Fincantieri has signed an agreement with Carnival Corporation & plc for the design and construction of two new cruise ships for AIDA Cruises, the leading cruise line in the German-speaking cruise market. In Fincantieri’s usual way, the total value of the 2 cruise ships exceeds €2 billion.
This marks the first time that Fincantieri will build cruise ships for AIDA Cruises, thus reinforcing its strategic partnership with Carnival Corporation. The units are scheduled for delivery in early 2030 and late 2031. Each will feature approximately 2,100 guest cabins and will be equipped with multi-fuel engines, capable of operating LNG, Bio-diesel, and future sustainable fuels, in line with the industry’s decarbonization goals.
Fincantieri has delivered throughout its history a total of 75 cruise ships to Carnival Corporation across its portfolio of cruise lines, further strengthening the long-standing collaboration between the two companies.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, commented: “We are honored that our long-standing partner Carnival Corporation has selected Fincantieri to build ships for AIDA Cruises for the first time in our history. This milestone confirms our ability to serve the entire Carnival Corporation portfolio, while ensuring long-term term visibility for our shipyards. These new ships will embody the most advanced technologies for sustainability and efficiency, further strengthening Fincantieri’s and Carnival Corporation’s roles as leaders in cruise industry innovation.”
It is worth noting that this is Fincantieri’s first partnership with AIDA Cruises, but not the first collaboration between the shipbuilder and Carnival Group. Since its establishment, Fincantieri has delivered a total of 75 cruise ships to Carnival Group’s various cruise brands, further strengthening the long-term partnership between the two companies.
In addition to the order for two cruise ships for AIDA Cruises, Carnival Group last placed an order with Fincantieri in July 2024 for the design and construction of three LNG-powered luxury cruise ships for its eponymous cruise brand Carnival Cruise, which are expected to be delivered in the summer of 2029, 2031 and 2033 respectively.
Fincantieri, a global leader in cruise ship construction, has secured two major cruise orders totaling €4 billion in just one week, the other from Marella Cruises, a cruise brand owned by TUI AG.
On March 31st, Fincantieri announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with TUI AG for the design and construction of two high-end cruise ships for Marella Cruises, TUI AG’s cruise brand, to be delivered in 2030 and 2032, respectively, with a total value of more than €2 billion.
Marella Cruises’ 2 new ships will be designed specifically for the UK market, with a focus on environmental sustainability, and will redefine high-end cruising through sophisticated design, high-quality materials and a variety of spacious accommodations. Significantly, the agreement is an important step in Marella Cruises’ first foray into newbuilding and the selection of Fincantieri as its strategic partner.
With this latest order, Fincantieri has announced three cruise contracts this year, including four luxury cruise ships for Norwegian Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), which went into effect at the beginning of this year; a construction agreement for two high-end cruise ships for Marella Cruises; and two ships for AIDA Cruises Construction Agreement.