AIDA Cruises orders third cruise ship from Meyer Werft

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 27 February 2018 27 February 2018

In 2023, the German market leader for cruise vacations will launch another ship of its new generation into service. AIDAnova, the first newbuilt of this ship class, will join AIDA Cruises’ fleet this autumn. She will then be followed by the two sister ships of this series in spring of 2021 and in 2023. Thanks to this substantial expansion of its range of holiday offers over the next five years, AIDA Cruises will give the tourism market new impulses for growth and meet the strong increasing demand for cruise vacations.

“On board our ships, which travel the most beautiful destinations worldwide, we offer the greatest holiday variety on the German market with a complete package of culture, entertainment, sports, wellness and culinary delights. The interest in AIDAnova, the first ship of our new generation, is enormous, even before the commissioning in autumn this year. With today's new building contract, we will ensure the further growth of the cruise market in the long term and will be able to provide exciting offers for this steadily growing holiday segment in the future as well. Thanks to an even wider variety on board, we are opening up completely new possibilities for attracting new target groups across generations for this unique holiday experience," said Felix Eichhorn, President AIDA Cruises.

Starting with AIDAnova, the next generation ship class will combine innovations with further developments of successful product features already offered on board the existing fleet. More than 40 different restaurants and bars on board entice guests to enjoy new worlds of gastronomic experiences and set culinary trends. Versatile entertainment offerings, such as the enhanced theatrium, a ship’s own TV studio or new event restaurants will inspire. Guests have the choice between more than 20 different cabin types – from the Penthouse Suite to generously sized family staterooms or single staterooms with a balcony.

At the same time, the company is affirming its commitment to the environment and relying on “Made in Germany” with the construction of another ship at the yard Meyer Werft in Papenburg, that can be run entirely on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Tim Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft: “This is the tenth AIDA ship we are building in Papenburg, emphasizing a long-term partnership between AIDA and Meyer Werft. AIDAnova and the following two sister ships are featuring the latest technology focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency.”

Over the course of the coming years, AIDA Cruises will be investing more than three billion euros into the expansion of its fleet. With each new ship, AIDA Cruises generates around 2,000 quality jobs on board and ashore and further provides many thousands of highly-qualified jobs in German and European shipbuilding and in the domestic supply industry.

The new construction, which will have more than 180,000 gross tons and an estimated 2,700 staterooms, is already the ninth LNG cruise ship being built at the shipyards of Meyer Werft in Germany and Finland for four of the nine cruise lines owned by Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest leisure travel corporation and parent company of AIDA Cruises.

AIDA Cruises will take delivery of AIDAnova from Meyer Werft on November 15, 2018 in Bremerhaven. Before the maiden voyage of AIDAnova, which will depart from Hamburg on December 2, 2018 towards the Canary Islands, guests can experience the new flagship at exclusive pre-premieres.

In its debut season, starting mid-December 2018, AIDAnova will be traveling on seven-day cruises to the Canary Islands and Madeira, which, thanks to year-round pleasant temperatures, varied landscapes and short flying times, are among the top holiday destinations for Germans.

NCLH forecasts 2018 EPS to rise to $4.45 to $4.65 bracket 

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 22 February 2018 22 February 2018

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) forecasts 2018 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to rise to the range of $4.45 to $4.65 from $3.96 it reached in 2017.

The continued strong global demand for NCLH portfolio of brands will enable the group to further grow revenue, resulting in sixth consecutive year of net yield growth. “This, coupled with the benefit of the launch of Norwegian Bliss and a continued focus on costs, will drive 2018 earnings to record highs,” said Wendy Beck, executive vice president and chief financial officer of NCLH in a statement.

Adjusted net yields should rose by 2.75% as reported and by 2.0% on constant currency terms. Net cruise costs should rise between 0.5% and 1.5% as reported and remain flat or rise by 1.0% in constant currency terms.

Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of the company, said: “It has been a remarkable journey for our Company with more major milestones to come and an amazing trajectory of profit growth for 2018 and beyond. Our solid revenue and earnings performance will continue in 2018, having entered the year in the best booked position in our Company’s history with pricing above prior year across all three of our brands."