Carnival Cruise Line has many of us shaking our heads with their announcement over the weekend of a new class of cruise ship dubbed “Project Ace.” The first ship is set to debut in 2029, and will have a mind-blowing capacity of 8,000 passengers. The Project Ace ships, still unnamed, are set to become Carnival’s largest vessels ever. With a gross tonnage of approximately 230,000, these ships will dwarf Carnival’s current Excel-class ships (Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration, and Carnival Jubilee), which clock in at 183,521 gross tons and a maximum capacity of 6,600+ passengers.
Carnival has confirmed that three Project Ace ships are on order, with deliveries scheduled for 2029, 2031, and 2033. Built by Fincantieri in Italy, will these ships claim the title of the largest ships at sea? Let’s compare.
Passenger Capacity Comparison
- Carnival Cruise Line: The Excel-class ships currently hold up to 6,631 passengers at maximum capacity, with a double occupancy of 5,374. Project Ace will have an 8,000-passenger capacity, making them the largest in the Carnival’s fleet.
- Royal Caribbean: The Icon-class ships, like Icon of the Seas, currently hold the crown as the world’s largest cruise ships by gross tonnage (248,663 GT) and can accommodate up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity (5,610 at double occupancy). While Project Ace’s 8,000 passengers is higher than Icon of the Seas, these ships will be slightly smaller so they won’t dethrone Royal Caribbean’s Icons in overall size.
- Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian’s largest ships belong to the Breakaway Plus-class, such as Norwegian Encore, with a maximum capacity of around 5,600 passengers (4,000 at double occupancy) and a tonnage of 169,145 GT. However, Norwegian recently ordered four new 225,000 GT ships for delivery between 2030 and 2036, that will carry around 5,100 passengers at double occupancy. Project Ace is larger than Norwegian’s current and future ships in tonnage and capacity.
- MSC Cruises: MSC’s World-class ships, like MSC World America, have a maximum capacity of 6,762 passengers (5,252 at double occupancy) and a tonnage of 215,863 GT. Project Ace’s 8,000 passengers is higher MSC’s largest vessels in terms of capacity,
Project Ace won’t be the largest ship at sea by gross tonnage—that title will stay with Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class. However, its 8,000-passenger capacity will make it one of the highest-capacity cruise ships afloat depending on how “maximum capacity” is calculated.
Pros and Cons of a Ship This Size
A ship accommodating 8,000 passengers makes me want to jump out of my skin, but there are some pros and cons to traveling on a ship this size.
Pros
- More Amenities and Variety: With 3,000 cabins and 8,000 souls on board, Project Ace will likely feature a huge amount of dining options, entertainment venues, and activities. Think multiple pools, expansive waterparks, dozens(?) of eateries, and plenty of “must do” attractions.
- Economies of Scale: Larger ships often mean lower per-passenger costs for the cruise line, which could mean lower pricing for guests, especially on popular routes like the Caribbean.
Sorry, that’s all I could come up with, as I’m still stuck at that 8,000 passenger number! Now onto the…
Cons
- Crowds and Congestion: 8,000 passengers mean long, long lines for dining, shows, and I don’t even want to think about disembarkation. Popular spots like pools or buffets could feel like semi-controlled chaos, especially during peak times.
- Port Limitations: Mega-ships can’t visit smaller ports so this can potentially limit itineraries to Carnival’s private destinations like Celebration Key which I’m sure is being built to accommodate this new class of ship.
- Impersonal Experience: The intimacy of smaller ships may be lost, with crew-to-passenger ratios stretched thin and less chance for personalized service.
- Overwhelming: For those seeking relaxation, the sheer scale and energy could feel exhausting rather than rejuvenating.
- Other Guests: Let’s be honest, we’ve all seen some of those videos on TikTok about drunk and unruly guests on cruise ships creating mayhem. Now, as Walt Disney would say, “plus it up” by introducing a ship that holds 8,000 people.
Carnival’s Project Ace ships are a big bet for Carnival. Even today, many loyal Carnival fans still don’t like the Excel-class ships because of their size and the number of passengers. Will the loyalists book a cruise on a Project Ace ship, or jump to another line such as MSC? It’s a gamble Carnival is apparently willing to take to pack more people on a ship.
We have a few years to wait to see how this all plays out.