Originally rumored by Cruise Industry News earlier this year (click here), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) today announced the company has reached an agreement, and signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA), with Carnival Corporation & plc calling for the construction of two new 125,000-ton cruise ships for its AIDA Cruises brand. The ships will be the largest ever constructed for this cruise line.

Delivery for these two 3,250-passenger ships is scheduled in March 2015 and March 2016. The MoA is subject to execution of definitive agreements, financing and other customary closing conditions.

These two AIDA ships mark a return by Carnival Corporation & plc to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries which built two ships for Princess Cruises, both of which were delivered in 2004.

View an updated cruise ship orderbook through 2016 by clicking here.