Carnival, which already has cruise lines operating in North America, Europe, Australia and points between is starting a new line, aimed at outbound cruisers from China, an area where the industry has been growing.
The company is going in big time, and with a big-time partner, the state-owned China Sate Shipbuilding Corporation; the cruise line will use the name CSSC Carnival. The deal includes two new ships to be built for the line by CSSC, with options for four more. Italy’s Fincantieri, a major cruise-ship builder, will partner with CSSC on the construction.
In the meantime, to get the joint venture going, Carnival is sending two of its Mediterranean-based Costa Cruises ships to China. The Costa Atlantica will arrive in China in late 2019, to be followed by Costa Mediterranea, both in the 2100-passenger class. The first of the new ships will enter service in 2023.
