Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, has solidified its dominance in the cruise industry by announcing an order for three ground-breaking cruise ships for its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Line. The new vessels, set to debut in 2029, 2031, and 2033, will represent a new class of ship designed to deliver unparalleled experiences to

Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, has solidified its dominance in the cruise industry by announcing an order for three ground-breaking cruise ships for its flagship brand, Carnival Cruise Line. The new vessels, set to debut in 2029, 2031, and 2033, will represent a new class of ship designed to deliver unparalleled experiences to guests.

This strategic move comes as consumer demand for cruise vacations reaches historic highs. Carnival Corporation’s agreement with the renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri includes the design, engineering, and construction of these nearly 230,000 gross tonnage ships, all powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, expressed her enthusiasm about the new fleet additions: “We are proud to be known as America’s cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests. For this next-generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new FUN features and excitement that we know our guests will LOVE.”

This announcement follows a series of strategic decisions by Carnival Corporation in 2024, including the order of two additional Excel-class ships for delivery in 2027 and 2028. The company is also optimizing its global brand portfolio by transferring five vessels from sister brands to Carnival Cruise Line between 2023 and March 2025. These moves aim to boost guest capacity and enhance the overall cruise experience.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, highlighted the company’s commitment to growth: “We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line. Our newbuild pipeline ensures we strategically direct new capacity to areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year.”

Weinstein further emphasized the company’s disciplined approach to expansion, noting that the overall measured capacity growth between 2025 and 2033 is projected to average approximately 1.5% annually. This strategy allows Carnival Corporation to leverage strong free cash flow to improve its balance sheet, reduce debt, and enhance shareholder value.

The new ships, each featuring over 3,000 guest staterooms, will be the largest in Carnival Corporation’s global fleet, capable of hosting nearly 8,000 guests at full capacity. By 2033, Carnival Corporation will boast 16 LNG-powered ships, representing almost 30% of its global capacity and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These ships will also incorporate advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies to further minimize the company’s environmental footprint.

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to join forces with Carnival Cruise Line to debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built in Italy. We are proud of the role Fincantieri has played in helping Carnival Corporation secure its position as the world’s largest cruise company and look forward to continuing this success story together.”

Design details and itineraries for the new Carnival Cruise Line ships will be announced in the future, with the order contingent upon financing expected to be completed later this year. This milestone order underscores Carnival Corporation’s unwavering commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences to guests while pioneering sustainable practices in the cruise industry.

Written by: Christine Nguyen

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