Carnival Corporation & Plc Orders Two New 71,000-Ton Cruise Ships for Aida Cruises Brand

Carnival Corporation & plc has ordered two 71,000-ton cruise ships for its AIDA Cruises brand, which caters exclusively to the German-speaking market. These two newbuilds mark six new ships that the German cruise operator has ordered in just the past three years.

The 2,174-passenger vessels, which will be built at Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard at an all-in cost of $380 million and $385 million apiece, are scheduled to enter service in April 2011 and May 2012, respectively.

Additionally, the company announced that it has contracted with Meyer Werft to increase the size of the fourth vessel in the series, set to debut in April 2010, to 71,000 tons with a passenger capacity of 2,174, making it a sister to the two ships ordered today.

All of these vessels will operate under AIDA Cruises’ informal Club Resort cruise concept which is marketed exclusively to German-speaking clientele and offers a product aimed at younger, more active guests who enjoy a host of on-board amenities and facilities.

These vessels will join the 68,500-ton AIDAbella, set to debut in April 2008, and an as-yet-unnamed sister ship in April 2009. The first vessel in the series, AIDAdiva, was introduced earlier this year.

AIDA Cruises revolutionized the German cruise market with the introduction of its first Club Ships in 1996. By 2012, a total of nine Club Ships will be in service, operating voyages to the Mediterranean, the Canaries, the North Sea, the Baltic, the Caribbean, the Arabian Gulf, Asia and Central America.