Carnival Corporation has ordered a “next-generation” cruise ship for the Cunard fleet, and the immediate question is will it be a new Queen.
Carnival today signed a memorandum of agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to build the ship at its shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, with an expected delivery date in 2022.
Cunard’s next-generation ship is cue to arrive in 2022
The addition of fourth ship will help meet increasing consumer demand and drive Cunard’s long-term global growth strategy
The as-yet-unnamed ship will join Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, meaning that the first time since 1998 that the luxury cruise brand will have four ships in simultaneous service.
There aren’t too many British Queens to choose from, but Queen Anne, the youngest daughter of King James II, reigned from 1665 to 1714 as the first monarch of the united Grest Britain.
The new cruise ship will be the 249th ship to fly the Cunard flag since the company’s founding in 1839.
Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation, said: “While today’s news helps drive Cunard’s overall strategic growth plans, we also look forward to launching this next-generation cruise ship to help meet increasing global demand and entice even more travellers to explore the Cunard experience.”
He added: “Fleet enhancement is an important part of our ongoing goal to exceed guest expectations. This includes replacing less efficient ships with more efficient vessels over time as part of our managed capacity growth.”
Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, said: “With this agreement we once more link our company’s name with Cunard’s, a real icon of the cruise market, confirming us as shipbuilders able to combine tradition and innovation like no one else in the world.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.