Royal Caribbean and Carnival keep ordering megaships.
In recent years, it has been an arms race to build bigger ships with more advanced features. Both cruise lines have focused on building destination ships. These are ships where the ports visited don’t matter nearly as much as having time to explore the water parks, theme park-style rides, and dozens of dining choices on board.
Related: Carnival Cruise Line shares ban that surprised parents
Larger ships can’t visit many popular cruise ports. That’s why both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have been investing in private islands and destinations. They can send their largest ships there, giving passengers an experience they like.
Many passengers, however, enjoy smaller ships and the ability to sail more interesting itineraries. Royal Caribbean has committed to building new smaller ships, under the working name Discovery Class, albeit without setting a date for placing an order for one.
“And, of course, the other thing I think that’s important when you think about ship classes, whether they could be small, they could be larger, is kind of also a consideration that we also have ships that are reaching 30, 35 years,” Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said during his company’s second-quarter earnings call.
“And so some of this is not just about we want to build same-size ships, smaller ships. It’s also replacing ships that will eventually kind of reach their end of life.”
Carnival Cruise Line has not disclosed plans to replace its smaller ships, but the cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, recently responded to a question about the issue.
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Carnival has not been replacing its smaller ships.
Image source: Matthew Frankel/Come Cruise With Me
Carnival won’t follow Royal Caribbean’s lead
Carnival has been fairly clear that it has no plans to build smaller ships. That has not stopped passengers from asking.
“Good morning, John! Happy New Year. We saw yesterday that another big 8,000-passenger ship is being built. I know we are most likely NOT in the popular opinion but we prefer the smaller ships like the Pride and Legend,” wrote Suzie Que on Heald’s Facebook page. So my question is … as these smaller ships age and are one day put out of service,do you ever see them building smaller ships to replace those? It just seems they are building bigger and bigger.”
Heald offered a clear message to Que and other passengers hoping for smaller ships.
“Thank you so much. Well, we know just how many people love the smaller ships and while we are not building any new ones, we will continue to invest in the ones we have,” he answered.
In the past Heald has said that new, smaller ships would not be profitable for the cruise line.
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Carnival passengers are not happy
Should Royal Caribbean build the Discovery Class, something that’s not expected until 2029 at the soonest, it would gain an advantage over Carnival.
Many of Heald’s followers expressed dismay over the cruise line dismissing the idea of building new smaller ships.
“I agree that cruising on the smaller ships is for our family. Won’t sail on a mega ship. Please keep our ships sailing,” posted Julia L. Martin.
Other passengers have tried larger ships and prefer the smaller ones.
“We have sailed each new ship as it comes out and still prefer the smaller ships. There is a sense of community on the smaller ships. Instead of living in The BIG city, it’s like living in a small town,” added Janice Rayle Harris.
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A few passengers noted that the new, larger ships don’t fit in some Carnival cruise ports.
“Sorry, John, but it is totally unfair to those of us, including Tampa and other ports that can never accommodate a monster ship,” John Mevisin wrote.
“Carnival could build three smaller ships for the price of one of your monsters. I am certain the smaller ships would more than pay for themselves and make many people happy. Please pass it on to the Beards. Bigger is not always better, so please design us a smaller, modern brand, brand-new ship. Thank you.”
(The Beards is Heald’s term for Carnival’s leadership team.)
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