Costa plans double ship launch
Costa Cruises plans a double float out of two news ships at the same time next month.
The 2,828-passenger Costa Luminosa and the 3,780-passenger Costa Pacifica are to be launched on the same day at two Fincantieri ship yards in Italy.
The double float out is set for June 27.
Following the launch operation, which involves flooding each ship’s building dock, work will begin on the fitting out and interior decoration, which is expected to take about a year.
Costa Luminosa is due for delivery at the end of April 2009, with Costa Pacifica the following month.
The arrival of the two new vessels will bring the number of ships in the Costa fleet to 14, with total passenger capacity of approximately 36,000, confirming its position as the biggest in Europe, according to the company.
Costa Luminosa will include a 4D cinema, a show lounge with special effects, a golf simulator featuring 37 virtual golf courses plus an outdoor area of 90m² with a putting green as well as a jogging and rollerblading track. There will be 772 balcony cabins out of a total of 1,130.
Costa Pacifica, at 114,500 gross tonnes, will become sister ship to Costa Concordia and Costa Serena.
Costa’s fleet expansion covers five new ships, including Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, due to enter service by 2012 with a total investment of almost €2.4 billion.
The five new vessels will result in a 50% increase in the size of the Costa fleet, which by 2012 will be 17-strong with a total passenger capacity of 46,400.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025