Micky Arison, Chairman and CEO of Carnival Corp & plc, said that in keeping with the company’s previously stated strategy of introducing two to three new ships per year, the company has seven new ships scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2016, some of which will replace existing capacity reductions from possible sales of older ships.
Arison also noted that the company expects to direct capacity growth toward the continued development of emerging cruise markets. The company has almost tripled its guest sourcing from emerging cruise markets in the past five years. For 2013, the company will capitalize on the increasing popularity of cruising in Asia with the deployment of a second Costa ship in China and the launch of a new Princess Cruises program for the Japanese market, he said in a statement.
Arison stated, “Looking forward, we remain committed to a measured pace of newbuilds and achieving a strategic balance of supply and demand in established markets.” Arison added, “Our lower capital commitments should result in significant excess free cash flow in the coming years which we intend to return to shareholders.”
