Celebrity Cruises to Build 2,850-Passenger Super Liner

Celebrity Cruises is planning to build its first post-Panamax cruise ship, a 117,000-ton, 2,850-passenger vessel that, if ordered, would be ready in the second half of 2008.

The line said July 12 it signed a letter-of-intent with Papenburg, Germany-based Meyer Werft yard, which built Celebrity´s Century-class ships and, more recently, sister line Royal Caribbean International´s four Radiance-class ships.

The company estimated the all-in cost of the post-Panamax ship, or vessel that is too large to fit through the Panama Canal, would be about $225,000 per berth, or $641 million. Celebrity has an option for a second ship, which can be exercised before March 15.