seatec - Finnish marine technology review 2/2008 | Page 14

Riders of the Storm SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG SHIP? CARNIVAL COMBATS TROUBLED ECONOMY WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED CRUISE SHIP TRILOGY AND DOMESTIC RENOVATION PROGRAMME It’s not exactly smooth sailing for the global economy. For the cruise business, inflation, the weak dollar and higher shipbuilding costs have made the big players consider their next moves very carefully indeed. The world’s biggest cruise operator, Carnival Cruise Lines, just launched the company’s biggest cruise ship ever as Carnival Splendor embarked on her Maiden Voyage in July. However, the “most Fun Ship of all” will be eclipsed next year by even a bigger cruise ship, as Carnival Dream starts making the rounds. However, Carnival is not as keen to act on the newbuilding plans of its US-based brands. 12 seatec 2/2008