ROME (AP) — Italy's state-owned shipbuilder, Fincantieri, has signed a $1.43 billion deal to build two cruiseships for Costa Crociere SpA, the Italian subsidiary of Carnival Corp., the companies said Thursday.
Under the 1 billion euros deal, the 114,200-ton ships, complete with a spa and two swimming pools, will be built at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera, near Venice, and are scheduled to be delivered in 2011 and 2012, the companies said in a statement.
Each ship will cost 510 million euros ($729.25 million) and will accommodate up to 3,780 passengers.
The deal brings to 18 the number of ships on order at Fincantieri's shipyards, corresponding to a market share of 45 percent. The Italian shipbuilder has built 41 cruiseships since 1990.
Last week, Fincantieri announced a 500 million euros deal to build a new 2,092 passenger liner to be named Queen Elizabeth for Cunard Line, another unit of Miami-based Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator.
