Carnival Corporation Boosts AIDA Fleet with €2 Billion Order from Fincantieri

Carnival Corporation has taken a pivotal step in its recovery from the global pause in cruise operations by placing a significant order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for two new ships under its AIDA Cruises brand. This marks the first ship order for the AIDA brand since 2020 and represents a shift in focus toward expanding non-U.S. brands, stepping away from its previous concentration on Carnival Cruise Line.

CEO Josh Weinstein announced the order on April 6th, highlighting a successful fiscal recovery with a 40% increase in EBITDA for FY 2024, which reached $6.1 billion, alongside strong global demand for cruising. The company’s operating income nearly doubled in the first quarter, with revenues hitting $5.8 billion. As part of its long-term strategy, Carnival anticipates adding about one new ship per year across its nine brands.

Earlier in 2024, Carnival had already ordered seven ships for CCL, to be delivered between 2027 and 2033. The new AIDA ships, valued at over €2 billion (approximately $2.2 billion), will be mid-sized vessels, designed to include around 2,100 passenger cabins each, situated between AIDA’s Helios and Hyperion classes in terms of size and capacity. Their expected deliveries are slated for early 2030 and late 2031.

These ships will feature multi-fuel propulsion systems capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other sustainable marine fuels. AIDA has historically led Carnival’s environmental innovations, previously launching the first LNG-capable cruise ship in 2018.

With the addition of these vessels, AIDA’s fleet will grow to 13 ships. AIDA’s President, Felix Eichhorn, expressed that the newbuilds will offer updated features and guest experiences, although specific details of these enhancements have yet to be revealed.

In tandem with the new ship order, AIDA has also initiated a fleet modernization program which includes refurbishing older ships like AIDAdiva, introducing technological upgrades and new dining concepts. This modernization is expected to enhance AIDA’s offerings in the competitive German-speaking cruise market.

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