Ally

Carnival Corperation has placed orders for new ships for Italian line Costa and German-based AIDA Cruises.

One 2,260-passenger vessel and an option for a sister ship at a cost of euros 420 million each have been earmarked for Costa. The 92,700-ton ships are due to enter service in 2009 and 2010.

The AIDA ship with a capacity for 2,050 passengers is also due for delivery in 2010 at a cost of euros 330 million. It will the fourth ship ordered for the line in the past 19 months, with deliveries due each year from 2007.

The annoucement continues the US cruise group's aggressive expansion in Europe. acccording to chairman and CEO Micky Arison.

He said: "We have spent a great deal of time and money expanding and diversifying the European cruise market which possesses incredible potential for growth.

"Costa is already the clear leader in the southern Euroepan market and AIDA holds the same distinction in Germany.

"These new state-of-the-art ships will further bolster their positions in their respective markjets and ensure that we have adequate capacity available to meet growing demand for European cruises."

The two lines now have nine ships on order between them representing 21,720 berths - more than any other European cruise line, Carnival claims.

Report by Phil Davies


(TravelMole)