The US group Carnival Corporation & plc and Fincantieri have reached an agreement to build a 3,690-passenger, 130,000-ton cruise ship for the brand Carnival Cruise Lines. The ship, which has been developed from the “Carnival Dream”, delivered last September, will be built at Monfalcone shipyard and is scheduled to enter service in spring 2012.

The order confirms the success of the “Carnival Dream”, whose sister ship, the “Carnival Magic” is currently under construction at Monfalcone. The new vessel, which is the third in the series, will have the same innovative outdoor lay-out including a promenade running the whole of the ship’s external perimeter. There will be a wide range of on-board amenities, including a four-slide water park on the last deck. The ship will also have many deluxe ocean view staterooms with two-bathrooms, some of which with five berths in response to family requirements.

Commenting on the new order, the President and CEO of Carnival Cruise Line, Gerry Cahill, said: “Barely in service for two months, Carnival Dream is already earning rave reviews from guests and travel agents and ordering a third Dream-class ship speaks volumes about the confidence we have in the continued success of this series. The Dream class of ships embodies the evolution of our brand by providing the type of fun, affordable vacations that today’s consumers are seeking.”

Fincantieri’s Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono, commented: “This is a first, important signal from a market which is still going through a difficult phase. The sector is holding, even if it is hard to understand when it will recover completely. We are however reassured by the fact that once again Carnival Group, has trusted in our ability to build beautiful, technologically sophisticated ships.”

World leader in the sector, Fincantieri has built 50 cruise ships since 1990, 47 of which for different brands in Carnival Group and a further 13 vessels are due to be built within 2012 at the company’s shipyards. Carnival Corporation & plc – which includes brands such as Costa Crociere, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, Cunard, Carnival Cruise Lines, whose ships are customarily built by Fincantieri – with an operating fleet of 93 ships, which will rise to 106 within 2012, is the largest cruise vacation group in the world.