Costa adds two more to fleet
Costa Cruises has announced that they have ordered another two 114,200-ton cruise ships to be delivered in 2011 and 2012 at a cost of approximately €1 billion (approximately AUD1.6 billion) – in a move which will take its fleet to 17 ships by 2012.
To be built at the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, the two Concordia class cruise liners will be sister ships to the Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, launched in 2006 and 2007 respectively, as well as the Costa Pacifica which is still under construction.
Costa Cruises Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi said he was pleased to continue the cruise line’s already successful relationship with Fincantieri, with the new ships taking Costa’s total order with the shipbuilder to five.
“By ordering two ships for our fleet of 12, plus three ordered previously, we are not only reinforcing our position as the market leader in Italy and Europe, but also responding to the increasing demand for our product from our customers across the globe,” Mr Foschi said.
The two new ships will have the same innovative features as the other Concordia ships, including two swimming pools with retractable glass roofs, a Grand Prix race car simulator and one of the largest health centres at sea – the Samsara Spa – complete with selected cabins offering direct access to the spa and a dedicated restaurant.
In addition, the new ships will boast 17 extra balcony cabins taking the number of staterooms to a total of 1,506, and upgraded onboard entertainment for adults and children.
The cruise line’s total capacity will increase by 20 per cent with the addition of the two new vessels in 2012, with each ship carrying 3,012 guests based on double occupancy.
Including the two new orders, Costa Cruises has invested €5.5 billion (approx. AUD8.7 billion) in fleet expansion since 2000.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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