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Highlights

  • AIDA Cruises to receive two new mid-sized ships with multi-fuel propulsion by 2032
  • New ships will feature around 2,100 cabins, slotting between existing AIDA vessel classes
  • Carnival's order pipeline includes eight new ships scheduled for delivery through 2033

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL) has announced an order for two new ships for AIDA Cruises, its popular German cruise line. The ships will be designed, engineered, and built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. These vessels will be multi-fuel capable, utilizing LNG (liquefied natural gas), and are expected to be delivered in 2030 and 2032, respectively.

The new ships will each have approximately 2,100 cabins, placing them between the 1,600-cabin Hyperion Class and the 2,600-cabin Helios Class vessels in AIDA’s fleet. AIDA Cruises’ president, Felix Eichhorn, emphasized that these ships will provide a completely new cruising experience for guests, featuring innovative technology with multi-fuel propulsion systems, which is aimed at future-proofing the company’s operations for the decades ahead.

With the addition of these two new ships, AIDA’s fleet will grow to 13 vessels. The new ships will be part of the broader AIDA Evolution program, which is modernizing much of the existing fleet, including updates to décor, features, and technologies.

Carnival’s CEO, Josh Weinstein, noted that the addition of these ships is part of a larger strategy to direct new capacity to the highest-performing brands within its portfolio, such as AIDA Cruises. The order is part of Carnival’s broader newbuild pipeline, which includes eight ships scheduled for delivery between now and 2033. This approach allows the company to maintain disciplined growth while continuing to improve financial stability, reduce debt, and maximize returns for shareholders.