The new flagship has been built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Marghera. It will be the 'Queen of the Mediterranean' and an ambassador for the best of Italy, representing Italian excellence.
The Costa Diadema, the fifteenth member of the Costa fleet and its new flagship, was unveiled on Saturday by Costa Crociere and Fincantieri. Costa invested a total of €550 million in the construction of this ship at Fincantieri's shipyards in Marghera (Venice).
The project involved approximately 1,000 shipyard workers, along with another 2,500 subcontractors and some 400 suppliers, many of which are Italian firms, for the ship's interior fittings. The Costa Diadema is the twelfth ship built in Italy by Fincantieri for Costa, representing a total investment of around €5 billion in these twelve vessels.
“The Costa Diadema is our new flagship and will set new standards in the European cruise industry, further reinforcing Costa’s leadership in Europe. It is the best expression of our new brand positioning: the best of Italy. It is passion and modern Italian lifestyle, it is hospitality and elegance,” said Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere SpA
Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri SpA, commented: “The Costa Diadema is the 44th ship we have built since 2000, and the twelfth for our friends at Costa Crociere. This is therefore a very special occasion for us, and we are very proud to present the ultimate in Italian excellence, which confirms our leading position in ship design and construction for the cruise sector—a sector that is unparalleled in terms of technological complexity and competitiveness.” Bono concluded by saying: “Today, on this day of celebration, I want to express my hope that this fruitful cooperation between two of the country’s leading companies will continue and bring good fortune to the entire nation.”
Weighing 132,500 tons, measuring over 300 meters long and 37 meters wide, the Costa Diadema boasts 1,862 cabins and will be the ambassador of the best of Italy, offering the finest Italian lifestyle, entertainment, gastronomy, and hospitality. The interiors of the new flagship are even more inviting, spacious, and modern in terms of amenities and the design of its public areas. This state-of-the-art vessel offers larger, two-level cabins with ocean views and convenient interconnected spaces, evoking the atmosphere of an Italian seaside promenade.
The perfect example is the outdoor promenade, a Italian terrace , which extends 500 meters on deck 5, where passengers can take a stroll and enjoy the spectacular view over the sea or, even better, relax in one of the bars and restaurants, drinking a cocktail or enjoying a romantic dinner.
Following its delivery, the Costa Diadema will depart from Venice on October 30th and arrive in Trieste, where its inaugural cruise will begin on November 1st. It will then call at Dubrovnik, Corfu, Malta, and Naples, before arriving in Genoa on November 7th for the christening ceremony. From November 8th, it will offer three seven-day inaugural cruises.
As the Queen of the Mediterranean, the Costa Diadema will be sailing the Mediterranean Sea. From November 10th until the end of the 2015 summer season, the new flagship will depart from Barcelona every Monday on seven-day cruises through the Western Mediterranean, making weekly stops in Palma de Mallorca (where embarkation will also be possible), Naples, La Spezia/Florence, Savona, and Marseille.
