Following a $9.34 billion cruise ship order earlier this year, Italy’s Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, has secured another huge cruise ship deal.
On March 31, Fincantieri announced that the company and TUI AG signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the design and construction of two new cruise ships for the Marella Cruises brand. The value of this agreement, subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions, is considered as very important. The two vessels will be delivered in calendar year 2030 and 2032.
This agreement represents a major step for Marella Cruises, which is venturing into newbuilding for the first time and has chosen Fincantieri as its strategic partner for this transformation. At the same time, it establishes a new customer relationship for Fincantieri, expanding its client base with a fresh brand in the cruise sector.
The ships will be designed specifically for the English market and have a focus on environmental sustainability. They will redefine premium cruising through refined design, high-quality materials, and a variety of spacious accommodations.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, commented: “We are proud to welcome Marella Cruises as a new customer and to support its vision as it enters the newbuild segment. This agreement is a testament to Fincantieri’s ability to forge strategic partnerships with an expanding client base, reinforcing our long-term visibility and ensuring a high level of capacity saturation for our shipyards. The project will bring together our expertise in ship design, innovation, and sustainability to deliver vessels that meet the evolving expectations of modern cruise passengers.”
Fincantieri has built a solid and successful relationship with the brand TUI Cruises, joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises. This year in February, the Group delivered the cruise ship “Mein Schiff Relax”, the first of two InTUItion class new concept cruise ships dual-fuel powered (Liquid Natural Gas – LNG and Marine Gas Oil – MGO), while the second unit, “Mein Schiff Flow”, is currently under construction at the Monfalcone shipyard, with delivery scheduled for 2026.
It is understood that the above order is the second cruise contract announced by Fincantieri this year. Earlier this year, the order for four luxury cruise ships from Norwegian Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCL), officially came into effect.
The luxury cruise ship will be the largest cruise ship ever built by NCL, with a gross tonnage of approximately 226,000 and the capacity to accommodate more than 5,100 passengers, including crew, more than 8,300 people, and will be designed to the highest comfort and technical standards and will include sustainable development features. The four new cruise ships will be built at the Monfalcone shipyard, with the first to be delivered in 2030 and the remaining three to be delivered in 2032, 2034 and 2036 respectively.