Carnival Corporation has released a preview of the four new cruise ships it is launching in 2018 across four of its 10 cruise brands: Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn and Germany-based AIDA Cruises.
The new ships are part of Carnival Corporation's ongoing fleet enhancement strategy with 18 new ships scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2022.
Carnival Corporation's four new cruise ship additions for 2018 are:
Carnival Cruise Line: Carnival Horizon – Expected launch date in April 2018
As the 26th ship for Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Horizon will offer a number of unique innovations, including the first Dr. Seuss WaterWorks aqua park, the line's first teppanyaki dining venue and Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse | Brewhouse, a new restaurant that combines BBQ offerings created by Food Network star Guy Fieri along with four specifically designed craft beers brewed at an onboard brewery.
Carnival Horizon will also offer many of the popular indoor and outdoor dining, bar, entertainment and activity options that debuted in 2016 on its sibling ship, Carnival Vista, such as the bike-ride-in-the-sky SkyRide attraction and an IMAX Theatre.
Guests can also enjoy a wide range of accommodations including spa cabins with exclusive privileges at the Cloud 9 Spa, extra-roomy staterooms in Family Harbor, and tropical-inspired Havana staterooms and suites with exclusive daytime access to a Cuban-themed bar and pool.
The 133,500-ton Carnival Horizon will debut with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona in April 2018 – the first of four round-trip departures from the port. Carnival Horizon will then reposition to the U.S. with a 14-day transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to New York May 9-23, 2018, positioning the vessel for a summer schedule of four-day Bermuda and eight-day Caribbean departures from the Big Apple. Carnival Horizon will shift to Miami to launch a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises beginning Sept. 22, 2018, and will also offer a special two-day cruise to Nassau from Miami Sept. 20-22, 2018.
Seabourn: Seabourn Ovation – Expected launch date in May 2018
Following in the footsteps of its sibling ship, Seabourn Encore, launched in early 2017, Seabourn Ovation is set to debut in May 2018. Designed by Adam D. Tihany, the ship will sail with contemporary interiors and modern design elements.
The fifth all-suite ship in Seabourn's fleet, Seabourn Ovation will carry 600 guests, based on double occupancy. The ship offers a number of in-suite amenities aimed at providing guests with a "home away from home" onboard experience including a private veranda in each suite. Guests will also find a number of innovative offerings and programs, including "An Evening with Tim Rice," the new theater-style experience created exclusively for the line in association with Belinda King Creative Productions, and through the brand's partnership with Sir Tim Rice, the acclaimed English musical theatre lyricist of Broadway, West End and film. The experience highlights some of his most loved work – from "Jesus Christ Superstar" to "Aladdin" and "The Lion King."
Following the ship's delivery, Seabourn Ovation will embark on an 11-day inaugural voyage departing May 5, 2018, from Venice, Italy, to Barcelona. The ship will spend the majority of her maiden season cruising the waters of Northern Europe, offering a variety of Baltic and Scandinavian cruises, which will include the line's signature three-day stay in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Seabourn Ovation will also sail on longer 14-day voyages, visiting the Norwegian fjords and British Isles. Select sailings will also include the Ventures by Seabourn program, which are optional for-charge expedition-style excursions featuring a team of experts, Zodiacs and kayaks with a focus on allowing guests to experience nature up close.
AIDA Cruises: AIDAnova – Expected launch date in December 2018
Arriving in late 2018, AIDAnova will be the first cruise ship fully powered by clean-burning liquefied natural gas (LNG). This ship will be the first in the cruise industry to use LNG to generate 100 percent of its power both in port and on the open sea, which will reduce exhaust emissions to help protect the environment and support Carnival Corporation's sustainability goals, the company said.
AIDAnova's next-generation, fully LNG-powered design is an evolution from the brand's previous class of ships that includes AIDAprima and AIDAperla, the first two cruise ships in the world to use LNG while in port. AIDAnova will be followed by six additional fully LNG-powered ships scheduled to be delivered across several Carnival Corporation brands by 2022.
New features on AIDAnova include an onboard brewery with a beer garden, the beach club and Four Elements, complete with three water slides, in addition to a new escape room for puzzle lovers and 360-degree Theatrium and Studio X, a TV studio at sea.
Highlights include 20 different stateroom types, ranging from a two-deck penthouse suite to spacious family and patio cabins to comfortable single options with a balcony. The ship will also have the Body & Soul Spa, spanning two decks and offering over 80 treatments from around the world. For the first time, the ship has two private outdoor sun islands for couples; an all-new concept with 17 restaurants – five specialty restaurants, six à la carte restaurants, five buffet restaurants and one snack bar; 23 bars offering a variety of culinary trends from around the world; and the new Time Machine restaurant, blending experience and culinary art to take guests on a dinner trip through time.
In its debut season starting in December 2018, AIDAnova will offer seven-day trips around the Canary Islands. Prior to the Canary season, AIDAnova will make a stop in Hamburg, and will visit the Hanseatic City on the Elbe before setting off toward Gran Canaria.
Holland America Line: Nieuw Statendam – Expected launch date in December 2018
Nieuw Statendam is the second Pinnacle Class ship for Holland America Line, joining Koningsdam, which launched in April 2016.
The 99,500-ton ship will have a design emphasizing grand light-filled spaces; visual drama; and interiors inspired by the fluid curves of musical instruments, created by hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjorn Storbraaten.
The ship will carry 2,666 guests and have fine-dining options at alternative restaurants Sel de Mer, a French seafood brasserie, and Tamarind, an Asian fusion concept, in addition to the Grand Dutch Café with traditional Dutch treats and European beer.
Onboard entertainment will include the Music Walk area featuring all genres of music showcased in venues including Lincoln Center Stage, Billboard Onboard and the B.B. King's Blues Club. With the 270-degree LED projection at World Stage, show-time performances will immerse the audience in panoramic visual and sound effects. The ship will also launch with the newly created Exploration Central's hub located in the Crow's Nest, now a comprehensive resource and engagement center with interactive screens and a Virtual Bridge.
Holland America Line's first ship to be called Statendam sailed in 1898, and this will be the sixth ship in the company's history to carry the name.
Nieuw Statendam is scheduled to depart December 5, 2018, on its inaugural voyage with guests – a 14-day transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale. The ship will then spend the winter season cruising roundtrip from the South Florida port on seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with select three-, four- and 10-day options.
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