Carnival Corp is ending the year with the announcement of an agreement with Fincantieri to build four new ships for three of its brands. The deployment of those ships highlights where the industry is fastest-growing and where it will continue to put its resources. By the same token, those in traditional markets - ports, suppliers, customers, and travel agents - should note that things have changed, and it is no longer business as usual.
Two of the four ships will be for Costa, and Costa has already said they will go to their Asian division for deployment in China. One will go to P&O Australia for operation from Australian ports for the locally-sourced market, and one will go to Princess Cruises, but Princess has not specified where it will operate.
The complete story appeared in the December 30 edition of Cruise News Daily.
