Four Cruise Ships Joining Carnival’s Fleet in 2016

Cruise shipping giant Carnival Corporation & plc said it will launch four new ships in 2016 across four of its global cruise brands.

These additions are part of the 17 ships scheduled for delivery for Carnival Corporation’s 10 brands through 2020.

“As we execute our fleet enhancement plan — which includes a long-term strategy for bringing highly efficient, state-of-the-art ships to market and elevating the overall cruise experience, we are excited about seeing these new ships come to life this year,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

“We also remain focused on managing our fleet capacity in a responsible way by delivering and refurbishing ships that are innovative and efficient, while we phase out some of our existing ships – all designed to reinvigorate the options available to travelers looking to explore the more than 700 destinations we visit around the world.”

The four new ships scheduled to join Carnival Corporation’s fleet of 99 ships in 2016 include Holland America Line’s ms Koningsdam, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAprima with all three set for delivery in April and Seabourn’s Seabourn Encore slated for delivery in December 2016.

Currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy, the 99,500 gross ton Koningsdam represents a new Pinnacle Class of ship for Holland America Line.

Carnival Vista will be the largest ship in the Carnival fleet, measuring 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet in lenght and featuring a guest capacity of 3,954. Carnival Vista is scheduled to enter service on May 1, 2016, initially sailing from Europe. After repositioning to New York for a series of voyages in November 2016, Carnival Vista will reposition to Miami to launch year-round Caribbean service later that month.

AIDAprima will be the newest flagship for AIDA Cruises, with 1,643 cabins at 124,100 gross tons. In addition to being one of the most technologically advanced vessels in the world, it will join its fleet as the most environmentally friendly cruise ship in the world. A new air lubrication system will pump bubbles below the waterline, reducing friction and lowering fuel consumption by allowing the ship to ride on a cushion of air.

Seabourn Encore is an expansion of the line’s award-winning Odyssey-class ships and the 40,350-gross ton ship will have the capacity to accommodate 600 guests.

In December, Carnival Corporation announced that it has signed a memo of agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A. to build four new cruise ships with final contracts expected to be executed in 2016. Two of the four new ships will be built for Costa Asia for deployment in China, and one will be built each for P&O Cruises Australia and Princess Cruises.