20 March 2009

Costa re-affirms Ã¢'š~¬2.4 billion fleet expansion

Costa Cruises has signalled its commitment to €2.4 billion -worth of fleet expansion over three years.

Five new ships on order by the company represent a 50% increase in the capacity of the Costa fleet. The fleet will consist of 17 vessels with a total capacity of 46,400 passengers by 2012.

The message came at the ‘technical launch’ of new flagship Costa Deliziosa with the flooding of a dry-dock where it is under construction at the Fincantieri ship yard in Italy.

The 2,828-capacity Costa Deliziosa will be the 15^th ship in the fleet and is due for delivery in January 2010.

The vessel will be the third new Costa ship delivered by the Fincantieri yards in less than a year.

Costa Luminosa is due to be delivered at the end of April, while Costa Pacifica will be delivered a month later. Both will be christened at the same time in Genoa on June 5.

Costa president Gianni Onorato said: "The launching of Costa Deliziosa is real proof of the soundness of our company.

"Despite the current difficulties in the tourism sector and overall economy, we are continuing the expansion plan of our fleet - with five new ships this is the world’s largest - for a total investment of €2.4 billion.

"The strength of our brand, backed by more than 60 years of experience, and the quality of our product, are highly appreciated by our customers, who compel us to look toward with the future with confidence.

"A future in which, thanks to the Costa Deliziosa, the Costa Luminosa and the Costa Pacifica, we will be able to expand the number and, above all, the quality of our products".

The technical sea trials of the two ships nearing delivery has been completed recently, confirming the operating efficiency of the systems, equipment and engines.

Costa Deliziosa will enter service operating fly-cruises from Dubai in the 2010 winter before repositioning in Copenhagen to run seven-day voyages to the Norwegian fjords and Baltic capitals in summer 2010.