Following an earlier announcement in March 2015, on 30th December in Trieste, Fincantieri signed a memorandum of agreement with Carnival Corporation & plc for the construction of four new cruise ships of an overall value of about €2.5 billion. The final contracts, subject to several conditions, including satisfactory shipowner financing, are expected to be executed later in 2016.

Two ships will be built for the Costa Asia brand, one for P&O Cruises Australia and one for Princess Cruises. The four units will all be built at the shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera, with deliveries scheduled in 2019 and 2020. Once delivered to their respective fleets, the ships will serve growing cruise markets, including China and Australia. Each ship will be designed and developed specifically for the brand and for its targeted clientele. The 135,500gt Costa Asia and P&O Cruise’s ships will carry 4,200 passengers. Princess Cruises’ new 143,700gt ship will carry 3,560 passengers and will be its fourth royal Princess class vessel, following on from the royal Princess, regal Princess and the Majestic Princess, currently under construction at Fincantieri and scheduled for delivery in 2017.

P&O Cruises Australia appointed Sture Myrmell as president from 1st January in response to the operation’s rapid growth.