Norwegian Cruise Line, unprofitable so far this year, on Thursday unveiled a contract for new ships valued at $2.8 billion.
The contract calls for building two 4,200-passenger ships for $943 million each, with an option for a third ship priced at $896 million.
If the third ship is built, the contract would be the largest ever in the cruise business, surpassing a four-ship $2 billion order from Carnival Corp. last year.
Even though Norwegian has lost more than $60 million in the first half of 2006, NCL president Colin Veitch said he had no doubt the ships could be financed.