Carnival Corporation has announced that their joint venture in China has signed an agreement to order the first-ever cruise ships built in China for the Chinese market.  Today’s agreement updates the terms of an agreement announced in September, further expanding the partnership with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), China’s flagship shipbuilding company.

The agreement was formalized during an official signing ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People of Beijing today.  Carnival Corporation has agreed to order two new ships to be built by a China-based shipbuilding joint venture between CSSC and Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.  There is also an option in place to order four more China-built ships.

“We are proud to order the first China-built cruise ships and play a meaningful role in developing cruise shipbuilding capabilities for the first time in China,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “This represents another important milestone in building a sustainable and prosperous cruise industry, and demonstrates our commitment to contributing to China become a leading cruise market as part of its five-year economic development plan.”

Carnival’s partnership with CSSC was announced in 2015, and the joint venture plans to launch a cruise brand in China using ships that are purchased from Carnival Corporation’s existing fleet.  Based on today’s agreement, the venture will then add new purpose-built cruise ships beginning in 2023.