In an industry that seems never to stop growing, with new ships and new features each year, Carnival stands out for sheer size, with over 100 ships across its ten brands—and it has 16 more scheduled to join its various fleets over the next five years.
Four of the new ships will go into service this year, one each for its British P&O brand, its Italian Costa Cruises brand, Princess Cruises, and the biggest for Carnival itself. Carnival's Mardi Gras, its biggest ship yet, offers an over-the-top assortment of firsts, including the first roller coaster at sea and a three-deck water park. Costa's ship was designed for the China market and will operate there.
Can the cruise business keep on growing at this pace forever? So far there's little indication of a slowdown, but any major economic shift could make it harder to fill the cabins. Some of the new ships across the industry represent fleet expansion, while some will replace older ships that may find a home with second-tier operators, whose competition could have an effect on price and profit.
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