The cruise industry will continue to add large cruise ships to their fleets during 2012. According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise ships carried an estimated 15 million people in 2010. And, the new cruise ships of 2011 will bring the forecast for 2011 to 16 million passengers. Another handful of ships are set to make their debut for 2012 as well. Here are some of the biggest cruise ships for 2012.
Biggest Cruise Ships 2012
Disney Fantasy – Disney Cruise Line is estimating to launch the Disney Fantasy on April 7, 2012. A sister ship to the Disney Dream, it will weigh in at approximately 128,000 Gross Registered Tons (GRT) and carry 4,000 passengers. The Disney Fantasy will homeport from Port Canaveral and offer seven-night Caribbean itineraries.
Carnival Breeze – Carnival Cruise Lines will be launching its third Dream-class cruise ship in Spring 2012 just on the heels of the May 2011 launch of the Carnival Magic. The Carnival Breeze is another Dream-class ship which is Carnival's largest class of ship at 130,000 GRT and carrying 3,690 passengers. Similar to the Carnival Magic, the Carnival Breeze will feature the signature Waterworks and Cloud 9 Spa. Once the Carnival Breeze is launched, Carnival Cruise Lines will have 24 cruise ships.
Celebrity Reflection – Celebrity Cruises will debut the Celebrity Reflection as the fifth Solstice-class cruise ship. Slightly larger than the other Solstice-class vessels, the Reflection will be 126,000 GRT and will carry 3,030 passengers. The estimated inaugural is scheduled for November 2012.
MSC Fantastica – MSC Cruises is estimated to launch the MSC Fantastica in Spring 2012. It will be the 12th ship in their fleet. Similar in size to the Fantasia-class, the Fantastica will be the largest cruise ship to be launched in 2012. It will be approximately 140,000 GRT and will carry just over 3,500 passengers.
Other New Ships for 2012
Costa Fascinosa – Expected to make her debut in Spring 2012, the Costa Fascinosa will be similar in size to the Costa Favolosa that will launch in the summer 2011. Another Concordia-class vessel, the Fascinosa will be 114,500 GRT with a passenger capacity of 3,000. This will be the 16th ship for the Costa Cruises fleet.
Oceania Riviera – Oceania Cruises will be launching their second mid-sized luxury cruise ship in April 2012 called the Riviera. Its sister ship, the Marina is scheduled to launch in early February 2011. The Riviera will also be 65,000 GRT and will carry 1,260 passengers. Oceania Cruises' other three cruise ships are only around 33,000 GRT.
Although the cruise ship launches of 2010 and 2011 were plentiful, there is still growth in the cruise industry during 2012. Consider that the 2013 cruise ship launches are just around the corner with cruise lines such as Princess Cruises under contract to build their biggest cruise ship to date. NCL has also inked a deal to build another cruise ship in 2013.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
