Arcadia Arrival
Frank charts future of Cunard and two Fincantieri newbuildings
Cunard Line is the only global brand in the Carnival Corp & Plc portfolio, the Anglo-American cruise shipping giant that encompass 12 brands in all, and the group may develop it further from this perspective, says Howard S. Frank, Vice Chairman of Carnival. He also comments on the future of two ships the company has on order, which are yet to be allocated to a brand.
Cunard sells well, not only in North America, Britain and Continental Europe, but also in the Far East and Australia, Frank explained to CBR during the Seatrade Cruise Convention in Miami in March. Against this background, it is possible that Cunard will order sister vessels to the 90,000 gross ton gt/ms Queen Victoria, currently under construction at Fincantieri in Italy, which would serve the American, British and Far Eastern markets. “I cannot see Cunard adding a ship every year, but perhaps every three years,” Frank said.
Last year, Cunard took delivery of the 151,400 gross ton rms Queen Mary 2 from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the first newbuilding of the old established company since 1976-77, when it commissioned the 17,600 gross ton sisters ms Cunard Countess and ms Cunard Princess. A sister ship for the first transatlantic liner in 40 years is not on the cards, as Frank notes that QM2 cost in the region of $100 million more to build than a conventional cruise liner of the same size.
On 23 September last year, Carnival Corp & Plc placed an order with Fincantieri for two Carnival Conquest class vessels of 110,000 gross tons, and a further order for two 116,000 gross ton Caribbean Princess class ships. At that time, one vessel in each class was not allocated to any particular brand, while Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises would receive the others. “It is 75% certain that P&O Cruises will get the second Princess ship,” Frank said, adding that the current exchange rate between the Euro and Sterling favoured that decision. This is also true with the second Conquest class vessel, as this is likely to end up at Costa Crociere, the Italian arm of the group
Carnival has a year from the date that the contract was signed to decide which of the brands it will allocate the two ships to. The decision has importance, for example, in terms of interior design, as this needs to match the requirements of the customers of the brands that will get the ships. Meanwhile David Dingle, Managing Director of Carnival UK, said in an interview that he would like Fincantieri to build more ships for P&O Cruises, the leading cruise brand in the UK, which is also part of Carnival Corp & PLC group. It took delivery of the 83,000 gross ton gt/ms Arcadia from Fincantieri on 20 March. The ship is modified from the Vista class design of Holland America Line that comprises four ships, the final of which, is still under construction.
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The Palladium |
Oasis Spa |
Atrium |
Cruise Business Review – our printed version – will extensively compare the gt/ms Westerdam with the Arcadia in its upcoming 2/2005 issue in summer
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