Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise shipowner, has recently announced a new agreement with the German shipbuilder Meyer Werft (Papenburg) for the construction of a 5th vessel (TBN 2028) belonging to the Excel-class for the Group's flagship company CCL/Carnival Cruise Line.
The delivery of this vessel is scheduled for 2028.
In February, Carnival Corporation revealed its first newbuild order in 5 years, confirming the addition of a 4th Excel-class ship to CCL's fleet by 2027-Q1. With this latest announcement, the Corporation is set to bolster its global fleet with an 11th Excel-class ship (TBN 2027), distributed among 4 brands (AIDA, Costa, Carnival, P&O UK), and the 5th one designated for CCL.
Christine Duffy (CCL's President) emphasized the popularity and operational efficiency of the Excel-class fleet, stating that they have been well-received by guests since the launch of Mardi Gras in 2021 and subsequent additions. The upcoming Carnival Firenze, expected to join the fleet in April, will complete the incorporation of five ships within less than 20 months, paving the way for future growth with the introduction of two more Excel ships.
Similar to its predecessors, the 5th Excel-class vessel will be constructed on the same platform, boasting a capacity to accommodate 6400+ guests and 1800 crew, and powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Josh Weinstein (Carnival Corporation's CEO) underscored the company's commitment to strategic growth while maintaining financial prudence, leveraging strong cash flow to bolster the balance sheet and enhance shareholder value.
Bernd Eikens (MEYER Group's CEO) expressed pride in the longstanding partnership between MEYER WERFT, MEYER TURKU, and Carnival Corporation, foreseeing continued success in the collaboration.
The realization of this order is contingent upon securing financing, a process expected to conclude later this year.