Today Carnival Corporation and Carnival Cruise Line announced two ships will be built for Carnival Cruise Line. The first ship will be launched in 2020 and the second ship will be launched in 2022. These ships will each be 180,000 gross tons and carry 5,200 passengers (double occupancy). This class of ships will be larger than Carnival's Vista class and will be the start of a new class of cruise ships.
        Each of these ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas. Carnival's press release notes that this will mark the first time a liquefied natural gas fueled ship sails in North America. Both of these ships are being designed according to Carnival Corporation's "green cruising" design, according to Carnival's press release. 
​          These two new cruise ships will be built at Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland. Carnival's recent cruise ships have been built in Italy, but Carnival has built cruise ships in Finland before. The Spirit Class (Spirit, Pride, Legend, and Miracle) as well as the Fantasy Class (Fantasy, Ecstasy, Sensation, Fascination, Imagination, Inspiration, Elation, and Paradise) were built in Finland. Carnival's press release notes it has not built a ship in Finland in 12 years.
               At this time, we do not have the names of these cruise ships, itinerary details, or ship designs. It will probably be several years before we begin to learn some of this information. Right now, Carnival Cruise Line is probably focused on its next new ship, the Carnival Horizon. The Carnival Horizon is scheduled to begin sailing in 2018. 

For more information, check out Carnival's press release:  Click Here (This link will take you away from my website and to Carnival's press release website) 

         In September 2016, Carnival Cruise Line will be sending the Carnival Imagination into dry-dock. During this time, the ship will receive numerous upgrades, general upkeep, and some some refreshing. Currently, the Carnival Imagination is scheduled to receive the following enhancements during its dry-dock: 

Guy's Burger Joint -  This is a popular Fun Ship 2.0 feature that Carnival has been slowly expanding to its ships. Guy's Burger Joint serves free hamburgers and french fries at lunchtime. Prior to getting Guy's Burger Joint, the Carnival Imagination had a generic hamburger grill on its Lido Deck. 

Blue Iguana Cantina -  The Blue Iguana Cantina is another feature Carnival will be adding to the Carnival Imagination's Lido deck. The Blue Iguana Cantina serves burritos and tacos at lunch. Usually, the Blue Iguana Cantina also has some breakfast options too. To compliment tacos and burritos, Carnival's Blue Iguana Cantina also has a salsa bar. The salsa bar has a multitude of options available for cruisers. The Blue Iguana Cantina is complimentary!

​Red Frog Rum Bar -  The Red Frog Rum Bar serves frozen drinks and beer for cruisers to purchase. This new Caribbean themed bar will be located on the Lido Deck near the pool. 

Blue Iguana Tequila Bar - The Blue Iguana Cantina Bar serves frozen drinks and beer for cruisers to purchase. This new Mexican themed bar will be located on the Lido Deck near the pool. 

Alchemy Bar -  The Alchemy Bar will also be added to the Carnival Imagination during dry-dock.  The Alchemy Bar allows cruisers to purchase mixed drinks in a pharmacy themed bar setting. Cruisers are able to tell bartenders to mix ingredients to make a drink a certain way. The ship's Alchemy Bar will most likely be located on the ship's Promenade Deck (deck 9). 

Cherry On Top -  The Carnival Imagination  will be receiving Cherry On Top, which is essentially a candy shop. This shop sells candy, gifts, and a few other things. The ship's Cherry On Top will most likely be located on the ship's Promenade Deck (deck 9). 

        The ship's time out of service will be about 2 weeks.  It will be interesting to read reviews of the ship after to dry-dock to see how cruisers are enjoying these new features. 

For more information check out Carnival's press release:  Click Here (will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide)