Costa Cruises celebrated this weekend the naming ceremony of the Costa Smeralda, the company's new flagship, with Penélope Cruz, the big star of the night and godmother of the ship.
The international actress was in charge of carrying out the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony against the ship's hull in the presence of the Costa Smeralda's Captain, Paolo Benini. In addition, Italian chef Bruno Barbieri, another of the event's star guests, personally presented a gala cocktail, offering guests a taste of his creativity and expertise.
The Costa Smeralda event continued with an acrobatic spectacular called “Dream,” produced by the creative genius Viktor Klee and featuring nine of the world’s best acrobats. The show took place in the Colosseo, the innovative and technologically advanced theater located in the center of the ship. The celebrations concluded with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the sky over Savona.
Costa Smeralda sets a new standard for the entire industry thanks to its combination of responsible innovation, smart technology, and Italian excellence in design, gastronomy, and experiences. The ship is a true tribute to Italy, thanks to the extraordinary creative project led by Adam D. Tihany, which celebrates the country and offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the very best it has to offer, all in one place.
“It is a pleasure to officially welcome the Costa Smeralda to our fleet. This ship is the perfect combination of Italian excellence – key to the Costa brand – and sustainable innovation, all focused on delivering an unforgettable vacation experience. As market leaders in Europe, we are committed to being the first to introduce environmentally friendly innovations and thus leading the way for sustainable cruising across the entire industry. We were the first company to invest in LNG and are currently working to develop other sustainable technologies, such as energy storage, fuel cells, and liquefied natural gas derived from renewable energy sources,” stated Michael Thamm, Group CEO of Costa Group and Carnival Asia.
“The naming of a new ship is always a momentous occasion, and this is especially true for the Costa Smeralda, as it represents an unprecedented project. A holiday aboard this ship allows our guests to enjoy unique experiences both on board and ashore, whether it be in terms of gastronomy, relaxation, technological entertainment, or visiting unique locations in the destinations we visit. This is the Costa of the future, offering us new opportunities for growth in the market, as well as attracting guests who have never been on a cruise before,” said Neil Palomba, Managing Director of Costa Cruises.
The Costa Group was the first cruise operator worldwide to rely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion and has ordered a total of five new LNG-powered ships, two of which – Costa Smeralda and AIDAnova – are already in service. These are part of the group's expansion plan, which aims to introduce seven new ships by 2023 thanks to an investment exceeding €6 billion.
The Costa Smeralda began operations on December 21, 2019, and has since offered week-long Western Mediterranean itineraries with stops in Savona, Marseille, Palma, Civitavecchia – Rome, and La Spezia. This summer, the new flagship will also call at Cagliari, and in the winter of 2021/22, it is scheduled to call at Palermo.
