Carnival Corporation will hold to its one-to-two-ships-per-year newbuild cadence into the next decade, even as it expects to keep ordering vessels for delivery in the 2030s, President and CEO Josh Weinstein said on the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings call June 23.
During the quarter the company placed orders for three new Princess Cruises ships scheduled for delivery in 2035, 2038 and 2039, Weinstein said.
The orders bring Carnival’s total orderbook to 10 ships, including five for Carnival Cruise Line and two for AIDA.
While more vessels will likely be ordered for delivery in the 2030s, Weinstein said the company has no plans to deviate from its measured one-to-two-ship annual pace.
Alongside the disciplined capacity growth, Weinstein said Carnival plans to lean heavily into return-generating modernization programs across its existing fleet. He pointed to the AIDA Evolution program, with the AIDAbella becoming the third of seven ships to complete its upgrade.
The company also recently announced Holland America Evolution, its next midlife modernization effort. Six Holland America Line ships will receive the upgrades, beginning with the Oosterdam in the fall of 2027.
Weinstein said Carnival anticipates moderate capacity growth for Holland America as it adds cabins to those ships.
More enhancement programs for additional brands will be announced in the coming months, he added.
