MIAMI, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival
Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's
largest leisure travel company, today announced it will launch four
new cruise ships in 2020 across four of its global cruise line
brands – Iona for P&O Cruises UK, Britain's favorite cruise line; Enchanted
Princess for Princess Cruises, the fastest growing international
premium cruise line; Mardi Gras for
Carnival Cruise Line, America's cruise line; and Costa Firenze for
Italian brand Costa Cruises.
Iona marks the first new ship for P&O Cruises since the
introduction of Britannia in 2015. Enchanted Princess is designed
from the ground up as a Princess MedallionClass ship. Costa
Firenze is Costa Cruises' second
ship designed and built specifically for the China market. Mardi
Gras is named as a tribute to TSS Mardi Gras, Carnival
Cruise Line's first-ever ship, which marked a historic turning
point in accelerating growth in the popularity of modern-day
cruising.
P&O Cruises' Iona and Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras will be the third and fourth
(respectively) of Carnival Corporation's 11 total next-generation
cruise ships joining the fleet through 2025 that can be powered by
liquefied natural gas (LNG), the industry's most advanced fuel
technology, eliminating sulfur and significantly improving overall
air emissions.
Part of Carnival Corporation's strategy of measured capacity
growth, each new ship provides an opportunity to introduce new
guest innovations, energy efficiencies and sustainability
approaches to cruising, while creating excitement, meeting growing
demand and generating consideration of cruising as an extraordinary
vacation at an exceptional value. The introduction of the four new
ships in 2020 is part of Carnival Corporation's ongoing fleet
enhancement strategy, with 16 new ships scheduled to be delivered
through 2025, designed to continue improving the overall guest
experience while accelerating demand for cruising, the fastest
growing segment in the vacation industry.
These new ships build on the momentum of Carnival Corporation's
four new vessels launched with rave reviews in 2019 – Carnival
Cruise Line's Carnival Panorama, Costa Cruises' Costa Smeralda and
Costa Venezia, and Sky Princess from Princess Cruises.
"Each new ship is an opportunity to generate excitement and buzz
among consumers around the world, whether loyal guests or new to
cruising, that will continue to inspire more travelers to consider
cruising as a vacation option," said Roger
Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival
Corporation. "We look forward to the delivery of four more
spectacular ships, which will offer our guests the latest in
onboard features and amenities – and help us continue our
reputation for providing great cruise vacations that are
significantly less than comparable land-based vacations."
Below is a brief look at Carnival Corporation's four new ships
for 2020:
Iona from P&O Cruises (UK) – May
2020
When Iona joins the P&O Cruises (UK) fleet
in May, it will launch as the popular British line's first
LNG-powered ship. Among the distinguishing characteristics of Iona
will be the Grand Atrium, a new development for the cruise line
with uninterrupted panoramic views of the sea, framed by
glazed walls stretching three decks high. Located at the heart
of Iona, the glazed Grand Atrium is a lively focal point that
encapsulates the spirit of the ship, with each level offering
natural light and breath-taking views.
Iona's distinct "crown" will be the SkyDome, a new entertainment
venue on the top two levels of the ship and capped by a glass-domed
roof designed by award-winning British engineers Eckersley
O'Callaghan, the team behind glass masterpieces such as
London's Embassy Gardens Sky Pool
and Bulgari's flagship New York
boutique. SkyDome's unique event space offers an ideal place for
relaxation and informal dining during the day, transitioning into
vibrant evening activities, including spectacular aerial
performances, immersive shows and deck parties.
With a choice of 30 different bar and restaurant venues, Iona's
guests will enjoy the widest ever selection of places to eat and
drink on a ship built exclusively for the British cruise holiday
market. Innovative and flexible dining options include a "foodie"
market offering cuisine from around the world, a new gastropub
concept and a laid-back cocktail lounge.
As part of the new approach to dining, Iona will for the first
time offer Freedom Dining in all of its main restaurants, giving
guests more flexibility for dining. As with other ships in the
P&O Cruises fleet, Iona will have The Retreat, a private,
open-air deck area where cold flannels, chilled drinks, snacks and
al fresco spa treatments are offered in the privacy of shaded
cabanas. Iona's Retreat will also have two infinity
whirlpools.
Another new offering is the spa's variety of destination-themed
treatments with locally inspired therapies incorporated into the
experience. Cruise guests might choose from rejuvenating options
such as the Nordic Cleanse or the Baltic & Ice Massage,
inspired by the Nordic heritage of hot and cold therapies.
Upon launch in May 2020, Iona will
sail from Southampton, United
Kingdom, exclusively to the Norwegian Fjords during the
inaugural season with departures throughout spring and summer 2020,
followed by winter sun holidays to the Canaries, Spain and Portugal.
Enchanted Princess from Princess Cruises – June 2020
Debuting in Rome (Civitavecchia) in June 2020, the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess
shares all of the spectacular style and luxury of its sister ships
– Regal Princess, Royal Princess, Majestic Princess and the
recently launched Sky Princess. Guests will discover exquisite,
one-of-a-kind dining experiences, more pools and whirlpool hot tubs
and world-class entertainment venues hosting dazzling performances.
The ship also will feature breathtaking Sky Suites, with expansive
views from the largest balconies at sea, which originally debuted
on Sky Princess in October
2019.
