By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation is to transfer P&O Cruises’ Arcadia to Holland America Line in 2026, expanding the brand’s fleet to 12 ships and increasing overall capacity by more than 2,000 guests. The move will give Holland America Line greater deployment flexibility and modernise its fleet.
Arcadia is built on the Vista-class platform as Holland America Line’s Oosterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zuiderdam, all of which are undergoing extensive upgrades as part of the company’s multi year Holland America Evolution programme. Arcadia will receive similar enhancements before beginning service.
“Holland America Line continues to see strong demand from guests seeking immersive travel experiences, genuine hospitality and perfectly sized ships,” said Beth Bodensteiner, president of Holland America Line. “Adding Arcadia allows us to welcome more guests while building on everything they already love about our brand. As a Vista-class ship, she is a natural fit and an exciting extension of Holland America Evolution, the largest guest experience transformation in our 153-year history.”
Adding Arcadia to the fleet will also provide Holland America Line with a “faster path to growth” and complement its long-term fleet modernisation strategy.
“Whether it’s strengthening our presence in favourite destinations or opening opportunities to sail in new ways, this additional capacity helps us offer even more choices to travellers who believe the journey should be as rewarding as the destination,” said Bodensteiner. “At the same time, this is one chapter in a larger story. It supports our near-term growth while fitting alongside the company’s broader approach to modernisation and future fleet expansion, including the thoughtful consideration of newbuilds. There’s more to come as we continue investing in our fleet and guest experience.”
Carnival Corporation will also transfer Cunard Line’s 3,000-guest ship Queen Anne to P&O Cruises in 2029, making “extensive design changes” to ensure it aligns with the rest of the fleet.