Costa Cruises’ Costa Venezia marks ‘new era’ for Chinese cruise industry

Costa Cruises and Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri have held the official float-out ceremony for Costa Venezia – the brand’s first ship designed and built specifically for the China market.

The ceremony was held at the shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, where the ship is being built.

Costa Venezia marks a major step for the company as its first-ever ship built purposely for the Chinese market. A statement from Costa’s owner, Carnival Corp explained “Designed with the specific leisure and entertainment preferences of Chinese guests in mind, Costa Venezia will bring to life the passions of Venetian and Italian culture through such spectacles as the Carnival of Venice and the city’s famed gondolas.

“Guests will also be able to sample the delights of fine Italian dining, luxury Italian shopping and world-class Italian entertainment while enjoying home comforts such as a range of Chinese cuisines and Chinese-style karaoke bars.”

Expected to set sail in March 2019, Costa Venezia will arrive in China next May.

“As our first ship built specifically for the Chinese market, Costa Venezia marks a new era not just for Costa Cruises and Fincantieri but for the Chinese cruise industry as a whole,” said Costa Group Asia president Mario Zanetti. “From its initial conception all the way through to today’s float-out ceremony and beyond, everything about Costa Venezia has been designed with the Chinese consumer in mind. Costa Venezia will continue to deliver on Costa Cruise’s authentic Italian experience while also providing a unique vacation experience that will resonate with Chinese guests by being fully tailored to their travel preferences.”

At a length of 323 m and measuring 135,500 gt with a capacity for 5,260 guests, Costa Venezia will be Costa’s largest ship operating homeport cruises from China. It will be followed by the launch of its sister ship in 2020, which began steel cutting by Fincantieri in Italy earlier this year.