New Costa ship ordered

Cruise Travel, March-April, 2005

Carnival Corporation & plc just announced an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of a new 112,000-gross-register-ton vessel for its Costa Cruises unit. To be built at a cost of of approximately 475 million [euro], delivery is scheduled for spring 2007.

The as-yet-unnamed ship will feature a double-occupancy guest capacity of 3,000. She will be a sister ship to the Costa Concordia, which begins a new class for Costa when she debuts in late spring 2006. This new Concordia Class will offer innovative facilities and features, including a wide range of formal and casual dining venues, four swimming pools--two of which will include retractable domes--and state-of-the-art telecommunications capabilities. Of the ships" 1,500 staterooms, more than 60 percent will offer either an oceanview or balcony.

Carnival Corp. also announced plans to transfer the Costa vessel Costa Tropicale to its P&O Cruises Australia unit in October. She will be renamed Pacific Star and will join the Pacific Sun and Pacific Sky in serving the expanding Australian and New Zealand market.

For more information contact your travel agent or Carnival Corporation & plc (Cruise Travel Magazine), 3665 NW 87th Ave., Miami, FL 33178; or log on to www.carnival corp.com, www.costacruises.com, or www. pocruises.com.au.