Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri and Virgin Voyages, a part of Virgin Group of companies, have finalized ship construction contracts valued at around EUR 2 billion (USD 2.07 billion).
Under the agreement, the first three cruise ships ordered by the cruise line will be built at the shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Genoa, with delivery scheduled for 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Each ship will weigh about 110,000 gross tons, be 278 meters long and 38 wide.
Featuring over 1,400 guest cabins, the ships will be capable of hosting more than 2,800 passengers, accompanied by 1,100 crew members on board.
“These ships will stand out for original design and craftsmanship. They will include some highly innovative ideas and design solutions, notably for energy recovery, reducing the overall environmental impact. For example, they will be equipped with an energy production system of approximately 1 MW, which uses the diesel engine’s waste heat,” Fincantieri said.
The order was first announced in June 2015 when Virgin Cruises signed a binding letter of intent with Fincantieri for the three mid-size ships.
At the time, the company said that PortMiami would be the home port for its first cruise ship that will set sail in 2020.
The cruise line earlier said that it plans to offer a range of seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with a Sunday sail date.