Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings expects to hold onto all 28 ships within its relatively young fleet despite the unprecedented challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Only six ships across the New York-listed company's three brands were built as early as the late 1990s. The rest were delivered in the 2000s, some as late as this year.

Flagship brand Norwegian Cruise Line has only two ships built before the 2000s: the 2,018-berth Norwegian Spirit (built 1998) and the 2,004-berth Norwegian Sky (built 1999).

Its 15 other ships were put together from 2001 through 2019, and six newbuildings are on order through 2027, according to VesselsValue.

"We not only have the youngest fleet, but now we have these incredible vessels on order, which allows us to have the fastest-growing fleet," chief executive Frank Del Rio said Thursday during the company's second-quarter earnings call with analysts.

"No, we have no plans to divest any of our vessels."

Del Rio noted that Norwegian invested $150m in the Norwegian Spirit — the company's oldest asset — as late as February, making it "better than new" before the pandemic hit the US.

Subsidiary Regent Seven Seas has only one vessel built before the 2000s — 490-berth Seven Seas Navigator (built 1999) — while its other five ships were launched from 2003 through early 2020.

Oceania Cruises has three ships built in the late 1990s, while the other three were built in 2000, 2011 and 2012.

The older ships include 686-berth Insignia and 684-berth Regatta (both built 1998) and 824-berth Sirena (built 1999).

Norwegian has always wanted a bigger fleet, hence the six ships on order, but at the same time is content with the ships it has right now, Del Rio said.

"We always want more, but I think you've heard me say that, during this pandemic, I'm glad that I'm the smallest fleet because it's less mouths to feed, so to speak," he said.

Rivals trimming

While Norwegian looks to stay at 28 ships for now with plans to expand post-pandemic, Carnival Corp is slimming down its fleet, which has stood as the world's biggest for years with 105 active ships.

The cruise juggernaut plans to sell 15 ships in an effort to become what chief executive Arnold Donald has called a "leaner" company.

At least three of them are getting scrapped: the 70,400-gt Carnival Inspiration (built 1996) and 70,400-gt Carnival Fantasy (built 1990) in Aliaga, Turkey, and the 75,200-gt Costa Victoria (built 1996) at Italy’s San Giorgio del Porto Shipyard.

Royal Caribbean Group has also placed at least three ships under the cutting torch at Aliaga. They are Royal Caribbean International's 73,900-gt Monarch (built 1991) and Pullmantur Cruises' 73,500-gt Sovereign (built 1987) and 47,400-gt Horizon (built 1990).