MIAMI, Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's
largest travel and leisure company, today signed a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with China Merchants Group (CMG) to explore the
possibility of two joint ventures designed to accelerate the
development and growth of the overall cruise industry in
China.
The MOU outlines a potential strategic partnership between
Carnival Corporation and CMG that includes exploring two possible
joint ventures in support of China's ambitions to grow the cruising
industry in China and meet
escalating demand for cruises amongst Chinese travelers:
- Ship-Owning Joint Venture: Carnival
Corporation and CMG will explore a joint venture that would own and
operate its own cruise ships as part of the first-ever domestic
Chinese cruise line specifically targeted to the Chinese market.
The joint venture would explore the possibility of sourcing new
ships that are designed and built in China, along with the possibility of acquiring
existing cruise ships.
- Port & Destination Development Joint
Venture: In this potential joint venture, CMG and Carnival
Corporation would collaborate to develop turnaround and transit
ports within and around China
beginning with a flagship port currently being developed by CMG
called Prince Bay Cruise Terminal in Shekou, which is located in
Shenzhen. The partners would work
to have cruise ships sail from this flagship port, while also
developing other cruise ship destinations across China and Northern
Asia.
"The MOU we signed today signifies a great opportunity to take
the next step in the future of Chinese cruising, while addressing
some key needs for both the cruise industry and its passengers in
China," said Alan Buckelew, COO of Carnival Corporation.
"With CMG's amazing track record, reach and influence in the
market, we are working with a strategic partner that can help us
explore immediate ways to impact cruise growth in China, including the possibility of a new
Chinese cruise brand and new destinations."
Carnival Corporation and CMG formalized their strategic
partnership during an event held today at the Hilton Shenzhen
Shekou, including an MOU signing ceremony involving Yang Tian Ping, general manager of China
Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone, and Alan
Buckelew, chief operations officer of Carnival Corporation.
The ceremony was also attended by the vice president of China
Merchants Group, Sun Cheng Ming,
among other distinguished officials and guests.
CMG, China's oldest state
enterprise founded in 1872, focuses on transportation,
infrastructure, financial services and real estate development, and
has had a critical impact on the development of China's economy over the company's more than
140-year history. In support of China's goal to become a preeminent global
cruise market, CMG and Carnival Corporation are collaborating as
strategic partners to develop the infrastructure required to help
accelerate growth in the cruise industry, which is one of the key
emerging industries that could help fuel China's overall maritime economy.
While pursuing potential joint ventures to develop and grow the
overall cruise market in China,
Carnival Corporation remains committed to serving its Chinese
guests who are already sailing on the two Carnival brands that give
the company the cruise industry's leading presence in China – Costa Cruises and Princess
Cruises.
Carnival Corporation just recently announced its plans for
immediate capacity growth in China
in 2015 to meet growing demand. With Costa Cruises adding the Costa
Serena in China in April of this
year, Carnival Corporation will be the first global cruise company
with four ships homeported in China. Costa Serena joins Costa Atlantica,
Costa Victoria and Sapphire Princess already homeported in
China. Carnival Corporation is
growing its leading market presence by 140 percent from 2013 – 2015
and expects to carry 500,000 cruise passengers in China in 2015.
About Carnival Corporation
Carnival
Corporation & plc is the largest cruise company in
the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North
America, Europe, Australia and Asia, comprised
of Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess
Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard,
P&O Cruises (Australia)
and P&O Cruises (UK).
Together, these brands operate 100 ships totaling 212,000 lower
berths with 10 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2015 and
2018. 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&P 500 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,
and www.pocruises.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc