North American cruise capacity is set to grow by an estimated 41 percent over the next 10 years, based on existing newbuild orders, known withdrawals and deployment plans, compared to the previous 10 years which saw a 25 percent increase in passenger capacity, according to the 2017-2018 Cruise Industry News Annual Report.

The fleet will grow from some 199 ships and a passenger capacity of 13.7 million in 2017 to 242 ships and a passenger capacity of 19.3 million in 2027.

Over the 10-year period, Carnival Corporation will boost its North American passenger capacity from 6.1 million to 7.7 million, for a 25 percent increase; Royal Caribbean will grow its brands from 4.1 million to 6.1 million, for a 50 percent increase; and Norwegian from 2.1 million to 3.0 million passengers for a 45 percent increase.
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Additional growth will come from Disney Cruise Line and start-up Virgin Voyages.  MSC Cruises is also dedicating ships to the North American market. 

Princess Cruises has announced that the Majestic Princess, will be based in Sydney over the 2018-2019, and will not be year-round in China as previously announced.

As well, in 2018, Princess will move the Sapphire Princess out of the Chinese market and re-deploy the ship to Europe. 

The Majestic Princess will be the largest Princess ship ever to sail in Australian waters, with her deployment confirming the cruise line’s popularity amongst Australian and New Zealand cruisers, said Princess, in a statement. 

She will offer cruises in Europe and China before heading south to Sydney where she will be homeported from September 2018 through to March 2019, when she will return to China.

During her inaugural Australian season, Majestic Princess will sail on 16 cruises to destinations including Fiji, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong. Unveiling the program, Princess Cruises Vice President Australia & New Zealand Stuart Allison said the deployment of Majestic Princess was testament to Australians’ love of cruising and the popularity of Princess Cruises in the region.
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“From her gourmet restaurants to her stunning onboard features, Majestic Princess is nothing short of magnificent. We’re thrilled to be welcoming our newest, most stylish and most luxurious flagship to our shores – having just experienced her preview voyage I know Australian cruisers will love all that she has to offer,” Allison said.

Princess Cruises today took delivery of the first purpose-built ship for the Chinese cruise market, the Majestic Princess. Fincantieri delivered the vessel at the Monfalcone shipyard in the presence of the Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

The ceremony was attended by the President of the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Debora Serracchiani, for the ship owner by Micky Arison, Chairman of Carnival Corporation, Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, Stein Kruse, CEO of Holland America Group, and Jan Swartz, Group President of Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia. Fincantieri was represented by Giampiero Massolo, Chairman and Giuseppe Bono, CEO. 
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Fincantieri has built 77 cruise ships since 1990.