New Ships On The Horizon

The cruise industry is set to see yet more new, bigger and innovative new ships entering the market over the next few years. Carnival Corporations, who own P&O, Cunard, Princess, Seabourn, Holland America,Cost and of course Carnival, have announced that they have ordered yet more new ships for several of their brands.

2017 will see the arrival of the newest addition to the Princess fleet Majestic Princess. It has been revealed this week that she will now be tailored to the Chinese market, one of the largest growing sectors of the cruise market. She will have Asian décor, Sing of the Seas karaoke suites, whatever they are, in the Lotus spa. Sabatini`s Italian Restaurant will be replaced by Harmony Chinese Restaurant. To me this seems like a good idea, there are not many ships sailing purely out of China so this will be something very different.

Carnival Cruise Line itself has announced that they are to build 2 ships, both 180,000 ton monsters, for delivery in 2020 and 2022. To be built in Finland, the first time Carnival have commissioned a ship there in 12 years. They will have yet more new features – still to be revealed – but they will both be based in  North America and will be the first ” Green Cruise ” ships to sail from there. Again sounds like a good idea as the American market is vast and they love all the glitz and glitter that is a signature of Carnival`s ships.

More surprising, however, is the announcement that P&O will build a new ship for delivery in 2020. She will be bigger than Britannia, 180,00 tonnes, and carry 5200 passengers. She will also be a ” Green ” cruise ship. Sound exactly the same as the 2 new Carnival ones ! The words are same too – innovative, new concepts, striking interiors.

Well what do you think? Seems to me that yet again the powers  that be have decided that what fits American cruisers will fit faithful P&O passengers too. But will it? Time and time again I hear the comments that Britannia is ” too big “, and why don`t P&O build smaller ships? Sounds like they are again trying to compete with Royal Caribbean for the Southampton market, whether it will work remains to be seen.