Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship, the Mardi Gras will launch seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral on Saturday, July 31.
Carnival said the ship would operate "pre-inaugural sailings" to the eastern and western Caribbean and has not yet determined when the ship will officially be named.
"We are very excited to finally welcome guests on Mardi Gras," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival, in a statement. "With our desire to preserve summer vacations for our Mardi Gras guests, we are going to find a later date to formally christen her so that we can operate these pre-inaugural sailings just as soon as we can."
The Mardi Gras' launch is among several ship launch plans the line revealed today, which includes sailings from California. All ships will operate with vaccinated guests, Carnival said, eliminating the need to conduct test sailings.
The Carnival Magic will launch seven-day cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Caribbean from Aug. 7 to Oct. 7.
The Carnival Sunrise will enter service from Miami on Aug. 14, sailing four- and five-day cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean.
The Carnival Panorama will launch from Long Beach, Calif., on Aug. 21, sailing seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises.
Carnival has extended its pause for all other ships through Aug. 31, including the Carnival Pride, Sunshine, Dream, Ecstasy, Liberty, Conquest, Sensation and Glory.
Carnival said it will continue to ramp up more ships and homeports in September.