Carnival Corporation launches a cruise joint venture in China

Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s leading tourism company, announced yesterday the launch in the coming days of its joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), under the name CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited. This new cruise line based in China plans to operate its own fleet for Chinese passengers by the end of 2019.

In addition to this information, CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited has signed a contract to purchase two existing vessels belonging to the Costa Group, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation and the number one cruise company in Europe and Asia. The first of these vessels, the Costa Atlantica, an 85,861-ton vessel with a capacity of 2,210 passengers, is expected to be transferred to the new Chinese company by the end of 2019. The Costa Mediterranea, a sister ship with a capacity of 2,114 passengers, will be transferred on a date to be announced later.

In addition, CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited announced the conclusion of a contract to seal the previously announced agreement to order two cruise ships built in China for the Chinese market.

These two new vessels will be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS), a leading Chinese shipyard based in Shanghai, and a first delivery is planned for 2023.

This contract also allows CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited to place an order for the construction of four additional cruise ships in China to meet the growing demand of Chinese consumers.

CSSC, the leading shipbuilder in China, and Fincantieri S.p.A., the world’s leading shipbuilder, have created a separate joint venture allowing the Italian group to license the platforms it has developed and provide SWS with technical assistance and project management support throughout the shipbuilding process.

These two new vessels will have a design specific to the new joint venture and adapted to the specific tastes of Chinese travellers. Carnival Corporation, the world’s leading cruise line with a fleet of more than 100 vessels and 22 vessels on order by 2025, will use its in-depth knowledge of the sector to provide on-site assistance and supervision services during the construction of the vessels.