Costa Cruises Lays Keel for New Costa Luminosa Cruise Ship

Costa Cruises laid the keel for the thirteenth ship in its fleet late last week at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. Due for delivery in Spring 2009, the Costa Luminosa will be 92,700-tons, 292 meters long and offer a double occupancy of 2,260. The ship will boast a new design concept combining the best features of other Costa ships, including wellness, entertainment, food and wine, exclusive itineraries, and fine art. In addition, it will feature the highest number of veranda accommodations (68%) in the fleet. In particular, 772 of 1,130 cabins will have verandas.

Onboard, the Costa Luminosa will include the latest innovations from Costa, such as the Samsara Spa, which is one of the largest wellness centers at sea, complete with accommodations featuring direct access to the spa. It will also feature a pool deck with a retractable magrodome extending over two pools and a Grand Prix race car driving simulator. In addition, the Costa Luminosa will feature an 18-hole championship golf course simulator.

Costa will build a sister ship to the Costa Luminosa, scheduled to enter service in March 2010. Both ships will be created at a total cost of over 800 million Euros. Costa’s fleet expansion program includes the addition of a third ship, the Costa Pacifica, which will leave the Genoa-Sestri Ponente yard in Spring 2009 along with the Costa Luminosa. By 2010, the Costa fleet will have 15 members, all flying the Italian flag.