At the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, Costa Cruises has taken delivery of its newest ship, the Costa Toscana, powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the most advanced technology in the maritime sector for reducing emissions. The Costa Group—which includes the Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises brands—was the first in the world to pioneer the use of LNG in cruise ships. Its LNG-powered ships include the AIDAnova and Costa Smeralda, already in service, the Costa Toscana, and the soon-to-be-delivered AIDACosma.
LNG represents a major advance in improving the environmental performance of cruise ships, both at sea and during port calls. Its use allows for the near-complete elimination of sulfur oxide emissions (zero emissions) and particulate matter (95-100% reduction), while also significantly reducing nitrogen oxide emissions (direct reduction of 85%) and CO2 emissions (reduction of up to 20%).
“The Costa Toscana reinforces our commitment to sustainable innovation by further contributing to the use of LNG in cruises, a technology we pioneered. This innovation is part of an ongoing ecological transition. In fact, we are also working on testing other innovations, such as fuel cells and batteries, with the ultimate goal of achieving the first net-zero emissions ship,” said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises. “At the same time, thanks to its excellent and innovative features and services, the Costa Toscana will be able to attract new cruise customers, supporting our consolidation of our presence in the Mediterranean and our phased restart plan.”
The Costa Toscana's inaugural cruise will depart from Barcelona on March 7 and from Valencia on March 8, 2022, with a one-week itinerary visiting Palermo, Civitavecchia/Rome, Marseille, Barcelona, and Valencia. Following its debut, the new flagship will be deployed in the Western Mediterranean year-round. During the summer season, it will switch from Barcelona to Ibiza and call at Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille. During the autumn season, Palma de Mallorca will replace Ibiza.
Costa Toscana is a true floating “smart city.” In addition to being powered by LNG, the ship boasts a range of cutting-edge technological innovations designed to further reduce its environmental impact. All of its daily water needs are met through seawater desalination plants. Energy consumption is minimized thanks to an intelligent energy efficiency system. Furthermore, 100% of waste will be collected and recycled on board, including materials such as plastic, paper, glass, and aluminum, as part of an integrated approach to implementing circular economy projects.
The wood found on the beaches and used to furnish the new Archipelago restaurant was collected thanks to the "Guardians of the Coast," the environmental education program for the protection of the Italian coastline promoted by the Costa Cruises Foundation. For every dinner served at Archipelago, Costa Cruises will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Costa Cruises Foundation to continue supporting environmental and social projects.
Costa's new flagship is a tribute to Tuscany, the result of an extraordinary creative project curated by Adam D. Tihany. It was designed to highlight and bring to life the very best of this magnificent Italian region, which lends its name to the ship, its decks, and the main public areas. The furniture, lighting, fabrics, and accessories are all Made in Italyand were designed specifically for the Costa Toscana by 15 partners who are highly representative of Italian excellence. The onboard offerings fit perfectly into this extraordinary setting: from the Solemio Spa to the entertainment areas; from the themed bars, in collaboration with leading Italian and international brands, to the 21 restaurants and areas dedicated to the "gastronomic experience."
Comfortable and elegant, the more than 2,600 cabins also perfectly reflect Italian style and taste. The "sea terrace" cabin category offers a splendid space where guests can have breakfast, enjoy an aperitif, or simply take in the views.
