Italian musicians and performers entertained the audience for about an hour before the inaugural festivities began. Vocalist Z-Star started the show, followed by the Maestro Mauro Pagani, who composed the sound track for the Costa Pacifica. He is also the founder of the progressive rock group Premiata Forneria Marconi and the Officie Meccaniche recording studios. Rith-Mix, a group of ten members of the Italian National Rhythmic Gymnastics team, were the bravest of the evening. They performed beautiful choreographed aerial acrobatics while blowing back and forth precariously over the audience. I think most of us held our breaths until they finished. Israeli singer Noa was up next. Noa is also the godmother of the Costa Pacifica. She was very vivacious and performed several numbers before exiting to change for the inaugural.
Finally the big moment arrived. The ship bells were turned over to the ship captains and the two godmothers took their places. Noa was selected as the godmother for the Costa Pacifica (Pacifica means peace) because of her efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Noa was named a Commander of the Order of the Star for Italian Solidarity in 2007, so she has links to Italy. Italian fencer Valentina Vezzali is the godmother for the Costa Luminosa. She is the most successful Italian athlete of all time, having won 10 World Fencing Championships and three Olympic gold medals, the last in Beijing.
When the prosecco splashed on the hulls, the crowd cheered and confetti swirled over and around the amphitheater and the ships. Italian singing star Giorgia wrapped up the event with a half dozen of her most popular songs. What a magical evening it was!
For those who love to be among the first to sail on new ships, the Costa Pacifica will sail the Mediterranean year-round. The Costa Luminosa will sail the Baltic, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
Costa Pacifica Home Page from Costa Cruises
