Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has secured an order from Carnival Corporation’s Seabourn to build a second ultra-luxury ship.
This order is the result of exercising the option included in the contract that was signed in January.
The first vessel in this series is expected for delivery in late 2016.
The additional vessel will be part of the fleet modernisation that began in 2009.
The 210m-long and 28m-wide luxury vessel will have a weight of 40,350gt and will be capable of cruising at a speed of 18.6k.
The vessel will be able to accommodate 604 guests in its 302 spacious suites, all offering a private balcony. It is scheduled for delivery in spring 2018.
Seabourn president Richard Meadows said: "There has been an incredible amount of excitement and interest since we announced the order for the first ship and we’re very pleased that the demand for our brand has allowed us to add a second, new, ultra-luxury ship to our expanding fleet.
"These two new ships will offer the understated elegance we are known for, as well as new amenities, innovations and modern design features that embody the hallmarks of Seabourn."
Last month, Fincantieri signed two memorandum of understandings (MoU) with Carnival Corporation and a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) to explore the potential for joint ventures in cruise ship building in the Chinese market.
Image: The Italian ship MV Seabourn Quest of Seabourn Cruise Line. Photo: courtesy of Christian Ferrer.
