AIDA Cruises, the German brand of Carnival Corporation, has announced the addition of two brand-new, mid-sized cruise ships to its fleet. Under a newly signed agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the vessels are set to debut in 2030 and 2032, marking a new class within the AIDA fleet. 

Each ship will feature approximately 2,100 cabins, placing them between AIDA’s current Hyperion Class (with around 1,600 cabins) and the larger Helios Class (boasting more than 2,600 cabins). The new class not only fills a size gap but is expected to introduce entirely new onboard experiences and features, which AIDA says will be unveiled gradually in the years leading up to launch.

“These remarkable new ships give our guests a completely new class of ship,” said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises. “Their innovative technology with multi-fuel propulsion systems will future-proof our operations into the coming decades.”

Once the second ship is delivered, AIDA’s fleet will have 13 vessels in its fleet. The expansion comes as part of the broader AIDA Evolution program, a modernization initiative that is also upgrading the existing fleet’s design, amenities, and tech capabilities.

Carnival Corporation CEO Josh Weinstein highlighted the strategic value of the order. "We're maintaining a disciplined approach to growth and strategically directing new capacity to the highest-performing brands in our world-class portfolio like AIDA Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line," he said. With these new ships, seven of Carnival’s eight newbuilds currently on order will serve its top-performing brands

The order remains contingent on final financing, which is expected to be completed later this year. But its announcement signals Carnival Corporation’s forward-thinking strategy.