Italy's Fincantieri on Thursday delivered the first cruise ship it specifically designed and built for the Chinese market, the 'Majestic Princess' which is also the largest ship ever built in Italy.
The 145,000 gross ton ship owned by Princess Cruises was delivered at the Monfalcone shipyard in northeast Italy at a ceremony attended by Italian premier Paolo Gentiloni and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regional governor Debora Serracchiani, Fincantieri said in a statement.
Fincantieri described the vessel as "a new technological benchmark in Europe and worldwide for its innovative layout, outstanding performance and top quality of its state-of-the-art technology."
The Bermuda-flagged cruise liner can carry 4,250 passengers and 1,340 crew in 1,780 cabins and features a new livery that includes Chinese ideograms meaning 'Great Spirit', Fincantieri said.
The new ship also boasts a number of venues that have been specially designed to appeal to Chinese passengers including karaoke rooms and a range of restaurants offering highly diverse cuisine, Fincantieri added.
Fincantieri in February signed a landmark 1.5 billion dollar deal with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and Carnival Corporation to build the first two cruise liners constructed in China for the Chinese market.
The first of the two ships is expected to be delivered in 2023 and the accord includes an option for an additional four cruise ships, Fincantieri stated.
Fincantieri is headquartered in Trieste and is one the world's largest shipbuilding groups, with 20 shipyards in four continents.
It has built 77 cruise ships since 1990 and 30 more are currently under construction in the group's shipyards.
