Costa fleet expansion takes shape 1

Two new vessels for Costa Cruises, Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, have successfully completed their official sea trials. The 13th and 14th members of the Costa Cruises fleet, both were built by Fincantieri, at the Marghera (Venice) and Genova-Sestri Ponente yards respectively, for a total investment of approximately Ä900 million.

Following final outfitting, Costa Luminosa will be ready at the end of April, while Costa Pacifica will be delivered at the end of May. Costa Deliziosa, a sister to Costa Luminosa, will be delivered at the end of January 2010, again by Fincantieri, and two further vessels are expected by the end of 2012, at which point the Costa fleet will consist of 17 vessels, with a total capacity of 46,400 passengers.

Costa Luminosa will have accommodation for 2,828 guests and will operate in the Baltic, Mediterranean and Middle East in 2009-10. The larger Costa Pacifica, which can accommodate 3,780 guests, will offer seven day long cruises in the western Mediterranean this summer, while in the winter 2009-2010 voyages will be offered to Egypt and Israel.

Costa Deliziosa is now under construction at the Marghera yard and will be the third new Costa ship delivered by Fincantieri in less than a year. Starting in February 2010, Costa Deliziosa will operate seven-day cruises in the Arabian Gulf visiting the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain. During the summer 2010 season, the new vessel will depart from Copenhagen for week-long cruises to the Norwegian fjords and Baltic capitals. PST