New cruise for HAL

Holland America Line (HAL), part of Carnival Corporation, has signed an agreement with Italian shipyard Fincantieri for the construction of two new 84,000g cruise vessels which are expected to enter service in the autumn of 2002 and summer of 2003, respectively.

The agreement also includes options for up to three more sisterships to be delivered between 2003 and 2005. If all three options are exercised, the value of the order will rise to a staggering $2 billion.

The 1,800-passenger cruise vessels will be built at a cost of approximately $400 million each at Fincantieri`s Marghera shipyard.

The new class vessels for HAL will have a number of features new to its vessels, including the first use of exterior elevators, on both sides of the vessel which will transverse ten decks.

The newbuildings will also have larger cabins than has been the case hitherto on HAL vessels, house extensive multi-million-dollar art collections, and feature a suite of expanded entertainment venues, says HAL. They will also offer expanded spa facilities and the line`s first `cabaret-style` show lounge.

At 290m, the new ships will be among the longest passenger vessels in the world, but will be limited to a panamax beam in order to enable it to transit the Panama Canal.