Steel Cutting Ceremony Begins Countdown to New Cunard Ship

Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia Shipyard begins construction on Cunard's 249^th ship

First piece of steel cut will be crafted into a unique sculpture by Sam Shendi and will be showcased on board the new ship

VALENCIA, Calif., Oct. 11, 2019 /CNW/ -- Today, luxury cruise line Cunard celebrated the beginning of construction on the line's 249^th ship with a steel cutting ceremony at Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia Shipyard in Italy. The first piece of steel cut will be used as a sculpture displayed on the new ship for guests to enjoy and marks a landmark moment in the company's 179-year history. The yet unnamed ship will be the second largest to fly the Cunard flag, and is set to reimagine the luxury cruise experience with an array of unique and exciting on board amenities.

(L-R) Josh Weinstein, President of Carnival UK Ltd, Gilberto Tobaldi, Shipyard Director from Fincantieri and Simon Palethorpe, President of Cunard push the button, starting the machine to cut the first piece of steel at the Fincantieri shipyard in Naples, Italy for Cunard's new, as yet unnamed, ship which will launch in 2022.

The steel cutting ceremony marks the commencement of the building process for Cunard's new ship, which is set to join the fleet in 2022. Fincantieri will house and construct the first section of the new ship. The shipbuilding group previously delivered Cunard's world-renowned Queen Victoria in 2007 and Queen Elizabeth in 2010.

"After years of planning and design, we are thrilled to see the building process begin for our newest ship," says Josh Leibowitz, SVP Cunard North America. "The new ship will be the fourth in our fleet, taking inspiration from our past, integrating the Cunard spirit with exciting new concepts and ideas that will provide a uniquely luxurious travel experience for our guests."

Mr. Gilberto Tobaldi, Shipyard Director for Fincantieri, added, "We are very proud to be embarking on this next chapter of Cunard's history with the start of the build of their newest ship and we look forward to working with the Cunard and Carnival UK teams over the next months."

Acclaimed sculptor Sam Shendi will craft a unique sculpture from the first piece of metal cut from the new ship. Known for using contemporary industrial metal, steel, stainless steel, aluminium and fiberglass to create his work, Shendi will commission the work for guests on board to view and enjoy.

Shendi said, "I'm really looking forward to working with the Cunard team and to be given the challenge of creating a sculpture from the first piece of steel cut for their new ship is such a unique opportunity. It would be exciting for any artist to be part of such a long history and know that their artwork will travel the world on the ship connecting guests from all corners of the globe."

Cunard's new ship is set to enter service in 2022 with bookings available next year. With construction underway, Creative Director and globally acclaimed designer Adam D. Tihany will work alongside Fincantieri to deliver a new standard of Cunard luxury. The award-winning design team also includes Simon Rawlings of David Collins Studio, Terry McGillicuddy of Richmond International and Sybille de Margerie of Sybille de Margerie Paris. During the week's ceremonies, Cunard released a video charting the progress made on the new ship over the past two years through the eyes of the design team. View the video, "Our Story So Far," here.

For more information about Cunard or to book a voyage, visit Cunard.com. For travel advisors interested in further information, please contact your Business Development Manager, visit OneSource or call Cunard toll free at 1-800-528-6273.

Cunard
Cunard is the operator of luxury cruise ships Queen Mary 2^®, Queen Victoria^® and Queen Elizabeth^®. Renowned for impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment, all three Queens offer luxury accommodations in Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill Suite and Queens Grill Suite staterooms. Cunard is the only line to offer regularly scheduled Transatlantic service between New York and London, and it continues to celebrate the freedom of travel on exciting World Voyage and Grand Voyage itineraries that visit Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Awarded '#1 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line' by Travel + Leisure's 2018, 2017 and 2016 World's Best Awards and 'Best Service,' 'Best Onboard Enrichment' and 'Best World Cruise' by Porthole Cruise Magazine's 2018 Readers Choice Awards, Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines, a part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the largest cruise vacation company in the world. Together Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK) operate 102 ships visiting over 700 ports around the world and totaling 226,000 lower berths.

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For additional information about Cunard, contact:
Jackie Chase, Cunard, 661-753-1035, [email protected]
Maria Andriano, MGA Media Group, 212-251-1015, [email protected]

About Fincantieri
Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups and number one for diversification and innovation. It is leader in cruise ship design and construction and a reference player in all high-tech shipbuilding industry sectors, from naval to offshore vessels, from high-complexity special vessels and ferries to mega yachts, as well as in ship repairs and conversions, production of systems and mechanical and electrical component equipment and after-sales services. With over 230 years of history and more than 7,000 vessels built, Fincantieri has always kept its management offices, as well as all the engineering and production skills, in Italy.

With over 8,900 employees in Italy and a supplier network that employs nearly 50,000 people, Fincantieri has enhanced a fragmented production capacity over several shipyards into strength, acquiring the widest portfolio of clients and products in the cruise segment. To hold its own in relation to competition and assert itself at global level, Fincantieri has broadened its product portfolio becoming world leader in the sectors in which it operates.

With globalization, the Group has around 20 shipyards in 4 continents, over 19,000 employees and is the leading Western shipbuilder. It has among its clients the world's major cruise operators, the Italian and the US Navy, in addition to several foreign navies, and it is partner of some of the main European defense companies within supranational programs. Fincantieri's business is widely diversified by end markets, geographical exposure and by client base, with revenue mainly generated from cruise ship, naval and Offshore and Specialized vessel construction. Compared with less diversified players, such diversification allows it to mitigate the effects of any fluctuations in demand on the end markets served. www.fincantieri.com

For additional information about Fincantieri, contact:
Antonio Autorino, Fincantieri, [phone], [email protected]
Cristiano Musella, Fincantieri, [phone], [email protected]
Laura Calzolari, Fincantieri, [phone], [email protected]
Micaela Longo, Fincantieri, [phone], [email protected]

For Fincantieri Investor Relations, contact:
Tijana Obradovic, Fincantieri, [phone], [email protected]
Emanuela Cecilia Salvini, Fincantieri, [phone], [email protected]

SOURCE Cunard