Carnival Corporation has signed a letter of intent with Kvaerner Masa-Yards for the construction of another Fantasy-class ship for the Carnival Cruise Lines fleet.

The new ship is expected to cost approximately $300 million with anticipated delivery in late 1997.

The 70,000-ton, 2,040-passenger ship which has not been named yet will be seventh in this series.

Carnival Cruise Line President Bob Dickinson suggested that the company can be expected to order even more Fantasy-class ships.

Sister company Holland America Line is also considering more newbuildings but has not decided yet whether to continue the Statendam-class or build a new generation ship. In any event, company executives said that the new ships would be of the same passenger capacity but with a faster service speed.

Crystal Cruises is also expected to announce another newbuilding when it takes delivery of the Crystal Symphony in 1995.

Costa Cruise Lines, which is building a ship in Germany, is expected to exercise its option on a second sister ship.