Carnival Corporation & plc Asian Cruise Ini...
Carnival Corporation & plc Launches Asian Cruise Initiative
Costa Cruises' Costa Allegra to Operate Five-Day Cruises from Shanghai
Beginning in July 2006; First Large International Cruise Company Licensed by
Chinese Government to Embark Its Citizens From Chinese Ports
MIAMI, March 6 -- Costa Cruises, an Italian-based subsidiary of Carnival
Corporation & plc, (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), today announced that it will
enter the Asian market in July 2006 with the Costa Allegra operating round-trip
voyages from Shanghai.
The 1,000-passenger (total capacity), 28,500-ton vessel will be marketed
exclusively to Chinese clientele, initially operating a series of 24 five-day
cruises from Shanghai to Nagasaki, Japan, and Cheju, Korea, beginning July 3,
2006.
"We have been exploring a strategy for entering the Asian marketplace for
some time and have indicated that our entrance into this hugely populated
market would be through one of our existing brands. These cruises represent a
first step in this initiative and will serve as a platform for future
expansion into other areas of Asia. Although all of our brands are virtually
unknown in China, we chose Costa because it is already very international in
nature, serving guests of many different nationalities, languages and
cultures," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc chairman and CEO. He
noted that most of Carnival's other brands cater to specific nationalities.
Costa Cruises Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi's extensive experience
working in Asia was another factor in selecting Costa, according to Arison.
Prior to being recruited by Carnival Corporation in 1997, Foschi spent seven
years in Hong Kong and Singapore overseeing the Pacific Asia operations for
the Otis Elevator Company.
During this time, he managed an organization consisting of 22 separate
operations, employing nearly 18,000 people, with sales of approximately $1.8
billion. "Pier is a highly talented international executive and his years in
Asia, combined with his vast experience overseeing Europe's leading cruise
company, bring a unique insight and perspective into our new Asian cruise
initiative," Arison said.
Arison noted that China is one of the world's fastest growing travel
markets, with more than 31 million Chinese traveling abroad last year. That
number is expected to grow to 50 million by 2010. "Asia is a vastly
underserved market and although these cruises on the Costa Allegra may be just
a small step, if it proves as successful as we anticipate, this region could
be the next great growth area for cruising," he said.
To oversee its entry into Asia, Costa has created a new division, Costa
Asia, with an office in Hong Kong and an office in Shanghai scheduled to open
in April of this year. This marks the first time that a large international
cruise company has been granted a license by the People's Republic of China to
embark its citizens from Chinese ports. In May, Costa plans to open a call
center in mainland China.
According to Foschi, "This project, together with our previously announced
new itineraries in the Far East and UAE, is part of Costa's strategy of
business development and expansion in what we believe are emerging, high-
growth markets. It will be a great thrill to see a Costa Cruises' ship in the
ports of the People's Republic of China and other Asian countries."
Prior to the launch of service from Shanghai, Costa Allegra will undergo a
multi-million-dollar renovation to create an on-board product specifically
tailored to the preferences of Chinese vacationers but with a European flair.
Following the refurbishment, the Costa Allegra will offer a variety of dining
options, including a "fusion" (Asian/Italian) restaurant, a sushi/noodles bar,
an Italian restaurant, a wellness center, and a shopping area. Entertainment
will be geared toward Asian tastes, as well.
While Costa Allegra's deck and engine officers, along with key
departmental management, will be Italian, they will be assisted by more than
230 Chinese professionals who will be hired from local hotels and resorts
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the
world, with a portfolio of 12 cruise brands in North America, Europe and
Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess
Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises,
Cunard Line, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises, Swan Hellenic, and P&O Cruises
Australia.
Together, these brands operate 80 ships totaling more than 139,000 lower
berths with 15 new ships scheduled to enter service between May 2006 and fall
2009. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates the leading tour companies in
Alaska and the Canadian Yukon, Holland America Tours and Princess Tours.
Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation &
plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the
FTSE 100 indices.
Additional information is available at http://www.carnivalcorp.com ,
http://www.carnivalplc.com , and http://www.costa.it/asia .
MEDIA CONTACTS:
US
Carnival Corporation & plc
Tim Gallagher
305 599 2600, ext. 16000
UK
Brunswick Group
Sophie Fitton/Sarah Lindgreen
44 (0) 20 7404 5959
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
US/UK
Carnival Corporation & plc
Beth Roberts
305 406 4832
SOURCE Carnival Corporation
-0- 03/06/2006
/Web site: http://www.carnivalcorp.com/
(CCL CUK)
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