Major Ship Swap at Carnival: Queen Anne & Arcadia Change Cruise Lines

By Richard N Horne - Own work, CC BY 4.0, Link
Surprise in the cruise world: On October 6, 2026, Carnival Corporation announced a massive ship swap. Two well-known ocean liners will be changing their cruise lines in 2029. After completing her world cruise, the brand-new Queen Anne will leave the fleet of the traditional Cunard line to join its sister brand, P&O Cruises. In return, P&O Cruises is handing over the 2005-built Arcadia to Holland America Line (HAL).

All news also on X

Why this seemingly unusual swap? It’s simple: finances and smart planning. Carnival Corporation still carries debt from the pandemic era and prefers to save money right now instead of investing billions in new ships. Since P&O Cruises and Holland America Line need new capacities, existing ships are simply being shifted cleverly within the company.

For Holland America Line, the Arcadia is a real stroke of luck. It was originally built as a Vista-class ship anyway and therefore fits technically into the existing HAL fleet like a puzzle piece. Of course, she won't just be taken over as is; she will be completely updated as part of a massive modernization program beforehand. P&O Cruises, on the other hand, is thrilled about the huge Queen Anne, which fits perfectly into their new focus on modern, large family ships.

And Cunard? For the loyal regular guests of the traditional British cruise line, the highly modern Queen Anne was a bit too contemporary anyway and didn't quite match the classic, formal flair. By handing her over, the Cunard fleet shrinks back to three ships, but it retains its exclusive atmosphere and fully focuses on its luxurious roots centered around the flagship Queen Mary 2.