By the Caribbean Journal staff

Four of Carnival Corporation’s cruise brands will launch new ships in 2018, the company announced this week.

The expansion is part of a wider push to add 18 new ships to the fleet between now and 2022.

“On top of the three new ships we launched in 2017, we look forward to the delivery of four more spectacular ships that will help us continue providing extraordinary cruise vacations at an exceptional value for our guests,” said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. “The new ships also demonstrate our long-term strategy to build highly efficient, innovative and state-of-the-art ships that offer our guests the latest in onboard features and amenities, while creating excitement in the marketplace that will continue to inspire more travelers to consider cruising as a vacation option.”

The new ships include Carnival Horizon is launching in April; Seabourn Ovation, set to debut in May; AIDAnova, slated to launch in December and Holland America Line’s ms Nieuw Statendam, which is also expected to make its debut in December.

Two of the ships will have regular Caribbean itineraries: Carnival Horizon and the ms Nieuw Statendam.

“Our fleet enhancement program enables us to manage the overall fleet by aligning new ship deliveries with our strategy for measured capacity growth over time, while also refurbishing existing ships and phasing out less-efficient vessels,” Frizzell said. “It is a successful approach that helps us meets our number one priority – to consistently exceed our guests’ expectations.”