Topic: New ships??

I heard a report recently on local radio about Princess getting two new ships. I have had a look at all the usual news boards and the Princess site but can't see anything. Does anyone know anything about it?
Thanks.

QUOTE:

I heard a report recently on local radio about Princess getting two new ships. I have had a look at all the usual news boards and the Princess site but can't see anything. Does anyone know anything about it?
Thanks.

Carnival Corp. said Wednesday 17th Feb it agreed to acquire two ships for its Princess Cruises Brand.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri will build two 3,600-passenger cruise ships, scheduled to enter service in the spring of 2013 and the spring of 2014. The new ships will have an all-in cost of about C$222,000 per lower berth.

At 139,000 tonnes each, the ships will be the largest in the Princess Cruises fleet. The ships have not yet been named.

Thanks very much for that, at least I wasn't dreaming!! I presume being that much larger they will not be the same as the Ruby, Crown etc, or certainly hope they are not the same with yet another deck....

The new ships will be a slightly enlarged versions of the 'Ruby Princess' design, which in turn is based on the original 'Grand pricess' design.

QUOTE:

Thanks very much for that, at least I wasn't dreaming!! I presume being that much larger they will not be the same as the Ruby, Crown etc, or certainly hope they are not the same with yet another deck....

Given their tonnage/size inevitable there will be one/two more decks unless they shrink the cabins !!

QUOTE:

I presume being that much larger they will not be the same as the Ruby, Crown etc, or certainly hope they are not the same with yet another deck....

The word is that they they will be similar to 'Ruby'. Princess have been recycling the 'Grand Class' since 1998.

I like hearing about bigger new ships coming, for us.

Improved designs, safer fire-proof/resistant interiors, better Nav.,
better bridges for us officers, better passenger flow on board,
what's not to like? Their exterior design?
Not a problem :D



Alang awaits the old clunkers.
.

Posted on 2/17/10 - Fincantieri to Build Two Prototype Ships for Princess Cruises

Commenting on the agreement Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, said: ”This important agreement is a source of pride and optimism for us. Proof that we are increasingly world leader even in this time of crisis, having gained the only order for a cruise ship in 2009 - also from Carnival Group - and now this agreement for two prototype vessels for Carnival’s prestige brand Princess Cruises”. Mr. Bono went on to add: “Since these are prototypes we hope that in the years to come they will be followed by a substantial number of ships of the same “family”. I am confident that we will once again be supported by all the stakeholders in our “national system”. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation, and Pierluigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Carnival’s Costa Crociere, world leader in the European cruise market, an Italian company whose ships are built by Fincantieri and fly the Italian flag”. Mr. Bono concluded: “Last but not least I am convinced that Fincantieri, by consolidating its world leadership in the sector, will succeed in overcoming the crisis and be even stronger than before ”.
Since 1990 Fincantieri, world leader in the sector, has built 52 cruise ships, of which 48 for different brands in Carnival Group. Without taking into consideration today’s agreement, Fincantieri will build a further 11 vessels between today and 2012 (of which 7 for Carnival Group).
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, listed on the Stock Exchanges of London and New York, the only group in the world included in both the S&P 500 and FTSE 100 indices. The Group has a portfolio of prestige brands as Costa Crociere, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, Cunard, Carnival Cruise Lines whose ships are customarily built by Fincantieri. The Group operates a fleet of 95 vessels, due to rise to 106 when it takes delivery of a further 11 ships between March 2010 and May 2012.