Carnival Corp. Orders 3 New Vessels for the Carnival Brand

[cjknox]

Miami, FL – Cruise industry giant Carnival Corporation has inked a memorandum of agreement with Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard to build one 4,000 passenger 135,000-ton cruise ship and two 5,100 passenger 152,000-ton cruise ships for its Carnival Cruise Lines brand. The first of the three ships on order will be the second ship in Carnival's Vista class and is expected to be completed for launch in Spring 2017. The last two vessels are expected to be part of a new class of ships and will be completed in Spring 2019 and Summer 2020 respectively. Early cost estimates for each ship include $810 million for the Vista class ship and $985 million each for the yet unnamed 152,000-ton ships. With today's agreement Carnival now has four ships on order with completion of each between 2016 and 2020.

 

Gerry Cahill, President and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines said that "We here at Carnival are very excited about what we will be introducing on board these ships in the coming years; all cruisers young and old will enjoy all they'll have to offer."

 

Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation notes that "This significant order shows the continued growth of the Carnival Cruise Lines brand, I look forward to the introduction of these groundbreaking ships. We have strategically timed the introduction of these new ships to allow ample time for Carnival to further grow its passenger base and absorb the new capacity while minimizing revenue yield dilution in the remainder of the existing fleet."

 

Micky Arison, Chairman of Carnival Corporation added that "...the addition of new tonnage is necessary, to some extent, to replace existing capacity reductions from possible sales of older ships less profitable ships. In short, these ships will greatly increase the profitability and overall efficiency of the Carnival fleet"

 

Further details about the ships, their itineraries and their home ports will be announced at a later date.

 

 

This is certainly great news for Carnival and I figured they'd be making some decisions in terms of new builds soon seeing as they only had one on order and hadn't had on since 2012. Especially interesting is Micky Arisons comment about "new tonnage" replacing "older tonnage"; This could be the end of some of the senior members of the Fantasy class. Also, by 2020 the Fantasy will be 30 years old.

 

A look at Carnival's 4 ships on order:

 

Carnival Vista (2016)

Vista Class #2 (2017)

New Class #1(2019)

New Class #2 (2020)

[pauleydm]

That is very exciting...hopefully the new class will be something that the cruise industry has never seen and not just larger versions of the Vista class:)

[RCH1234]

I'd like to put my request in for a swim up bar. :D

[Pine Bluff]

I'd like to put my request in for a swim up bar. :D

 

They already tried that on the Destiny. It was closed more often than not with flpating drinks. They did not put them on her two sisters, and the bar part closed.

[winddawn]

I'd like to put my request in for a swim up bar. :D

I second this! I'd also like to see a pool with the loungers built into the adult's-only pool, like they have at some of the all-inclusive land-based resorts.

Edited April 2, 2014 by winddawn

[vacruizer]

Nice to see them starting new ships, but I have no desire to sail on anything with 5100 passengers. I really wish the bigger is better trend would go away (although I don't think it will.)

[pe4all]

Nice to see them starting new ships, but I have no desire to sail on anything with 5100 passengers. I really wish the bigger is better trend would go away (although I don't think it will.)

I agree. The Breeze was plenty big for me - don't want to go any bigger. And add 1300-1500 crew onto that 5,100 figure! Unless they increase the passenger to space ratio- as other lines have done- cramming more people in just doesn't work for me.

[Westbank is bestbank]

More cabins don't impress me either. More people=more lines

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Forums mobile app

[vacruizer]

I agree. The Breeze was plenty big for me - don't want to go any bigger. And add 1300-1500 crew onto that 5,100 figure! Unless they increase the passenger to space ratio- as other lines have done- cramming more people in just doesn't work for me.

 

Same here - the Breeze never felt crowded, but it felt impersonal to me. Crew could barely keep up service-wise (very nice, just too busy) and I missed the social interaction with other cruisers. We would meet very nice people at an open breakfast, or in a lounge, or at an event, then never see them again like you do on other ships. It seemed more geared towards large family groups.

 

I will miss the smaller ships once they are gone.

