Carnival Corporation adds three mega ships to fleet

Cruises are a year-long tourist destination, popular during the warm and cold months. Carnival is one of the most well-known cruise lines and that company looks to expand in 2024. This year the travel company is adding three new mega ships to its fleet and they should have a big impact on what’s to come for travelers.

The three new Carnival Cruise Line ships will each boast more than 3,000 guest staterooms and carry nearly 8,000 guests at maximum capacity. With more people comes more energy, but these ships will also have what is tabbed as “advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies.”

This announcement brings to total number of new ships added to Carnival to five for this year. Two additional ships in its Excel class were announced and are set to begin sailing in 2027 and 2028. Additional ships are also coming, with some transfers planned from other brands under the overall Carnival Cruise Line property.

“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,” said Chief Executive Officer, Josh Weinstein.

2023 was a big year for cruise travel. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, more than 31 million people took a cruise last year. This topped the previous record that was set in 2019. Growth is expected to continue with projections expecting nearly 40 million people to hop on a ship within the next three years. To meet this demand, approximately 56 new ships are in production, with many of those expected to be ships larger than those seen today.

2024 is living up to the expectations of being a major travel season. Cruises are playing a part in that success, as more people are taking time to enjoy packed days and nights on a ship. Carnival is doing its part to accommodate, adding bigger ships to its fleet to serve the public.