Following the announcement of 3 new mega ships for CCL/Carnival Cruise Line, it appears that Carnival Corporation (world's largest cruise shipowner) is nearing another significant shipbuilding order.
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is reportedly in negotiations with Carnival Corporation to construct a new class of vessels for 3 of its brands: AIDA, CCL/Carnival, and potentially Costa at a later stage. The proposed order includes 6 vessels, with an option for 2 additional units, each with a minimum of 150,000 gross tons/volume.
Deliveries are expected to begin in 2029.
These ships would be built at Fincantieri’s yard in Sestri Ponente/Genoa and/or Marghera/Venice, with the total value of (the initial 6 ships) estimated at ~EUR 8 billion.
Sources indicate that the likelihood of this order being finalized is high.
This new class of ships is expected to incorporate various innovations, both in guest areas and technical systems, aligning with Carnival Corporation’s Green Cruising strategy, which aims for long-term emission-free operations through advanced technologies.
If confirmed, the new ship class would mark the first for AIDA Cruises since 2018, with deliveries anticipated ~8 years after the debut of AIDAcosma in December 2021. The new vessels, at 150,000 gross tons, would be smaller than AIDAnova and AIDAcosma (~180,000 GT) but larger than AIDAprima and AIDAperla (~125,000 GT).
Additionally, on July 23, 2024, Fincantieri signed an agreement with Carnival Corporation for the design, engineering, and construction of three LNG-powered ships for CCL. These ships, at ~230,000 GT tons, will be the largest ever built by Fincantieri, with deliveries scheduled through 2033.
This new order could further expand Fincantieri’s order book, potentially including vessels for Costa as well.