Genoa/Turku , March 15, 2019 – Costa Cruises today held the official launching ceremony of its new ship, Costa Smeralda, at the Meyer shipyard in Turku , one of the world's largest shipbuilding complexes.
The ship, Costa's new flagship, touched the sea for the first time as part of a ceremony held today at the shipyard. The celebration, attended by top executives from Costa Cruises and Meyer Turku, followed the maritime tradition of flooding the dock where the ship has been under construction for the past few months.
Entering service in October 2019, once the interiors are complete, Costa Smeralda will become the company's first ship to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world's cleanest fossil fuel. The new ship will represent an environmental milestone, improving air quality by virtually eliminating particulate matter and sulfur oxide emissions, both at sea and in port. It will also significantly reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide.
Costa Smeralda and its sister ship, which will enter service in 2021, will contribute to meeting the ambitious sustainability goals set by Costa and Carnival Corporation, such as reducing their carbon footprint by 25 percent by 2020.
Neil Palomba, CEO of Costa Crociere SpA, which, along with AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, makes up the Costa Group, stated: “We are thrilled to celebrate this symbolic moment for our newest ship. The Costa Smeralda represents a major innovation for the international market and is an important step towards setting new standards for the entire industry. LNG is a significant advancement in fuel technology, and with its use, the Costa Group, a leader in Europe and China, continues to work towards making sustainable tourism a fundamental part of its industry leadership.”
Jan Mayer, CEO of Meyer Turku , added: “It has been thrilling to design and build the Costa Smeralda together with our colleagues at Costa Cruises. I believe the Smeralda will be a truly unique and innovative ship, both in terms of its engineering and design, and I am confident that passengers will enjoy all the attractions they will find on board. For us shipbuilders, the launching of a ship is always a very special occasion, as the vessel will finally be in its element at the outfitting quay, where we will begin the final phase of its construction.”
Palomba concluded by emphasizing: “I am especially proud of the Costa Smeralda, as it will be a unique ship in terms of innovative design and onboard services. It will pay homage to all those aspects of Italy that are loved and appreciated by people all over the world. The ship has been designed with passion and attention to detail, with the aim of fulfilling our brand promise to provide our guests with an unforgettable holiday experience. For this reason, we hope that the Costa Smeralda will inspire and welcome both seasoned cruisers and new guests to embark on the captivating atmosphere of a state-of-the-art cruise.”
With more than 2,600 cabins, the Costa Smeralda will transport its guests on a true tour of Italy, with numerous areas dedicated to fun, partying and flavors.
The ship's name, Costa Smeralda, was chosen as a tribute to one of Sardinia's most beautiful tourist destinations. The names of the decks and public areas were also selected to commemorate famous Italian landmarks and squares. The ship will feature 11 restaurants, 19 bars, an incredible spa area with 16 treatment rooms, a water park with slides, four swimming pools, and a dedicated children's area. It will also house its own Costa Design Museum, "The CoDe," dedicated to the excellence of Italian design.
The Costa Group, along with its sister brands at Carnival Corporation, has been an industry leader in promoting and developing sustainable and environmental solutions. In addition to using LNG, the Costa Group and Carnival Corporation pioneered the use of the Advanced Air Quality System (AAQS )in the vicinity of cruise ships. Considered an environmental milestone, this system is now installed on more than 70 percent of the Costa Group and Carnival Corporation fleet. The use of LNG and the AAQS plays a significant role in reducing the impact of the Costa Group's marine operations.
A second ship, a sister ship to the Costa Smeralda and also to be built at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, will be delivered to the company in 2021.
In total, the Costa Group has 28 ships in service, representing more than 85,000 berths. The fleet will be strengthened by five new ships by 2023, including two for Costa Cruises, one for Costa Asia, and two for AIDA Cruises. Once the new ships have entered service, the Group's capacity will have increased by more than 50 percent to meet the growing demand for cruises in the coming years.
The Costa Smeralda is scheduled to make its debut on October 20, 2019, with a vernissage departing from Hamburg and arriving in Savona, Italy. The itinerary includes two-day stops in some of Europe's most historically and culturally rich cities, such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Lisbon, Barcelona, and Marseille.
The christening ceremony of the Costa Smeralda will take place in Savona on November 3, 2019. The inaugural six-day cruise will depart from the Italian city on November 4, 2019, calling at Barcelona, Marseille, and Civitavecchia (Rome). The Costa Smeralda will continue sailing the Western Mediterranean until April 2021, offering week-long cruises that include stops in Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia/Rome, and La Spezia.
Cruises aboard the Costa Smeralda are now available for booking.
