ALL CHANGE FOR CARNIVAL AND P&O AUSTRALIA

In something of a surprise move, Carnival Cruises has announced that the currently under construction 133,000 ton Vista Class ship, originally intended for satellite company, P&O Australia, will instead be going to Carnival Cruises itself when it is completed in late 2019. In return, the 114,000 ton, one of a kind Carnival Splendor will go to the Australian operator after a substantial makeover.

Currently under construction by Fincantieri in Italy, the as yet nameless new build will join her two sisters, the currently in service Carnival Vista and the coming Carnival Horizon, to complete a well balanced trio of complementary vessels, almost certainly operating out of the USA. It is even possible that one of these ships might go to the west coast port of Los Angeles.

The original plan appears to have changed because a 133,000 ton ship was considered to be currently too big for the Australian market, whereas the Carnival Splendor, with a double occupancy of around 3,000 passengers, was thought to be a better fit for the market 'down under', hence the decision to transfer her there in 2019.

It might also be a decision that gives some stability to the Carnival Splendor, which began service in 2009 on the Mexican Riviera run out of Los Angleles, before suffering an engine room fire and breakdown that resulted in the ship being adrift in the Pacific for a couple of days. The story made headlines around the world at the time, and the repairs required were substantial. Ironically, the ship is slated to return to this run for now, after spending a few seasons in the Caribbean.

Beyond the immediate deployment, this change raises questions over just what ship Carnival will now use out of Los Angeles come 2019 in place of the slated Carnival Splendor. The line has entered into an agreement with the port of Long Beach to bring a larger ship to the Mexican run for the seven night cruises and, with Carnival Splendor no longer available, one of the Dream class trio might well be an option as a replacement.

In any event, this means that the Mexican Riviera almost certainly gets a significant upgrade in terms of a year round ship on the slowly recovering circuit to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. As ever, things remain in a bit of a flux right now, but Carnival Corporation has always been nothing if not adaptable. For sure, interesting times lie ahead.