Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line have ordered new ships in a deal worth almost $1.3 billion.
A 2,660-passenger ship for Holland America Line is scheduled for delivery in autumn 2015 and a 4,000-passenger ship for Carnival Cruise Lines in winter 2016.
Parent company Carnival Corporation has signed a memorandum of agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri
Both will be a new class of vessel for the cruise lines.
"Today’s order continues the company’s strategy of introducing two to three ships per year across the corporation’s 10 brands," said Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation.
"We have strategically timed the introduction of these new ships to allow ample time for those brands to further grow their passenger base and absorb the new capacity while minimising revenue yield dilution in the remainder of their existing fleets."
Including the newbuilds announced today, Carnival has nine new ships scheduled for delivery – two for 2013, two for 2014, three for 2015 and two for 2016.
