaking of a champagne bottle against the ship’s hull.

Gifford was joined by her mother, Kathie Lee Gifford, who served as godmother of Carnival Celebration’s namesake, M/S Celebration, which was christened in 1987.

The second Excel-class vessel, a sister to Mardi Gras, will offer year-round Caribbean sailings from PortMiami.

Carnival Celebration can accommodate more than 5,200 guests and features more than 20 dining venues, as well as a dozen bars and lounges across six zones.

Carnival Celebration is the second ship in the Carnival fleet, and the first to homeport in Miami, with a liquefied natural gas propulsion system.

Carnival Cruise Line ‘building on success’

Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said: “This naming ceremony of our new flagship Carnival Celebration is the perfect culmination of our 50th birthday as this spectacular ship honours our past and signifies the fun and growth ahead.

“Carnival Celebration builds on the success of our incredible Mardi Gras and the many innovations we introduced with our Excel-class, including a top-deck roller coaster, and offers unique features all her own that give guests a truly incredible new cruise experience to have fun and make memories.”

On 27 November, Carnival Celebration will begin a rotation of week-long eastern and western Caribbean sailings.