Carnival Orders 141,000-Ton Cruise Ship for P&a...
Carnival Corporation & plc Orders 141,000-Ton Cruise Ship for P&O Cruises
Brand; Vessel Set to Debut in March 2015
MIAMI, June 1, 2011 -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:
CUK) 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 - targeted specifically to British clientele -
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 - one ship scheduled
for delivery for the remainder of 2011, three for 2012, two for 2013 and one
for 2014.
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the
world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia
and Asia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess
Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Ibero Cruises, P&O
Cruises (UK) and P&O Cruises (Australia).
Together, these brands operate 100 ships totaling more than 193,000 lower
berths with eight new ships scheduled to be delivered between now and 2015.
Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska
Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on
both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is
the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE
100 indices.
SOURCE Carnival plc
CONTACT: MEDIA: US, Carnival Corporation & plc, Tim Gallagher,
+1-305-599-2600, ext. 16000, INVESTOR RELATIONS: US/UK, Carnival Corporation
& plc, Beth Roberts, +1-305-406-4832; P&O Cruises, Michele Andjel, 44 23 8065
6653