At the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, the second part of the traditional "coin ceremony" took place, attended by the ship's captain, Pietro Sinisi, and the shipyard and company management. Following maritime tradition, commemorative coins were placed on the ship as a good luck charm for the crew, guests, and future voyages.
In the two weeks leading up to the coin presentation ceremony, the Costa Toscana left the Turku shipyard for sea trials, during which the vessel successfully completed a series of tests to verify the proper functioning of its LNG systems, equipment, and engines. This is another key step toward delivery, scheduled for December 2021.
The Costa Toscana, like its sister ship the Costa Smeralda, is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the most advanced fuel technology currently available in the maritime industry for reducing emissions, both at sea and during port calls. The Costa Group—which includes Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises—was the first cruise company to embrace this technology and will now operate four LNG-powered ships, two of which are already in service: the AIDAnova and the Costa Smeralda. Two more, the Costa Toscana and the AIDACosma, will be delivered soon.
Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises, commented: “These additional key steps in the completion of the Costa Toscana confirm our commitment to evolving towards an increasingly sustainable cruise model. At the same time, thanks to its excellent and innovative services, the Costa Toscana will be able to attract new cruise guests, helping us consolidate our presence in the Mediterranean and our phased restart plan.”.
The Costa Toscana's maiden voyage will depart from Savona, Italy, on March 5, 2022, with a one-week itinerary that includes Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Palermo, and Civitavecchia/Rome. Following its debut, the new flagship will remain in the Western Mediterranean year-round. During the summer season, the Costa Toscana will call at Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille, while during the autumn season, Palma de Mallorca will replace Ibiza.
The new flagship is a tribute to Tuscany, the result of an extraordinary creative project curated by Adam D. Tihany. It is designed to enhance and bring to life, in one place, the excellence of this magnificent Italian region, which inspired the names of the ship, its decks, and main public areas. The furnishings, lighting, fabrics, and accessories will all be Made in Italy and designed specifically for the Costa Toscana by 15 partners, each a true representative of Italian excellence. The onboard offerings will be seamlessly integrated into this extraordinary setting: from the Solemio Spa to other entertainment areas, from the themed bars created in collaboration with leading Italian brands, to the 16 restaurants and areas dedicated to the "gastronomic experience." In this comfortable and elegant environment, the more than 2,600 cabins also perfectly reflect Italian style and taste. The "Sea Terrace" will offer a splendid space for breakfast, an aperitif, or simply enjoying the views.
