Carnival Cruise Line announces name of new LNG-fuelled vessel

The vessel will be delivered in 2020, and will be the largest Carnival Cruise Line ship ever constructed. It will also be the first such vessel in North America to be fuelled by LNG.

Mardi Gras is currently being built at Meyer Turku in Finland, and will weigh 180 000 t. The 5200-plus lower berth ship will reportedly offer a number of innovations and attractions.

It is named after the first Carnival Cruise Line ship that commenced service in 1972. The original vessel weighed 27 000 t, and was a converted trans-Atlantic ocean liner purchased by entrepreneur and Carnival founder Ted Arison.

Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, said: “Our first ship Mardi Gras was a historic vessel, introducing a brand new style of cruising to the vacationing public. What better way to pay tribute to our company’s nearly 50-year history of creating wonderful vacation memories than by naming this groundbreaking vessel after our original and beloved 'Fun Ship’.

“The new Mardi Gras will follow the trailblazing lead of her predecessor, introducing features and technological innovations that have never been seen before on a cruise ship while setting a new standard for seagoing vacations.”

According to the statement, the new vessel will be based in Port Canaveral, Florida, which will feature a new state-of-the-art terminal. Construction on a second XL ship will begin in 2020, with delivery scheduled for 2022 to mark the 50^th anniversary of Carnival Cruise Line’s founding.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/06122018/carnival-cruise-line-announces-name-of-new-lng-fuelled-vessel/