There are 15 cruise ships on Fincantieri’s orderbook with deliveries through 2011. The contracts are valued at $7.8 billion, which gives the Italian builder nearly 40 percent of the worldwide cruise market. 

After the Carnival Freedom was delivered in February, three more ships are slated for deliveries in 2007 – the Emerald Princess at the end of March, the Costa Serena in May and the Queen Victoria at the end of the year.

Among Fincantieri’s eight yards, three are focused on building cruise ships – Monfalcone, Marghera and Genoa Sestri, with other yards, such as Ancona, supporting when needed.

Fincantieri is also concentrating on lifecycle services through its Palermo shipyard and through its ownership interest in Germany’s Lloyd Werft.

The Italian company has also been in discussions to acquire an interest in the Grand Bahama Shipyard, which, if successful, will put Fincantieri in the Caribbean as well.

On the present orderbook are cruise ships ranging from 86,000 tons and 2,044 passengers to 130,000 tons and 3,650 passengers.

Excerpt from the Cruise Industry News Quarterly Magazine: Spring 2007