Carnival Corporation to add nine ships to fleet

Carnival Corporation has signed an agreement with both Fincantieri and Meyer Werft shipyards to build its next-generation of cruise ships.

The memorandums of agreement will add a total of nine ships to the fleet over a four-year period between 2019 and 2022. The agreements include an option for further builds in the coming years.

According to a company statement the ships will mainly serve the North American, European and Chinese market.

“We’re excited to take this next step in our fleet enhancement plan with these two new agreements that are consistent with our long-term strategy of measured capacity growth over time,” said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation. “Our goal as a company is to exceed the expectations of every guest on every ship every day, and these new ships will further enable us to do just that. These will be the most efficient ships we have ever built and the great guest experience will create even more excitement around cruising – helping new cruisers realize the superior vacation experience and value that cruising offers versus land-based vacations.”

Fincantieri, the world’s largest cruise ship building company, will develop and construct five ships at its shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera, Italy.

“I am extremely proud on this truly memorable day for us. Today’s announcement provides us with a long-term strategic prospective, and reinforces the extraordinary partnership between us and Carnival Corporation, developed over time thanks to the confidence the group has always shown in us, which we assure will be once again well placed,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “This agreement reflects the exceptional business vision of the world’s most important cruise operator, and our readiness and flexibility in interpreting its demands.”

Bono added, “This agreement is the best reward for our hard work over all these years, and in fact, our organisational, design and production skills have allowed us to consolidate our market leadership, confirming us at the top of such an exclusive and complex industry.”

Bernard Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Werft, said, “We are very happy and honored that Carnival Corporation trusts our strength to bring this ambitious newbuilding programme to life in Turku and Papenburg.”