Carnival Announces Purchase of Three New Mega Cruise Ships
Carnival Cruise Line has announced the addition of a new class of ships to its Fun Ship Fleet. Three new vessels, each nearly 230,000 gross tons, are set to join the fleet.
The agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri outlines delivery schedules for the new ships in 2029, 2031, and 2033.
“We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
“For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE.”
While details on the new class are sparse, each ship will feature over 3,000 staterooms and will accommodate more than 6,000 guests at double occupancy. Fully booked, the capacity can reach 8,000 guests. Information about the crew complement is still pending.
The new ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will include cutting-edge energy-saving and environmentally-friendly features, though specific details are not yet available.
“We are excited to join forces with Carnival Cruise Line to debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built in Italy,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri CEO.
“We are proud of the role Fincantieri has played in helping Carnival Corporation secure its position as the world’s largest cruise company and look forward to continuing this success story together,” Folgiero added.
The completion of these orders is contingent on suitable financing, which is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024.
These new ships will be the largest ever for Carnival Cruise Line, approximately 25% larger than the current Excel-class ships like Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee, which measure 183,500 gross tons and accommodate 5,282 guests at double occupancy.
The planned 230,000 gross tons per ship is comparable to Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis-class ships, though still smaller than their Icon class at around 250,000 gross tons. Final specifications will be confirmed once construction begins.
As Duffy indicated, these next-generation ships will feature new innovations alongside Carnival Cruise Line’s popular amenities. The Excel class, for example, introduced the Bolt rollercoaster and new dining options such as Emeril’s Bistro and Shaq’s Big Chicken.
More Growth for Carnival Corporation
Before the debut of the new class, Carnival Cruise Line will receive two additional Excel-class ships set for delivery in 2027 and 2028.
“We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line,” said Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc.
In 2025, Carnival Cruise Line will absorb two ships from the dissolving P&O Cruises Australia brand – Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter. These rebranded ships will continue to offer sailings in Australia.
Overall, Carnival Corporation & plc will be adding new ships in 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031, and 2033.
“We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year,” Weinstein confirmed.
Details about homeports, itinerary options, and sailing regions for the new Excel-class and upcoming new class ships will be announced at a later date.
