Carnival Corporation orders three 230,000-gross-ton ships from Fincantieri

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 23 July 2024 23 July 2024

With consumer demand for cruise vacations at historic levels, Carnival Corporation & plc, the world's largest cruise company, today announced an order for three new ships for its namesake Carnival Cruise Line brand for a new class of vessel, at nearly 230,000 gross tons. The agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri provides for the design, engineering, and construction of these liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered ships, which will be delivered in the summers of 2029, 2031 and 2033, respectively.

"We are proud to be known as America's cruise line with tremendous guest loyalty and an outstanding team that has enabled us to deliver memorable vacations to over 100 million guests," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "For this next generation ship, we are focused on creating innovative guest experiences that will take Carnival Cruise Line into the future with new fun features and excitement that we know our guests will love."

With today's order, there have been five new ship orders for Carnival Cruise Line announced in 2024. Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation placed its first newbuild orders in five years for two more Excel-class ships that will join the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in 2027 and 2028. The company also recently announced a series of strategic shifts to further optimize the composition of its global brand portfolio and to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, transferring a total of five vessels from sister brands to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet between 2023 and March 2025.

"We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world's most popular cruise line," said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation & plc. "At this point, our newbuild pipeline is just one delivery in each of 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031 and 2033. We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year."

According to Weinstein, this order will take the company's overall measured capacity growth between 2025 and 2033 to an average of approximately 1.5% per year. "This gives us the headroom to strategically provide new capacity to the brands in our portfolio like Carnival Cruise Line, which provide outsized returns while continuing to execute against our responsible capital strategy, using our strong free cash flow over the next several years to improve our balance sheet, significantly reduce our debt, and continue to transfer value from debt holders to shareholders," he said.

With over 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in the Carnival Corporation global fleet and will be able to deliver fun to more guests than any ship in the world when carrying almost 8,000 guests at full capacity. Once delivered in 2033, Carnival Corporation will have a total of 16 LNG-powered ships – including eight Carnival Cruise Line ships – making up almost 30% of Carnival Corporation's global capacity and delivering immediate greenhouse gas emission reductions. The new ships will also feature advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies to further reduce the company's environmental footprint.

"We are excited to join forces with Carnival Cruise Line to debut a new class of ship, which will be the largest cruise ship ever constructed by Fincantieri and the largest ship ever built in Italy. We are proud of the role Fincantieri has played in helping Carnival Corporation secure its position as the world's largest cruise company and look forward to continuing this success story together," said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO, Fincantieri.

Design details and itinerary information for the new Carnival Cruise Line ships will be announced in the future.

This order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be completed later this year.

Photo: The newbuilds will represent new class, but earlier this year Carnival contracted with Meyer Werft for two more Excel-class ships, similar to Mardi Gras. Credit: Teijo Niemela

Victory Cruise Lines opens reservations for inaugural Great Lakes season

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 23 July 2024 23 July 2024

Victory Cruise Lines, committed to all-inclusive, small ship, coastal cruising on The Great Lakes and Canadian Coasts, announces reservations for the 2025 inaugural season are now open. Comprised of the 190-guest Victory I and Victory II, these ships were purpose-built in Jacksonville, Florida, to cruise on all five Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the French-Canadian Maritimes. The size and maneuverability of these ships are perfectly suited for coastal cruising in this region. Cruising connoisseurs can celebrate the christening celebrations of Victory I in Toronto on April 27 and Victory II at Chicago’s Navy Pier on May 12.

“As long-time enthusiasts of maritime adventures, my wife Claudette and I are thrilled for the team to open reservations of the inaugural season and we prepare to sail these magnificent waters,” shares Victory Cruise Lines Chairman and Founder, John Waggoner, who acquired the two ships in May 2024. “Our cruise experience will offer many special touches, including being the only cruise line to dock at Chicago’s Navy Pier, and most of all, our ships will be a home away from home exploring all five Great Lakes.”

Victory Cruise Lines will mark the inaugural season with a special New England & Canada 2025 Reunion Cruise Portland to Toronto departing April 16, 2025. Hosted by John and Claudette Waggoner, the 10-night cruise through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Canadian Maritimes will reunite friends from past voyages featuring notable guest entertainers, Phil Westbrook, and Greg and Lindy Pendzick.

Victory Cruise Lines voyages along magnificent coastlines, journeys through seaways and lakes, navigates hidden harbors and calls on downtown marinas with ease.

– Victory Cruise Lines is the coastal cruising product on the Great Lakes that docks at Navy Pier in Chicago.

– Victory Cruise Lines offers 36 voyages on the Great Lakes in a single season.

– Victory Cruise Lines has the most coastal cruises in a single season that hit all 5 Great Lakes in one cruise, 33 voyages.

– Victory Cruise Lines is the only coastal cruising product that includes a 1-Night Pre-Cruise Hotel at a premium property plus ground transfers to the ships for ALL voyages.

Onboard, guests will enjoy the Victory Cruise Lines’ own LakeLorian lecture program including engaging, destination-oriented historians and naturalists who share their vast knowledge and expertise of the history, ecology, and culture of each port of call. Victory I and Victory II feature a home-away-from-home atmosphere with gathering spots including the Compass Lounge, home to a grand piano and a favorite locale for old fashioned sing-alongs. The English-style Tavern is another favorite onboard venue to share stories and laughter with friends and fellow travelers. Guests may lounge on the aft deck on the Observation and Sun Deck with cushioned outdoor sofas, the perfect place to celebrate a successful excursion, gather for afternoon cocktails, amber sunsets, or late-night stargazing.

Victory Cruise Line chefs bring exclusive culinary delights to the table with menus of local specialties and fresh fish, when available. The wine selection reflects the routes and never fails to impress with fine wines from the various regions. The Coastal Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily from the chef’s menu of regionally inspired dishes. The Grill serves buffet breakfast, lunch, and seated dinner. Guests will also find a variety of healthy dining alternatives that meet their dining needs.

Each Victory Cruise Lines voyage includes 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay with complimentary ground transfers between the hotel and vessel; all oceanview accommodations, some with veranda; an included shore excursion in every port from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit; acclaimed cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner served in multiple venues plus culinary events throughout each cruise; gourmet selections including freshly prepared lobster and regionally-inspired dishes; unlimited beverages including an extensive wine list, choice spirits, local craft beers and specialty coffees; open bars and lounges throughout the vessel; unlimited Wi-Fi; live, daily onboard entertainment and enrichment with our own LakeLorians; hiking sticks.