Construction of the new Carnival Magic officially began earlier this week when the vessel’s keel was laid at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard in Italy.

Set to debut in May 2011, the 3,690-passenger vessel will be the second in the line’s Dream-class series and will offer a number of amenities and facilities popularized on the Carnival Dream – a sprawling water park, an Ocean Plaza café/entertainment venue and a wrap-around outdoor promenade – along with some new and exciting features to be announced in the near future.

In addition to the Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic, the line has a third Dream-class ship set to debut in 2012.