Carnival orders new cruise ship for P&O Cruises brand

MIAMI, Fla.

MIAMI, Fla. – Carnival Corporation & plc today announced that it has contracted with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to construct a 141,000-ton cruise ship for its P&O Cruises brand scheduled to enter service in March 2015.

The as-yet-unnamed 3,611-passenger vessel will be the largest in the P&O Cruises fleet, as well as the largest cruise ship built specifically for the British market.

To be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard, the all-in cost is approximately euro 155,000 per lower berth. Ushering in an exciting era for P&O Cruises, the ship will offer a stylish and innovative new design and unprecedented number of passenger facilities, along with a variety of classic and iconic features of the P&O Cruises brand. Other specifications and new product innovations will be announced at a later date.

Commented Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc’s chairman and CEO, “P&O Cruises is Britain’s number one cruise operator, synonymous with high quality holidays that celebrate its rich British heritage. The UK continues to be a key growth market for Carnival and innovative vessels such as this new P&O Cruises ship โ€“ targeted specifically to British clientele โ€“ underscore our commitment to expanding this important cruise region.”

P&O Cruises Managing Director Carol Marlow said, “This next-generation ship will deliver the ultimate P&O Cruises experience, with ‘sophisticated wows’ and new features to attract thousands of newcomers to our brand, and equally to resonate with existing P&O Cruises passengers by giving them the ‘P&O-ness’ they recognise and love. She will offer ‘the best of the best,’ combining the favourite classic features of Oriana and Aurora, the choice and variety of Azura and Ventura, and a host of new ideas and concepts which together will deliver to our passengers the holiday of a lifetime, every time they travel with us.”

Added Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono, “This order shows that the company, even in a difficult moment as today, is resolutely continuing its commitment in a particularly depressed market in order to gain whatever orders there might be, thus holding on to its position as world leader.”

The order marks Carnival Corporation & plc’s first ship delivery for 2015, aligned with the company’s strategy to construct two to three ships per year. It currently has seven additional ships on order โ€“ one ship scheduled for delivery for the remainder of 2011, three for 2012, two for 2013 and one for 2014.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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