The engineering gamble behind the world's first dual-fueled cruise giants

Countries & Cities · Published 16 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Building a cruise ship is hard; building the world's first dual-fueled giants is a logistical marathon. The Excellence class represents a massive pivot toward environmental sustainability, but the transition from diesel to liquefied natural gas (LNG) has faced significant technical hurdles and production delays.

Carnival Corporation ordered the Excellence class, featuring the XL and Helios sub-classes, for several major brands such as P&O Cruises, Costa Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, and AIDA Cruises. These vessels are being manufactured at two primary European locations: the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The first ship of the class, AIDAnova, began its service in 2018, marking the start of a new era for the fleet.

The defining characteristic of this class is its propulsion system. They were the first cruise ships globally to be dual-fueled, capable of running on both traditional fuel oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). This technological shift was designed specifically to create a more environmentally friendly maritime experience compared to standard diesel-powered ships. However, this pioneering status came with a high price tag; each ship is estimated to cost approximately $950 million.

The complexity of these ships led to notable delivery delays for the first four vessels. For AIDAnova, Costa Smeralda, and Mardi Gras, the issues were rooted in the novelty of LNG fueling, intricate design complexities, and the difficulties of coordinating numerous subcontractors for such massive structures. Construction of the Iona slowed down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a brief halt in P&O Cruises' activities and hindered building speed. Despite these hurdles, the production line continues, with a new order for an Excellence class ship scheduled for delivery in 2027.

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