Carnival Corporation is the world’s largest cruise company and have just announced they intend to increase fleet capacity by up to 10% from 2014-2016, aided by the addition of four new ships across four brands.
This week, Carnival Corporation is hosting official naming ceremonies for two new ships – Regal Princess and Costa Diadema. These are the two latest vessels to join the fleet of more than 100 ships across nine cruise brands. In 2015, P&O Cruises UK and AIDA brands will each add new ships to Carnival Corporation to bring the total up to four by October of next year.
The company has boosted its fleet to the largest in the world, with more than 30 new ships added since 2007 alone. Seven more are scheduled to be delivered between 2015 and 2017.
The 2015 refurbishment plans will include two former Holland America Line ships that were transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and will undergo complete refurbishment before sailing. They will be renamed Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden and will set sail from November 2015. They aim to offer a new level in comfort and style and hope to boost Carnival Corporation’s industry-leading presence in the world’s fastest growing cruise market.
P&O Cruises UK will introduce Britannia in March 2015. This is the largest ship ever built for the British cruise market. In Autumn 2015, Germany’s AIDA cruise operator will launch its new flagship, AIDAprima, which is set to be one of the most technologically advanced ships in the world.
The four fleet additions within 18 months is part of Carnival Corporation’s plan to introduce nine new ships across seven of its brands between now and 2017. AIDA, Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises UK, Princess Cruises and Seabourn are all expected to debut state-of-the-art cruise ships within this time.
2016 will see the launch of Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Vista, a 133,500-ton ship that is set to be the largest in its fleet. There will be a sneak preview of the ship in New York in January 2015.
Holland America Line will launch its newest ship, the 99,500-ton MS Koningsdam, which will be able to carry 2,650 passengers. Finally, AIDA will introduce its sister ship to the AIDAprima that will carry 3,250 passengers.
The four new Carnival Corporation ships joining the fleet over the coming year and a half will represent the latest in ship design, energy efficiency, technology, amenities and activities that aim to provide guests with a safe, enjoyable and memorable cruise.
Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credits: Tom Mascardo
