Carnival Corporation plans to increase its capacities in the P&O Cruises and Holland America brands through changes to its fleet. These changes will be implemented in 2029 and include the transfer of a ship from Cunard.
Details of Fleet Changes
According to Paul Ludlow, President of Carnival UK, P&O Cruises, and Cunard, these decisions reflect a careful and long-term view of the company's portfolio and the strengths of each ship. He emphasized that these changes will help unify the Cunard fleet and will not harm the company's commitment to the future of this brand.
The Queen Anne ship, which will be launched in May 2024 as the first new Cunard ship since 2010, has a capacity of 2,956 passengers and is considered a significant addition to Cunard. This ship is built on the platform used for the latest class of Holland America ships. However, its design has faced criticism from some loyal Cunard customers.
Investment in Renovation
Carnival Corporation has also announced renovation plans for the Queen Mary 2 in April 2027, which will include adding suites and renovating health and retail areas. These renovations aim to enhance the passenger experience and increase the appeal of the Carnival brand in the cruise industry.
Overall, P&O Cruises will significantly increase its capacity by utilizing the Arcadia ship, which has now been repurposed to accept multigenerational travel. This ship, measuring 952 feet and with a capacity of 2,094 passengers, is recognized as one of the larger ships in this brand and has recently decided to accept children on some voyages.
On the other hand, Holland America has also announced that new ships will be built based on the Vista-class ship platform. The company is planning to update and improve its ships and aims to add new vessels to its fleet by 2028.
Finally, Carnival Corporation has slowed its new ship construction program due to the pandemic and will not take delivery of any new ships this year. Instead, it has focused its orders on Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises.
