Carnival Corporation has placed an order for two new ships to be built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
The orders come from Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line. Carnival’s new ship will be the line’s 26th vessel in the fleet and will be a sister ship to Carnival Vista. The 3,954-passenger ship will enter service in spring 2018.
The Holland America Line ship will be a sister ship to Koningsdam and the line’s second Pinnacle-class vessel, carrying 2,650 passengers. This ship will be delivered in autumn 2018.
Giuseppe Bono, chief executive of Fincantieri, said: “To have been once more chosen for such an important order is the best recognition for our skills. This is an extremely important sign, especially if we consider the shipbuilding industry’s present period of evolution, both in Europe and Asia.
“Today Fincantieri can count on a solid order book, without equal in terms of diversification and quality of the product, which is a testament to our leadership in the cruise ship business sector.
“This position has been solidified over the years also thanks to our relationship with Carnival, a partnership which has allowed us to grow and which is now strengthened by our recent agreement involving the Chinese market and by today’s orders. We are hopeful that many others will follow in the future.”
Arnold Donald (pictured), president and chief executive of Carnival Corporation, said: “These beautiful new ships on order from Fincantieri signify our ongoing commitment to provide the best possible guest experience across our industry-leading brands.
“New ships with the latest in features, accommodations and innovations really bring the modern cruise experience to life and will help us continue to grow new demand for cruising.”