The world’s largest cruise company, Carnival, is about to get even bigger, with plans to build nine new cruise ships.
Carnival Corporation signed two memorandums this week for the new vessels to be delivered from 2019 to 2022.
The new-builds will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A (five ships) and German shipbuilder Meyer Werft (four ships).
But that’s not all, the contracts also have the option for additional ship builds in the coming years.
Could Britannia be getting a sister ship?
Which means, in the next seven years, the Corporation could own more than 109 vessels.
Currently, the company has 100 vessels split over its nine brands – Carnival Cruise Lines, 24; Princess Cruises, 18; Holland America, 15; Seabourn, five; Cunard, three; Aida Cruises, 10; Costa Cruises, 15; P&O Cruises, seven; and P&O Cruises Australia, three.
Although the company didn’t reveal which brands will be home to the new-builds, KarryOn suspects Holland America’s forthcoming vessel ms Kongingsdam will need a sister ship as will P&O Cruises’ Britannia.
Carnival did reveal that the new ships will serve established cruise markets in North America and Europe as well as new markets like China.
CEO, Arnold Donald said the new-builds will be ideal for converting new cruisers as they will be the company’s most efficient ships with ‘great guest experience’.
“Our goal as a company is to exceed the expectations of every guest on every ship every day, and these new ships will further enable us to do just that.”
Arnold Donald, Carnival Corporation CEO
As part of each shipyard’s long-term strategic partnership with Carnival Corporation, additional new ship orders are being explored over the coming decade.
Additional information on Carnival Corporation’s cruise ship design, and which of the company’s nine leading global brands will add these next-generation vessels to their fleets will be made available at a later date.
Or perhaps it’s Koningsdam getting a sibling?
Carnival Corporation’s fleet enhancement strategy will add two new ships to its fleet in 2015 and remove four ships from the fleet.
P&O Cruises UK officially launched Britannia, the largest ship ever designed exclusively for Britain, in a majestic naming ceremony earlier this month.
Later this year, the AIDA Cruises fleet will welcome AIDAprima, which is expected to be one of the most technically advanced and sustainable cruise ships ever built.