Delayed deliveries of newbuildings will be the main factor that will slow down the growth of the global cruise fleet compared to the predictions made before the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been reported.

The total capacity of the world’s cruise ship fleet is now estimated to reach 713,683 berths, which is 8% less than the pre-pandemic forecast of 777,859, Shippax Info in Sweden said, citing the Swiss investment bank UBS.

In 2024, the capacity of the cruise ship fleet should increase to 762,738 berths, which is 5% lower than the 806,656 berths forecast before the pandemic hit.

UBS was cited as forecasting that Carnival group’s fleet would only grow by 2.2% in capacity terms in 2019-23 compared to an earlier forecast of a 5.7% growth. The world’s largest cruise shipping group has sold some 20 ships since the start of the pandemic, which is also a factor in the lower capacity growth, it should be noted.

Royal Caribbean Group’s capacity would increase by 3.4% in the same period against an expected growth of 4.9% forecast before the pandemic. The company has also sold a number of older ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, the third largest listed cruised shipping company in the world, is forecast to see a 3.6% capacity growth pin 2019-23, compared to a forecast of a 4.6% increase that was made before the pandemic. It is the only one of the listed three major companies that has not sold any ships since the pandemic broke out.

Photo: Queen Anne of Cunard is one of the several vessels that is now scheduled to be delivered later than originally agreed - in this case by four months, in May 2024.