MIAMI, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Carnival Corp. has announced in Miami the largest order for new ships in the cruise industry -- four ships valued at $2.5 billion.
Carnival said it has agreed with the Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani to construct the vessels, The Miami Herald reported Friday.
The shipyard also will significantly redesign the Queen Victoria, previously ordered by Carnival's Cunard Line.
"There has never been an order placed of this size," Carnival spokesman Tim Gallagher said Thursday. "Nor has there been one that encompasses so many operating brands or so many cruise brands."
Two of the new ships are designated for the corporation's Carnival Cruise Lines and for Princess Cruises.
The other two are expected to go to the company's top European lines, Costa Cruises and P&O Cruises.
Those designations are tentative and Carnival has a year to make a final decision on which ships go to which of its lines.
