AIDA Cruises continues in expansive mood with another order for two new, larger cruise ships plus the increasing of capacity of a previously ordered ship.
The new ships bring Carnival Corporation’s investment in new ships for its German cruise brand to more than EUR 2 billion. AIDA took delivery of the first of the ships in April this year. Three more are due to come on stream in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
AIDA now says the capacity of the ship due for delivery in 2010 will be increased, from 69,200gt and 2,050 passengers to 71,000gt and 2,174 passengers. This will make the ship a sister to the two new ships ordered today.
The two latest ships due to be built by Germany’s Meyer Werft for AIDA are due for delivery in 2011 and 2012. While the first ship will be built at an all-in cost of EUR 380 million, the price tag will increase slightly for the second of the ships to EUR 385 million.
Both ships will be operated under AIDA’s club resort concept and be marketed to a German-speaking clientelle.
"With the interest in cruise vacations among Europeans continuing to grow significantly, we are committed to investing in our European brands. The addition of these 71,000-ton 'club resort' newbuilds and the increase in capacity for the fourth in the series will help to ensure that we have adequate capacity to meet growing demand, while further reinforcing AIDA's position as the leader in the German cruise industry," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corp.’s chairman and CEO.
AIDA’s order for new tonnage comes only days after the German tour operator TUI and Royal Caribbean announced plans for a new joint cruise venture: TUI Cruises. Carnival had originally hoped to team up with TUI for the launch of the new cruise brand, but an “extremely difficult regulatory environment in Germany” eventually meant that the deal fell through.
TUI Cruises foresees the creation of a “premium” cruise product, positioned above that of AIDA.
Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia
The new ships bring Carnival Corporation’s investment in new ships for its German cruise brand to more than EUR 2 billion. AIDA took delivery of the first of the ships in April this year. Three more are due to come on stream in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
AIDA now says the capacity of the ship due for delivery in 2010 will be increased, from 69,200gt and 2,050 passengers to 71,000gt and 2,174 passengers. This will make the ship a sister to the two new ships ordered today.
The two latest ships due to be built by Germany’s Meyer Werft for AIDA are due for delivery in 2011 and 2012. While the first ship will be built at an all-in cost of EUR 380 million, the price tag will increase slightly for the second of the ships to EUR 385 million.
Both ships will be operated under AIDA’s club resort concept and be marketed to a German-speaking clientelle.
"With the interest in cruise vacations among Europeans continuing to grow significantly, we are committed to investing in our European brands. The addition of these 71,000-ton 'club resort' newbuilds and the increase in capacity for the fourth in the series will help to ensure that we have adequate capacity to meet growing demand, while further reinforcing AIDA's position as the leader in the German cruise industry," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corp.’s chairman and CEO.
AIDA’s order for new tonnage comes only days after the German tour operator TUI and Royal Caribbean announced plans for a new joint cruise venture: TUI Cruises. Carnival had originally hoped to team up with TUI for the launch of the new cruise brand, but an “extremely difficult regulatory environment in Germany” eventually meant that the deal fell through.
TUI Cruises foresees the creation of a “premium” cruise product, positioned above that of AIDA.
Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia
1 comment:
eh... que fotografia tão gira!
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