Carnival Jubilee floats out, revealing Texas star on its bowCarnival Jubilee floats out, revealing Texas star on its bow

It's a 'symbol of our commitment to the Port of Galveston. As the first cruise line to sail year-round from Galveston, we have a long history with the community, and our next new ship is our latest investment in support of the local economy’s impressive growth while delivering innovative experiences for our guests,' Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy said.

Tailgate party

Hundreds of spectators gathered at the Papenburg yard to get the first look at the newest Carnival ship, and they also got a taste of Texas. A tailgate-style party, complete with snacks and drinks from Carnival partner PepsiCo, accompanied the loat-out.

Onlookers parked beside the Papanburg harbor to watch Carnival Jubilee emerge from the covered building dock and Carnival Cruise Line partner PepsiCo sponsored tailgate party treats

This is the first Carnival Cruise Line ship built at Meyer Werft. The other LNG-powered Excel-class vessels, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, came from Meyer Turku in Finland.

Work on Carnival Jubilee will contnue at Papenburg's outfitting pier. Over the weekend, the ship will briefly cast off from the pier to undergo tests on the bow thrusters and stabilizers. Sea trials are scheduled for November.

Five times the size of Carnival's first Jubilee

Carnival Jubilee is due to begin western Caribbean service from Galveston in late December.

Carnival's first ship named Jubilee sailed from the Texas port in 2002. The new Carnival Jubilee is four times larger than its namesake.