[snc_cam]

I agree with the bottom half messages... I have sailed on the Dream, and that was too big... but it had the port and itinerary we wanted at the time. We've been on the Freedom twice now and the Liberty next year... Again bigger ships, but not going to complain too much, it "IS" a cruise :) And the Freedom didn't feel as crowded this time. But much prefer the smaller ships too. This is the reason I have no plans to get on the Oasis or Allure.

 

Steve

[tootsiebit]

I am no fan of the bigger ships.... I cruise to relax and not spend a week fighting crowds, long lines, and decline in service...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[HawkIVette]

I'd like to put my request in for a swim up bar. :D

 

No, instead, I would like to see a tow behind barge for just the kids.

[Aplmac]

Especially interesting is Micky Arisons comment about "new tonnage" replacing "older tonnage";

This could be the end of some of the senior members of the Fantasy class.

Also, by 2020 the Fantasy will be 30 years old.

Good News -to be finally replacing those older boats

with newer ships!

 

.

[Pine Bluff]

Nice to see them starting new ships, but I have no desire to sail on anything with 5100 passengers. I really wish the bigger is better trend would go away (although I don't think it will.)

 

Personally, I just thought ships over 100,000 gtw were unmanageable with crowd control so I setlled back to those under that mark.

 

Until I tried one on another line. Better crowd control with better flow. Carnival needs to master that before the new builds, and I anxiously await to see the design of the new vista class.

 

Some people scorn other lines for ice shows, in line skating, and rock climbing, stating they won't do these things, but it certainly diversifies the crowd attracting those that do. More activities in different venues certainly sends people to different parts of a ship at different times. Thus, the lackof crowd feel.

 

Have one activity of hairy chest scheduled at the pool, and 4000 people are suddenly around one pool. With only one way to get there.

[kybluecruiser]

Is this still April fools? I dont see anything on uncle google

[Waterloomarc]

This is disappointing to me. The Fantasy class are among my favorite ships. I sail bigger ones, obviously, because I'm forced to in order to get decent itineraries. This will further reduce my choices.

 

I have zero interest in sailing on a 5000 passenger ship. Or 4000 for that matter. I also find it quite alarming they're trying to cram as many passengers as on the Oasis onto a ship 30% smaller.

 

But Carnivals makes no bones about seeking the first time cruiser and bigger ships are what gets them I guess. I just wish (badly wish) the other lines had as many dates/ports that work for me.

 

 

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Edited April 2, 2014 by Waterloomarc

[cv322]

I hope they decide to home port one of them in NYC year-round :).

[Captain Carnival]

Great news on the new ships :) .....BUT.....Carnival you are running out of ships that can pass underneath the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and enter the Port of Tampa!!!! :(

[SkyMaster]

I too, am disappointed, but not surprised. I LOVE the smaller ships, and wish they'd stop this trend of "bigger is better". Dream is PLENTY big to suit me, but I guess when the time comes that there aren't any smaller ships left, I'll sail the larger ones again, with a smile on my face. ;)

 

"SKY"

[ccruisequeen]

I hope they send some of the new ships to the west coast for once. It would be nice not to have hand me downs!

 

 

[kybluecruiser]

I still say this is our good friend cj pulling an April fools joke because there is nothing to be found on the internet besides this thread. Lol exciting news though if true.

[Pine Bluff]

I still say this is our good friend cj pulling an April fools joke because there is nothing to be found on the internet besides this thread. Lol exciting news though if true.

 

If your assumption is true, someone should educate the child that April fools is the 1st of the month.

[kybluecruiser]

If your assumption is true, someone should educate the child that April fools is the 1st of the month.

 

He is in California so when he posted it would have still been the 1st

[Pine Bluff]

He is in California so when he posted it would have still been the 1st

 

That would still make it after most people have gone to bed, as well as out of the time zone of most.

 

I still have no reason to think this story is fake. It it is, it will be a letdown to many as the Freedom dry dock prediliction was.

Edited April 2, 2014 by Pine Bluff

[Ontario_Cruiser]

I still say this is our good friend cj pulling an April fools joke because there is nothing to be found on the internet besides this thread. Lol exciting news though if true.

 

I think that you are right - news of this magnitude would certainly be elsewhere on the web. But it does sound very plausible, and the release is written much like real ones. Perhaps it is a leak of something to be announced shortly?