Cruise giant books LNG-powered mega-cruise ship trio in Italy

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has signed an agreement with cruise giant Carnival Corporation for the design, engineering, and construction of three new cruise ships for the Carnival Cruise Line brand. 

The order is for a new class of liquefied natural gas-(LNG) powered vessels, which will be approximately 230,000 gross tons, the largest ships ever built by Fincantieri and an Italian shipyard.

With over 3,000 guest cabins, the new vessels will carry almost 8,000 passengers at full capacity. These new ships will also feature advanced energy efficiency, waste management, and emission reduction technologies to further reduce the company’s environmental footprint. 

They are scheduled for delivery in 2029, 2031 and 2033.

Once delivered in 2033, Carnival Corporation will have a total of 16 LNG-powered ships, including eight Carnival Cruise Line ships, making up almost 30% of Carnival Corporation’s global capacity and delivering immediate greenhouse gas emission reductions, the company noted.

“We are very proud to announce that Fincantieri has signed a contract with Carnival Corporation for the construction of three next-generation cruise ships with a historical partner. This order is a significant leap forward in our innovation strategy, thus reaffirming our commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. The partnership with Carnival Corporation marks another step confirming the leadership of Fincantieri in the global cruise sector as per our Industrial Plan, combining tradition, technological advancement and ‘Made in Italy’,” Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri said.

“We are creating a platform with Fincantieri that will innovate across the board, offering an unparalleled guest experience and incorporating the latest technological advancements to minimize our environmental footprint,” Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, stated.

During its history, Fincantieri has, in total, delivered 75 ships to Carnival Corporation across its portfolio of brands, with a further vessel currently under construction at its yard in Monfalcone, and has delivered 15 cruise ships for the Carnival Cruise Line brand.

Earlier this year, Carnival Corporation placed its first newbuild orders in five years for two more Excel-class ships that will join the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in 2027 and 2028.

The company also recently announced a series of strategic shifts to further optimize the composition of its global brand portfolio and to increase guest capacity for Carnival Cruise Line, transferring a total of five vessels from sister brands to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet between 2023 and March 2025.

“We are doubling down on the growth of Carnival Cruise Line – our highest-returning brand – to keep up with the incredibly strong demand we continue to see for the world’s most popular cruise line,” added Weinstein.

“At this point, our newbuild pipeline is just one delivery in each of 2025, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2031 and 2033. We continue to take a disciplined approach to growth, strategically directing new capacity to the areas of highest demand at a rate of one to two new ships per year.”