Carnival and Royal Caribbean have both announced brand new cruise ships this week, further expanding their massive fleets and helping to reinforce the rival cruise lines as the biggest in the world.
Carnival went first, announcing a fourth addition to the Excel Class. Joining her sisters Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, the new ship is due to set sail for the cruise line in 2027.
She will be built by the Meyer Group, one of the leading shipbuilding companies in the world, and she will accommodate over 6,000 guests.
Our Excel class ships have been a tremendous addition to the Carnival fleet and proven very popular with our guests.
This new ship enables us to continue the growth of our incredible fleet as we welcome our loyal guests back to cruise more frequently and attract new-to-cruise guests to experience all that a Carnival cruise has to offer.
Christine Duffy, Carnival Cruise Line President
Hot on the heels of Carnival, Royal Caribbean then confirmed that is has entered into an agreement with Chantiers de l’Atlantique to build a new Oasis-class ship, the seventh in the class for the cruise line.
It’s a surprise move, as many had assumed that Utopia of the Seas (launching later in 2024) would be the final Oasis-class ship, with the cruise line focussing more on the bigger Icon Class.
But now we know a seventh Oasis-class ship will join the fleet, expected in 2028 (although this is still to be confirmed).
While we eagerly anticipate the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas this summer, we’re already dreaming up her sister ship and the next installation in the brand’s extremely popular Oasis Class.
Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO
It’s exciting to see what’s on the horizon for the next couple of years – we already know that Royal Caribbean is adding a second and third ship to its new Icon Class, while sister brands of Carnival also have new ships launching soon.
I can’t wait to see what these ships offer when they launch in 2027 and (probably) 2028 respectively!
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
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