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Carnival Corporation & plc has confirmed that it has signed two strategic memorandums of agreement that will add a total of nine new fuel-efficient cruise ships to its fleet between 2019 and 2022.

The shipbuilding agreements, which include options for additional ship builds in the coming years, are subject to several conditions, including satisfactory financing.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri S.p.A and German shipbuilder Meyer Werft are to each build new ships based on Carnival's "next-generation" vessel designs, which according to the cruise operator are "the most efficient ships" in its history.

The new vessels are expected to serve established cruise markets in North America and Europe, as well as newer markets, including China.

"We're excited to take this next step in our fleet enhancement plan with these two new agreements that are consistent with our long-term strategy of measured capacity growth over time," said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation. "Our goal as a company is to exceed the expectations of every guest on every ship every day, and these new ships will further enable us to do just that. These will be the most efficient ships we have ever built and the great guest experience will create even more excitement around cruising - helping new cruisers realize the superior vacation experience and value that cruising offers versus land-based vacations."

Fincantieri, the world's largest cruise ship building company, is to develop and construct five ships at its shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera, Italy.

"I am extremely proud on this truly memorable day for us. Today's announcement provides us with a long-term strategic prospective, and reinforces the extraordinary partnership between us and Carnival Corporation, developed over time thanks to the confidence the group has always shown in us, which we assure will be once again well placed," said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. "This agreement reflects the exceptional business vision of the world's most important cruise operator, and our readiness and flexibility in interpreting its demands."

Bono added: "This agreement is the best reward for our hard work over all these years, and in fact, our organizational, design and production skills have allowed us to consolidate our market leadership, confirming us at the top of such an exclusive and complex industry."

Meyer Werft is to build its four ships at its shipyards in Papenburg, Germany, and Turku, Finland.

Bernard Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Werft, commented: "We are very happy and honored that Carnival Corporation trusts our strength to bring this ambitious newbuilding program to life in Turku and Papenburg."

Carnival Corporation's fleet enhancement strategy will add two new ships to its fleet in 2015 and remove four ships from the fleet. Earlier this month, P&O Cruises UK officially launched Britannia, the largest ship ever designed exclusively for Britain. Later this year, the AIDA Cruises fleet will welcome AIDAprima, which Carnival says "is expected to be one of the most technically advanced and sustainable cruise ships ever built".