The Carnival Corporation has announced plans to build four next generation cruise ships – boasting the industry’s largest guest capacity. Taking to the seas between 2019 and 2022, the new ships will be able to accommodate up to 6,600 guests each – with two ships planned for Carnival Cruises and the other two for AIDA Cruises.
A total of nine new ships have been planned by Carnival Corporation across their brands by 2022 – significantly increasing the total capacity. Alongside the jaw-dropping statistics, the next generation ships are being designed to offer incredible spaces for guests to relax and truly enjoy their holiday on the sea. Carnival have announced the ships will benefit from more enhanced on-board experiences.
The ships representing different brands will benefit from unique designs, implemented to appeal to each of the lines’ target audiences. Carnival hope this will help ensure their ships and holidays provide unforgettable experiences for first-time and repeat guests – whilst repeatedly exceeding expectations.
Additionally, the ships are set to boast Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) engine, offering a more ‘green’ cruising option. Used to generate 100% of the power at sea, LNG can significantly cut the amount of energy used by each of the ship and eliminate all emissions of soot particles and sulphur oxides.
Carnival Corporation CEO, Arnold Donald, enthused: “We are looking forward to executing on the next step in our fleet enhancement plan. At a cost per berth in line with our existing order book, these new ships will enhance the return profile of our fleet. These are exceptionally efficient ships with incredible cabins and public spaces.
“It will be exciting to see our shipbuilding team bring these new ships to life. Every step of the way, our focus is on designing state-of-the-art ships that provide a vacation experience our guests will love, and we are putting all of our creative energy and resources into making sure we achieve that goal.”
The ships will be built by Meyer Werft in their shipyards in Papenburg, Germany and Turku, Finland. The announcement signifies that the upcoming Harmony of the Seas from Royal Caribbean may only have a short reign as the world’s largest cruise ship when she launches next year – additionally, this will be the first time since 2006 that the world’s largest cruise ship is not part of the Royal Caribbean family.
Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credits: El Coleccionista de Instante, Daniel Foster.
