MIAMI, Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the
world's largest leisure travel company, recently launched the
Seabourn Encore, the first of three new ships that will enter
service in 2017 across three of its 10 global cruise brands.
Carnival Corporation will also launch Majestic Princess from
Princess Cruises in April, which will be the world's first cruise
ship built specifically for the Chinese market, and its
Germany-based AIDA Cruises brand
in July will launch AIDAperla, one of the world's most
environmentally friendly and technologically advanced ships.
Following the launch of Seabourn Encore, the upcoming 2017
additions of Majestic Princess and AIDAperla are part of the 17
ships scheduled for delivery for Carnival Corporation and its
brands through 2022, creating measured capacity growth over time
that enables the company's global fleet to meet accelerating demand
for cruise vacations in every region of the world.
"On the heels of launching three new ships in 2016, it is
exciting to have three more new ships join our fleet in 2017 as we
re-invest on multiple fronts to continue raising the bar in
providing our guests with a great vacation experience at an
exceptional value," said Roger
Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival
Corporation.
Added Frizzell: "Introducing new ships is part of our long-term
strategy to build state-of-the-art vessels that are highly
efficient to operate while creating excitement and demand among
consumers. Of course, as stunning and beautiful as our new and
existing ships are, what matters even more is the passionate focus
of our 120,000 employees on providing our guests with extraordinary
experiences to over 700 ports around the world that land-based
vacations simply cannot match. All in all, it is rewarding to see
more and more consumers recognizing that cruising is the world's
best vacation and vacation value."
The three new ships scheduled to join Carnival
Corporation's fleet include:
Seabourn: Seabourn Encore – Official launch date
of January 2017
Seabourn Encore, the fourth all-suite ship in Seabourn's fleet, was
launched Jan. 7 at a festive evening
ceremony pier side at Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore, a key Asian shipping hub and
popular homeport in southeast Asia
for Carnival Corporation cruise ships. The launch featured
international recording artist and world's best-selling soprano
Sarah Brightman presiding over the
naming ceremony as godmother of the new 600-guest ship.
The vessel was designed by hospitality design icon Adam D.
Tihany and features contemporary interiors and modern design
elements and innovations consistent with the line's reputation for
understated elegance. Tihany is also designing a second ship,
Seabourn Ovation, which is currently under construction
and scheduled to launch in spring 2018.
Seabourn Encore will expand and build on the line's
award-winning Odyssey-class ships, which revolutionized
ultra-luxury cruising with enhanced accommodations and innovative
amenities when they were introduced between 2009 and 2011. The
40,350-gross ton ship is configured with one additional deck,
expanded public areas and a private veranda for every suite.
Seabourn Encore will maintain the line's high ratio of space per
guest, enabling highly personalized service by its exceptional
crew.
The new vessel continues Seabourn's reputation as the world's
finest ultra-luxury cruise line. Seabourn has been named the
"World's Best Small-Ship Cruise Line" by readers of both Travel +
Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines. Cruise Critic named
Seabourn "Best for Luxury," and numerous other publications have
recognized the brand for its luxurious accommodations,
extraordinary level of service, exceptional dining and unrivaled
spa facilities.
Princess Cruises: Majestic Princess – Official launch
date of April 2017
Majestic
Princess will be the world's first cruise ship built specifically
for the Chinese market, where Carnival Corporation, led by Princess
Cruises and Italy-based Costa
Cruises, maintains industry leadership in a market expected to
eventually become the world's largest cruising region. The
143,000-ton vessel, with capacity for 3,560 guests based on double
occupancy, will showcase the exclusive Princess Class experience enhanced with features
designed specifically for Chinese travelers.
Majestic Princess will also offer the international flavor of
cruising with Princess Cruises, drawn from the brand's
award-winning expertise as the world's leader in premium
destination cruising.
Majestic Princess will be the only cruise ship that offers two
specialty dinner menus designed by Michelin star chefs at sea
in China.
One offering is Harmony, created in partnership with
Richard Chen, former chef of Wing
Lei – the first Chinese restaurant in North America awarded a Michelin star. Harmony
will feature haute Chinese cuisine paired with pristine ocean views
and modern décor, serving Chen's interpretation of classic
Cantonese dishes. The second Michelin star dining experience
will be "La Mer – A French Bistro" from three-Michelin star
chef Emmanuel Renaut.
The ship will also offer Princess' signature Movies Under the
Stars, with the largest outdoor screen at sea, and the exciting
Princess Water Color Fantasy fountain and light show.
Guests will also experience the signature SeaWalk, the
industry's first glass-floor walkway at sea, and SeaView Bar
featuring "flair" bartending with the best views at sea.
The Piazza Atrium, the central focal point of the ship, features
live entertainment throughout the day and evening. It is a
grand spectacle surrounded by The Shops of Princess, nearly 1,100
square meters of luxury boutiques, which include designer brand
shops from Cartier, Bvlgari and Chopard and leather goods from
Burberry and Gucci, to name a few.
Accommodations will be configured to appeal to families and
multigenerational travelers, and all outside staterooms will have
private balconies.
AIDA Cruises: AIDAperla – Official launch date of
July 2017
AIDAperla is the
12th and second of a new-generation vessel in the fleet
for AIDA Cruises, the most recognized cruise brand in Germany and one of the country's
fastest-growing and most successful tourism businesses that has
pioneered the "green cruising" concept. At 124,500 tons with 1,643
cabins, AIDAperla will be among the world's most technologically
advanced and environmentally friendly cruise ships.
AIDAperla will – like its sister ship AIDAprima -- feature the
revolutionary hull design that significantly enhances energy
efficiency. It will also use the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System
(MALS), which was a first in the cruise industry on AIDAprima. This
modern technology enables the ships to glide on a cushion of air,
further reducing fuel consumption.
The ship will also feature AIDA's Spray Bar, an exclusive,
all-white champagne lounge, which is spread across two decks and
operated via partnership with Moët & Chandon.
More New Ships to Join Fleet in 2018
In 2018, Carnival
Corporation plans to launch three new ships from Carnival Cruise
Line, Holland America Line and Seabourn. The Carnival Horizon,
sister ship of the Carnival Vista, from Carnival Cruise Line is
scheduled for delivery in March 2018;
the Seabourn Ovation from Seabourn is scheduled for delivery in
spring 2018; and ms Nieuw Statendam, sister ship of ms Koningsdam,
from Holland America Line is scheduled for delivery in November 2018.
About Carnival Corporation
& plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is
the largest leisure travel company in the world, with a portfolio
of 10 cruise brands in North
America, Europe, Australia and Asia comprised
of Carnival Cruise Line, Fathom, Holland America
Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA
Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O
Cruises (Australia)
and P&O Cruises (UK).
Together, these brands operate 102 ships visiting over 700 ports
around the world and totaling 226,000 lower berths with 17 new
ships scheduled to be delivered between 2017 and 2022.
Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland
America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour companies
in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both
the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival
Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be
included in both the S&P500 and the FTSE 100 indices.
Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com,
www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com,
www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, www.cunard.com,
www.pocruises.com.au, www.pocruises.com and www.fathom.org.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc