FESTIVAL Cruises is set to increase its capacity after signing an agreement with French shipbuilder Chantiers de L’Atlantique to lengthen two of its ships already on order and build a further two.
Scheduled for delivery in June 2001 and March 2002, the first two ships will now offer 750 cabins instead of the 625 cabins initially ordered.
The cruiseline has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Saint Nazaire-based shipyard for a further two ships which will each have 960 cabins.
The vessels will be the first 2,000-passenger capacity ships in the cruiseline’s fleet and are scheduled for delivery in 2003 and 2004.
UK managing director Graham Smith said the four new ships represent a $1bn investment by the cruiseline.
The new ships will also have a higher proportion of suites than its current portfolio.
All four new ships will be aimed primarily at Festival’s pan-European passenger market and will be broadly similar in design to the 598-cabin Mistral which was launched last June.
“The ships will reflect the European approach to food, entertainment and culture,” added Smith.
He said the new ships, which will give the cruiseline an eight-strong portfolio, will be used for the company’s main cruising areas of the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, Smith reported strong sales for Mistral with around 8% of its capacity being sold in the UK, higher than expected.
“We have a few offers for November departures but I think everyone is finding November quite hard,” he said.