The four new cruise ships – part of a previously announced nine-ship strategic partnership for the world's largest cruise company – will be the largest ever built based on guest capacity
The ships will feature a revolutionary “green cruise” design as the first ocean-going vessels to use liquefied natural gas, the cleanest-burning fossil fuel in the world
Carnival Corporation & plc , the world’s leading leisure and travel company, announced today that it has signed a multi-billion dollar contract to build four next-generation cruise ships with the largest guest capacity in the world. The contract with Meyer Werft is part of the previously announced strategic memorandum with leading shipyards Meyer Werft and Fincantieri SpA for nine new ship orders between 2019 and 2022.
The four new ships will feature a revolutionary “green cruise” design. They will be the first in the cruise industry to be powered at sea by liquefied natural gas (LNG) – the cleanest-burning fossil fuel in the world – representing a significant environmental breakthrough.
The company stated that two of the ships will be built by AIDA Cruises at the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Further information about the ships, including new additions to each brand, will be released later.
Based on Carnival Corporation's innovative new ship design, each of the four next-generation ships will have a total capacity of 6,600 guests, with more than 5,000 low berths, exceeding 180,000 gross tons, and incorporating a wide range of guest-friendly features. A key part of the innovative design involves a much more efficient use of ship space, creating an enhanced onboard experience for guests.
As pioneers in a new era of sustainable fuels, the four new ships will be the first cruise ships in the industry to use hybrid engines powered by dual LNG fuel to propel the ship both in port and at sea. LNG will be stored onboard and used to generate 100% of the power at sea – another industry innovation for Carnival Corporation and its brands. Using LNG to power the ships both in port and at sea will eliminate emissions of soot and sulfur oxide particles.
In addition to the two new ships to be built in Germany, Meyer Werft – which has the capacity to accommodate these four shipbuilding orders within its schedule – will also build two additional ships detailed in today's announcement at its shipyard in Turku, Finland. Each of the new ships will be specifically designed and developed for the brand and the guests it will serve, underscoring the company's goal of consistently exceeding guest expectations and providing both first-time and repeat guests with a once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience on every cruise.
Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donaldstated that the contract is consistent with the company's measured growth strategy to replace less efficient ships with newer, larger, and more fuel-efficient vessels over time.
“We are looking to execute the next step in our fleet improvement plan,” commented Donald. “At a cost per berth in line with our existing order book, these new ships will enhance the return profile of our fleet. These exceptionally efficient new ships with incredible staterooms and public spaces feature a design inspired by Micky Arison and Michael Thamm and have been developed by new construction teams.” Arison is the chairman of the board of Carnival Corporation & plc, and Thamm is the CEO of Costa Group, which includes AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises.
Donald added: “It will be exciting to see our shipbuilding team bring these new ships to life. At every step, our focus has been on designing state-of-the-art vessels that provide the vacation experience our guests love, and we are putting all our creative energy and resources into ensuring we achieve that goal.”.
“These ships will further strengthen Costa Group’s market-leading position in Europe’s main markets,” said Thamm. “These will be spectacular ships, specifically designed for our guests sailing with the Costa Group brands.”.
Bernard Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft, explained: “In recent years we have built seven highly successful ships for AIDA Cruises. It is an honor that Carnival Corporation has entrusted us with the implementation of this ambitious shipbuilding program, and we are eager to begin building these four exceptional ships.”
The new ship order will allow Costa Group to continue building its leading position in the European cruise market – a market where 5 out of every 10 cruise guests in 2014 sailed on a Costa Group ship. Costa Group – along with Princess Cruise Lines , also part of the Carnival Corporation family – also holds a leading position in the growing Chinese cruise market .
As part of the shipbuilding company's long-term strategic partnership with Carnival Corporation, new ship orders are being explored for the next decade.
