Costa Atlantica has become the first vessel of CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping, a joint venture between China State Shipibuilding Corporation (CSSC) and Carnival corporation & plc.

In November last year, Carnival said, the 85,861-ton, 2,210passenger capacity Costa Atlantica, would be transferred to the new Chinese cruise line by the end of 2019. Costa Atlantica's sister ship, the 2,114 passenger Costa Mediterranea, would be transferred at a date still to be announced.

CSSC is also building two 133,500 gross ton vessels for the new line. The two new cruise ships will be constructed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS), a leading Chinese-owned shipyard in Shanghai, with the first ship expected to be delivered in 2023.

The agreement also gives CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited the option to order four additional China-built cruise ships to serve growing demand from Chinese consumers.

The formation of the new line and the building of the two plus option two ships were first announced in 2015, when the Chinese president Xi Jinping paid a state visit to London.