Carnival Corporation’s First New Building in Five Years Ordered

Carnival Corporation has announced its first newbuild contract since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has signed a deal with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft for a fourth Excel-class cruise ship, expected to join the fleet in spring 2027. This new 180,000-ton vessel will be the tenth Excel-class ship across all four of the company’s brands, offering space for over 6,400 guests and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). This new ship will complement Carnival Cruise Line’s current Excel Class ships.

Carnival Corporation & plc operates more than 90 ships across nine brands, with a further eight new ships set to join the fleet by 2025. Carnival Cruise Line is the company’s largest brand with 27 ships. The new ship marks the company’s first new build order in five years, reflecting a strong start to the peak booking season, with booking volumes reaching unprecedented highs since November. The company is on track to achieve record bookings for 2024, with both pricing and occupancy significantly exceeding 2023 levels, and the first half of 2024 already almost fully booked.

This announcement reflects Carnival Corporation’s continued growth and success in the face of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a positive outlook for the company’s future in the cruise industry.

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