Carnival Corporation & plc is making waves in the cruise industry with its latest announcement: the company has ordered three brand-new ships for its iconic Carnival Cruise Line, marking a significant expansion of its fleet. These vessels, each nearly 230,000 gross registered tons, will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and are set for delivery in the summers of 2029, 2031, and 2033. This ambitious project is in partnership with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, which will handle the design, engineering, and construction of these next-generation ships.
Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, expressed her excitement about the new ships. “We take immense pride in being known as America’s cruise line, with a strong base of loyal guests and an incredible team that has made unforgettable vacations possible for over 100 million travelers. With these new ships, we’re committed to creating innovative experiences that will lead Carnival Cruise Line into the future with exciting new features that our guests will absolutely love.”
This announcement is the latest in a series of fleet expansions for Carnival Cruise Line in 2024. Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation revealed its first new ship orders in five years, with two Excel-class ships slated to join the fleet in 2027 and 2028. Additionally, the company has been making strategic moves to optimize its global brand portfolio, transferring five vessels from sister brands to Carnival Cruise Line between 2023 and March 2025, in a bid to increase guest capacity.
Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, emphasized the company’s focus on Carnival Cruise Line’s growth. “We’re doubling down on the success of Carnival Cruise Line, our highest-returning brand, to meet the unprecedented demand for the world’s most popular cruise line. Our newbuild pipeline is carefully planned, with one delivery each in 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031, and 2033. This disciplined approach allows us to strategically add capacity in the areas of highest demand, with one to two new ships per year.”
Weinstein also highlighted the long-term benefits of this order, noting that it will contribute to the company’s overall measured capacity growth of approximately 1.5% per year between 2025 and 2033. “This growth strategy provides the flexibility to allocate new capacity to high-return brands like Carnival Cruise Line, while also executing our responsible capital strategy. Over the next few years, we’ll leverage our strong free cash flow to improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce debt, and deliver value to our shareholders.”
These new ships will be the largest in Carnival Corporation’s global fleet, with over 3,000 guest staterooms and the capacity to accommodate nearly 8,000 guests at full occupancy. By 2033, Carnival Corporation will have 16 LNG-powered ships, including eight for Carnival Cruise Line, representing almost 30% of the company’s global capacity. The new vessels will not only offer more fun for more guests but also incorporate advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies to minimize the company’s environmental impact.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, expressed his pride in the partnership with Carnival Cruise Line. “We are thrilled to collaborate on this new class of ships, which will be the largest ever built by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever constructed in Italy. Fincantieri has played a crucial role in helping Carnival Corporation become the world’s largest cruise company, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership.”
Design details and itinerary information for these new Carnival Cruise Line ships will be announced in the future. The order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be finalized later this year. As the industry anticipates the debut of these massive new vessels, it’s worth noting that they will come close in size to Icon of the Seas, currently the world’s largest cruise ship at 248,663 gross tons, sparking curiosity about the innovative features Carnival has in store.
