Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company, has signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build three new cruise ships for Carnival Cruise Line. The ships, each powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), are scheduled for delivery in 2029, 2031 and 2033.
These new ships are part of a new class of ships with nearly 230,000 gross tons and will be the largest in Carnival Corporation's global fleet. With over 3,000 guest staterooms, they can carry nearly 8,000 guests at full capacity and are designed to offer innovative guest experiences. According to Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, this new generation of ships will offer "new FUN features and excitement."
This order increases the number of newbuilds planned for Carnival Cruise Line to five ships in 2024. Two more Excel-class ships will join the fleet in 2027 and 2028. In addition, five ships from sister brands will be transferred to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet by March 2025 to further increase guest capacity.
Following delivery in 2033, Carnival Corporation will have a total of 16 LNG-powered ships, representing approximately 30% of the company's global capacity and enabling significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.