New Cruise Ships Are Coming: What Agents Need to Know
by Andrew Sheivachman /A building boom is on in the cruise industry with more than a dozen new ships expected to enter service before the end of the decade.
Fueling the development? Cruise lines are betting on continued growth in consumer demand and expect state-of-the-art ships to attract first-time cruisers to the industry.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Viking Ocean Cruises are pursuing growth most aggressively, while lines like Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line are taking a more measured approach to adding to their fleets.
Here’s how the major North American lines are planning to expand and how those additions fit their business strategies.
Norwegian Cruise Line: four ships
Norwegian has four Breakaway-Plus vessels on the way—with a design similar to their successful Breakaway and Getaway vessels.
Each ship will carry 4,200 passengers and feature Norwegian staples The Haven, The Waterfront and an atrium-based common area.
The Norwegian Escape is slated for October 2015, the Norwegian Bliss is planned for spring 2017 and two as-yet unnamed ships are set to debut in the spring of 2018 and winter of 2019.
Norwegian continues its play to become a major force in the industry, following its acquisition of Prestige Cruise Holdings last year.
Last week Norwegian named Prestige head executive Frank Del Rio as president and chief executive officer of the cruise line, demonstrating its dedication to the integrity of Prestige’s cruise experience following the acquisition.
Viking Ocean Cruises: four ships
A foray into the ocean cruising market, is a bold move for Viking Cruises; one that deviates from the strategy that has led to its dominant position in European river cruising.
Its first ship, the Viking Star, is set to launch in May 2015 with just 928 berths. A mix of new features will coexist alongside Viking staples offering a more intimate experience than many of the brands it will compete against.
Sister ships will launch in March 2016 (the Viking Sea), June 2016 (the Viking Sky) and winter 2017.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line: three ships
Royal Caribbean launched Quantum of the Seas last November to rave reviews from cruise fans. Its sister ship, Anthem of the Seas, is set to debut in April 2015, featuring the same high-tech design and amenities.
Additional sister ships are expected in spring 2016 and sometime in 2018. They will feature slight tweaks to public areas.
Aiming to appeal to cruise newcomers, the company continues to offer a more high-touch alternative to Carnival.
Carnival Cruise Line: two ships
The 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista is set to enter service in 2016, followed by an unnamed sister ship in March 2018. Carnival Vista will be the line’s first new ship since 2012.
The new ships will bring Carnival’s total fleet to 26, continuing its run as the largest cruise line in the world. Die-hard cruisers are eager to see how the new product will compare to Carnival’s aging fleet.
Holland America: two ships
Holland America, likewise, is expecting the new 2,660-passenger Pinnacle-class ms Koningsdam to begin operation in February 2016, followed by a sister vessel in late 2018.
This ups its fleet size to 17 and allows the cruise line to further diversify its mid-range itineraries.
Celebrity Cruises: two ships
In a holiday surprise for those loyal to Celebrity Cruises, the brand announced last month that it has ordered two new 2,900-guest vessels.
Their debut, however, is far in the future. The first ship is scheduled for fall 2018 with the next coming in early 2020.
Princess: one ship
One more ship is coming from Princess Cruises, following the debut of Regal Princess and Royal Princess in recent years.
The company’s next vessel is set to enter service in 2017 and will carry 3,560 passengers.