Carnival has signed a shipbuilding contract with Germany’s Meyer Werft for a third next-generation, liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled ship, which will be operated under the cruise operator’s AIDA Cruises portfolio.
Construction of the 180,000t ship has already commenced at Meyer Werft’s shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
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The cruise liner is expected to be equipped with 2,700 staterooms, as well as Carnival’s ‘green cruising’ design.
It will be fully powered by LNG, both at sea and in port, in order to help reduce carbon emissions.
Delivery of the new ship is expected to take place by 2023.
The latest agreement increases AIDA Cruises’ total order of new LNG ships to three units.
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By GlobalDataAIDAnova, the first vessel of the series, is expected to join the fleet in December, while the second ship is scheduled to be christened by 2021.
The LNG ships form part of Carnival’s ongoing fleet enhancement strategy, which includes a total of 20 new ships that are currently scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2023.
AIDA Cruises president Felix Eichhorn said: “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.
“With today’s new shipbuilding contract, we will ensure the further growth of the cruise market in the long-term, and will be able to provide excellent cruises for this steadily growing holiday segment in the future as well.”
AIDA Cruises’ new fleet of next-generation ships will include more than 40 restaurants and bars, in addition to a versatile range of entertainment offerings such as an enhanced ‘theatrium’, onboard TV studio and new event restaurants.
The vessels will also feature more than 20 different cabin types, beginning from penthouse suite to family staterooms, or single staterooms with a balcony.
