Carnival Corporation will launch four new ships in 2016, across four of its cruise brands.
These additions form part of an expansion plan that will see 17 ships delivered to the company between now and the end of 2020, which Carnival said would “meet accelerating demand for cruise vacations in every region of the world”.
“As we execute our fleet enhancement plan, which includes a long-term strategy for bringing highly efficient, state-of-the-art ships to market and elevating the overall cruise experience, we are excited about seeing these new ships come to life this year,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation.
“We… remain focused on managing our fleet capacity in a responsible way by delivering and refurbishing ships that are innovative and efficient, while we phase out some of our existing ships.”
Carnival’s 2016 fleet expansion will kick off in April, with the delivery of Holland America Line’s MS Koningsdam. The 99,500 ton vessel, which will become the first in Holland America’s new Pinnacle Class, will be able to accommodate 2,650 passengers and features a new range of family rooms.
Also in April, Carnival Cruise Line’s 133,500-ton Carnival Vista will be delivered, offering capacity for 3,954 passengers. Features will include a suspended cycling experience called SkyRide and the first at-sea IMAX cinema. It will become the largest vessel in Carnival’s fleet.
And April’s month of expansion will continue with the delivery of AIDAprima to Germany’s AIDA Cruises. At 124,100 gross tons and with space for at least 3,200 passengers, AIDAprima will feature a domed Beach Club, allowing passengers to relax by the outdoor pool in all weathers. This vessel is also being billed as the most environmentally-friendly cruise ship in the world.
And finally in December 2016, Seabourn will take delivery of the new Seabourn Encore – a 40,350 ton luxury ship with a capacity of 600 guests. Every guest room will feature a private veranda.
Carnival recently continued its expansion programme, with the signing of an agreement for four new-build ships. Two of these will be delivered to Costa Cruises for its China operations, with the others going to Princess Cruises and P&O Australia.
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