The massive cruise company Carnival Corp. & plc has signed a multibillion-dollar contract with Meyer Werft for four mega cruise ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Carnival says the next-generation ships – part of a previously announced nine-ship strategic partnership with Meyer Werft and Fincantieri S.p.A. – will be the largest ever built based on guest capacity, with the ability to accommodate up to 6,600 guests.
The company also claims the four new ships will be the first in the cruise industry to use LNG in dual-powered hybrid engines to power the ship both in port and on the open sea. LNG will be stored onboard and used to generate 100% power at sea.
Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald says the contract is consistent with the company's strategy to replace ships with newer, larger and more fuel-efficient vessels over time.
Meyer Werft will build two of the ships in Germany for the AIDA Cruises brand and the other two vessels in Finland; however, Carnival has yet to specify which of its brands will operate those latter ships.
