The efficiency of ships in the fleet of Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise shipping group, will improve as a result of measures to optimise its fleet, the company said in a trading statement.
As stated earlier, the company plans to dispose of 18 ships, ten of which have already left the fleet. “In total, the 18 ships represent approximately 12% of pre-pause capacity and only three percent of operating income in 2019,” the company said..
The sale of less efficient ships will also result in future operating expense efficiencies of approximately two percent per available lower berth day (ALBD) and a reduction in fuel consumption of approximately one percent per ALBD.
“Based on the actions taken to date and the scheduled newbuilding deliveries through 2022, the company's fleet will be more efficient with a roughly 13% larger average berth size per ship and an average age of 12 years in 2022 versus 13 years, in each case as compared to 2019,” it said.
Carnival expects only two of the four ships originally scheduled for delivery in 2020, following the start of the pause, to be delivered prior to the end of fiscal 2020, including Enchanted Princess which was delivered last week. Carnival group member P&O Cruises have said Iona to the company this year.
The company currently expects only five of the nine ships originally scheduled for delivery in fiscal 2020 and 2021 to be delivered prior to the end of fiscal year 2021.
In addition, Carnival currently expects nine cruise ships and two smaller expedition ships of the 13 ships originally scheduled for delivery prior to the end of fiscal year 2022 to be delivered by then.
