Genoa, September 16, 2019 – CostaSmeralda, the first Costa Cruises ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), will begin its inaugural program on December 2, 2019 as a result of construction delays that will prevent the ship from being delivered on the originally agreed date.
Costa Cruises has just learned of this delay, which unfortunately means the cancellation of all the inaugural cruises of its new flagship, as well as the originally planned opening activities. Consequently, the Costa Smeralda's first cruise will now depart from Barcelona on December 2, 2019.The itinerary, which will remain unchanged until April 2021, will continue as planned: a week in the Western Mediterranean visiting Barcelona (Monday), Palma de Mallorca (Tuesday), Civitavecchia (Thursday), La Spezia (Friday), Savona (Saturday), and Marseille (Sunday).
Commenting on this news, Costa Crociere, SpA CEO Neil Palomba said: “Our priority is always to offer our customers a unique holiday experience that exceeds their expectations. Unfortunately, the Meyer Turku shipyard will need more time to ensure that the Costa Smeralda is ready for this, which is absolutely crucial for us. At the same time, I want to emphasize that the Costa Smeralda is a tremendously innovative project in terms of both technology and product. In particular, its propulsion by Liquefied Natural Gas, a technology in which we are pioneers, reflects Costa’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of responsible innovation and massively reducing emissions, thus setting a new benchmark for the entire cruise industry. We deeply regret this delay and apologize for any inconvenience caused to all those customers who had already booked a Costa Smeralda cruise to sail before November 30.In any case, we look forward to welcoming them aboard our new flagship and have already arranged a series of activities for them.” of departure dates.”
Costa Cruises is informing all agencies and customers who had booked their trip for before December 2nd.
Like its sister ship, the Costa Toscana, scheduled for delivery in 2021, the Costa Smeralda will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world's cleanest fossil fuel, both in port and at sea, minimizing its environmental impact. The introduction of LNG propulsion achieves the near-total elimination of sulfur dioxide and particulate emissions.
Costa Smeralda will be a representation and tribute to the best of Italy. All its decks and public areas are named after iconic Italian landmarks, and its design is inspired by them. The onboard wine and culinary offerings will showcase the most sophisticated Italian culinary traditions, featuring collaborations with prestigious partners. The ship will have 11 different restaurants (including one specifically designed for families to enjoy casual dining onboard), 19 bars, a splendid spa area with 16 treatment rooms, a water park with slides, four swimming pools, and a dedicated children's area where kids can have fun and meet new friends. Costa Smeralda will also have its own museum: the CoDe – Costa Design Museum – which will showcase the excellence of Italian design.
