Carnival Launches First of Three Ships for 2017

Carnival Corporation has launched the Seabourn Encore, the first of three new ships that will enter service in 2017. 

Carnival will also launch Majestic Princess from Princess Cruises in April, which will be the world's first cruise ship built specifically for the Chinese market, and its Germany-based AIDA Cruises brand will launch AIDAperla in July.

The additions are part of the 17 ships scheduled for delivery for Carnival and its brands through to 2022.

In 2018, Carnival Corporation plans to launch three new ships from Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Seabourn. The Carnival Horizon, sister ship of the Carnival Vista, from Carnival Cruise Line is scheduled for delivery in March 2018; the Seabourn Ovation from Seabourn is scheduled for delivery in spring 2018; and ms Nieuw Statendam, sister ship of ms Koningsdam, from Holland America Line is scheduled for delivery in November 2018.

The Cruise Lines International Association’s 2017 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook states that cruise lines are scheduled to debut 26 new ocean, river and specialty ships in 2017 for a total investment of more than $6.8 billion in new vessels. From 2017-2026 the industry is expected to introduce a total of 97 new cruise ships totaling an estimated investment of $53 billion through 2026.

The report expects an increase in cruise travel is expected to continue throughout 2017, with an estimated 25.3 million passengers expected to sail in 2017, a strong surge from 15.8 million just 10 years prior (2007). 

Cruise industry expenditures generated $117 billion in total output worldwide, supporting 956,597 full-time equivalent employees who earned $38 billion in income in 2015.