Carnival Corporation announced that it has signed a shipbuilding contract for a second next generation LNG fueled cruise ship for its P&O Cruises brand, in cooperation with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft.
The ship will be delivered in 2020, and will be the largest cruise ship to be built specifically for the British market. It will feature 180,000 gross tons and will be able to welcome approximately 5,200 guests. Both new ships will be registered in the UK. The first of the new ships will begin operations in September, the company said.
The vessel will be built by Meyer Werft at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, and will incorporate a “green cruising” design, being one of the first generation of cruise ships to be powered by LNG both while in port and at sea, thus reducing air emissions.
P&O Cruises senior vice president Paul Ludlow, said: “In four years time when her sister ship is launched, adding an additional 22 percent capacity, we will see an even greater rise in the popularity of cruising across all demographics and all age ranges including both Millennials and Generation Xers. Many of them have already learned to appreciate cruising by going on cruises with their families while growing up.”
The new ships are part of Carnival’s fleet expansion, which expects 19 new ships between 2018 and 2022.