Construction of the Costa Smeralda, the new flagship of the Costa Cruises, continues to progress at a good pace at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, where the iconic yellow funnel with the initial "C" in blue, a distinctive feature of all the Italian company's ships for the last 70 years, has already been installed.
Besides being a symbol for the brand, this distinctive funnel represents one of the new ship's key technological innovations. The Costa Smeralda will be the first cruise ship marketed worldwide, specifically for the European market, to be fueled both in port and at sea with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel in the world. This will represent an environmental revolution that will contribute to improved air quality, as LNG almost completely eliminates emissions of particulate matter and sulfur oxides at sea and in port, and significantly reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO2.
With a gross tonnage of over 180,000 tons and more than 2,600 rooms, the Costa Smeralda will enter service in October 2019.Furthermore, the delivery of a second ship, a sister ship to the Costa Smeralda and also to be built by Meyer at the Turku shipyard, is scheduled for 2021. The two vessels are part of the Costa Group's fleet expansion plan, under which seven ships will be delivered by 2023, representing a total investment of over six billion euros.
The Costa Smeralda is scheduled to launch on October 21, 2019, with a vernissage departing from Hamburg and ending in Savona. The ship's christening ceremony will take place in Savona on November 3, 2019. The following day, the inaugural 6-day cruise will depart, visiting Barcelona, Marseille, and Civitavecchia. The new ship will continue sailing the Western Mediterranean until April 2021, operating a week-long itinerary that will allow passengers to discover the cities of Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia, and La Spezia.
Costa Smeralda, conceived as a true tribute to Italy, will offer countless opportunities to personalize your vacation experience thanks to its extensive range of restaurants, entertainment, and leisure activities. Some of Italy's most famous squares have served as inspiration for naming the ship's decks and public areas, not to mention its own name, which pays homage to one of Sardinia's most beautiful tourist destinations. Costa Smeralda will be a true journey through Italy, from Palermo (deck 4) to Trieste (deck 20), with numerous spots where guests can enjoy Italian entertainment and culture.