Measuring 1,012 square feet (starboard side Sky Suite) and 947 square feet (port side
Sky Suite), the furnished balconies
will provide a private vantage of the ship's Movie Under the Stars
screen and create the ultimate space for entertaining. The two
suites will also offer 270-degree panorama views and have sleeping
capacity for five guests, and more room for gathering – making them
ideal for families. Before Sky Suite
guests board their cruise ship, they can take advantage of a
pre-cruise, shoreside concierge. Once onboard, guests will also
enjoy Sanctuary services on their balcony, a private suite
experience manager, complimentary access to the Lotus Spa's
Enclave, enhanced ultimate balcony dining and even a deluxe
telescope for Discovery Stargazing at Sea.
Enchanted Princess will offer new entertainment experiences
recently introduced on Sky Princess, including Phantom Bridge, a
world's first game combining digital and physical elements for the
ultimate immersive escape room; Take Five, the only jazz theater at
sea, celebrating the iconic sounds, culture and history of jazz;
and new one-of-a-kind production shows like Rock Opera created
exclusively for Princess Cruises.
In addition, Enchanted Princess marks the second ship
purpose-built MedallionClass newbuild. Featuring the complimentary
OceanMedallion™ wearable device, MedallionClass vacations deliver
an entirely new level of service and create a vacation that is more
seamless, effortless and personalized. Considered a breakthrough in
the vacation industry and a CES® 2019
Innovation Award Honoree, the
complimentary OceanMedallion features leading-edge
technology that delivers personalized service through enhanced
guest-crew interactions, while eliminating friction points and
enabling interactive entertainment.
Debuting in the Mediterranean in June
2020, Enchanted Princess will be named in Southampton, United Kingdom, and depart on its
10-day maiden voyage July 1 to
Rome, where it will begin a series
of Mediterranean cruises for the summer and fall before
repositioning to Fort Lauderdale
in November 2020 for sailings to the
Caribbean for the winter
season.
Mardi Gras from Carnival
Cruise Line – November
2020
In a nod to Carnival Cruise Line's rich history
as America's Cruise Line, the brand's newest ship Mardi Gras was named in honor of the first
Carnival Cruise Line ship that entered service in 1972 and played a
leading role in generating widespread popularity for cruise
vacations in the U.S. Mardi Gras
will be the first cruise ship in North
America to be powered by LNG, the marine industry's most
advanced fuel technology.
Carnival Cruise Line's most innovative ship, Mardi Gras will feature groundbreaking
experiences like the first roller coaster at sea, BOLT: Ultimate
Sea Coaster. The thrill ride offers 360-degree views while guests
race 187 feet above the sea with drops, dips and hairpin turns
reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Guests can choose
their own speed on the all-electric roller coaster so no two rides
will ever be the same.
BOLT will take center stage in the Ultimate Playground, spanning
Decks 18-20 and home to the largest WaterWorks aqua park in the
Carnival Cruise Line fleet, featuring three unique heart-racing
slides designed for all-ages, an exciting zone designed
specifically for kids with a 150-gallon PowerDrencher tipping
bucket and numerous water toys.
Mardi Gras will introduce
Emeril's Bistro 1396, the first seagoing restaurant by famed
New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse
that will be housed in the ship's French Quarter, one of six themed
zones on board offering a variety of food, beverage and
entertainment choices.
Entertainment will be at the heart of Mardi
Gras' onboard experience with never-before-seen offerings
including a first-in-fleet partnership with Family Feud, new
high-tech Playlist Productions shows, a dedicated Punchliner Comedy
Club, and new live music and entertainment options.
Mardi Gras is set to debut in
November 2020, operating year-round
seven-day Caribbean cruises from
Port Canaveral.
Costa Firenze from Costa
Cruises – October 2020
Costa Firenze is the second ship for Costa Cruises
built specifically for the China
market, where the Italian company was the first international
cruise line to start operating in 2006.
Inspired by the city of Florence and representing centuries of Italian
culture and history, Costa Firenze will offer guests the chance to
fully immerse themselves in Italian beauty and aesthetics, which
will take shape in various aspects of life on board from interior
design to dining and entertainment to hospitality.
Like its sister ship Costa Venezia, Costa Firenze will offer a
series of innovations designed specifically for the Chinese market,
including a wide choice of Chinese food, Chinese-style karaoke and
parties such as the "Golden Party" with surprises and gifts awarded
every 10 minutes.
Following its delivery scheduled for September 30, Costa Firenze will head to
China, offering cruising for
Chinese customers beginning October 20,
2020.
About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival
Corporation & plc is the world's largest leisure travel
company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the
cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of nine of the
world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North
America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise
Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn,
P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises,
P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 105 ships with
254,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with
16 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival
Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess
Alaska Tours, the leading tour company 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.
With a long history of innovation and providing guests with
extraordinary vacation experiences, Carnival Corporation has
received thousands of industry awards – including recognition by
the Consumer Technology Association™ as a CES® 2019 Innovation
Awards Honoree for OceanMedallion™. A revolutionary wearable device
that contains a proprietary blend of communication technologies,
OceanMedallion enables the world's first interactive guest
experience platform transforming vacation travel on a large scale
into a highly personalized level of customized service. The
prestigious CES Innovation Awards honor outstanding design and
engineering in consumer technology products.
Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com,
www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com,
www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de,
www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.
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SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc