Cruise line major Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has ordered two next-generation cruise ships for its Oceania Cruises brand.
The contract for the construction of the cruise vessels has been signed with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and has an overall value exceeding EUR 1 billion (USD 1.14 billion).
The two Allura-Class ships mark the next phase of the line’s OceaniaNEXT initiative and are scheduled for delivery in 2022 and 2025, respectively.
With about 67,000 tons and the capacity of accommodating approximately 1,200 passengers on board, these units will be the new flagships of Oceania Cruises future fleet.
“We are excited to expand the Oceania Cruises fleet with our new Allura-Class ships to meet the strong demand for culinary- and destination-focused cruise vacations around the globe,” Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said.
The company has obtained export credit financing to fund 80 percent of the contract price of each ship, subject to certain Italian government approvals.
Besides Oceania Cruises, the cruise group operates the Norwegian Cruise Line and the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has ten ships on order including seven ships for Norwegian Cruise Line, two for Oceania Cruises and one for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
As informed by Guiseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, the shipbuilder has a total of 55 vessels in its orderbook, with deliveries extending to 2027.