NEW INAUGURAL PROGRAM FOR COSTA SMERALDA
NEW INAUGURAL PROGRAM FOR COSTA SMERALDA
Due to construction delays at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, Costa Cruises has announced that Costa Smeralda will now be starting her program of 7-day Mediterranean cruises sailing from Savona on November 30, 2019.
Genoa, September 16, 2019 – Costa Smeralda, the first Costa Cruises ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), will now commence her inaugural program of cruises on November 30, 2019 as a result of delays in her construction which mean that she cannot be delivered on the date originally agreed.
Costa Cruises has learned of this postponement, which unfortunately entails the cancellation of all the new flagship’s initial cruises and the inaugural activities previously scheduled. Consequently, Costa Smeralda’s first cruise will now be departing from Savona on November 30, 2019. The itinerary, which will apply to all her cruises through April 2021, is unchanged: a week in the Western Mediterranean calling at Savona (Saturday), Marseille (Sunday), Barcelona (Monday), Palma de Mallorca (Tuesday), Civitavecchia (Thursday) and La Spezia (Friday).
Commenting on the news, Costa Cruises President Neil Palomba said: “Our priority is always to offer our guests a unique vacation experience that exceeds their expectations. Unfortunately, the Meyer Turku yard needs more time to ensure that Costa Smeralda will do just that and this is absolutely crucial as far as we’re concerned. At the same time, I would stress that Costa Smeralda is a totally innovative project in terms of both technology and product. In particular, the use of LNG propulsion, which we were the first to invest in, epitomizes Costa’s vocation for ground-breaking, responsible innovation by greatly reducing emissions, thus laying down a marker for the cruise industry as a whole. We deeply regret this delay and apologize for the inconvenience caused to all our guests who’ve already booked a cruise on Costa Smeralda sailing prior to November 30. In any case, we trust that we’ll be able to welcome them on board our new flagship and we’ve already made the necessary arrangements so as to offer them a new choice of departure dates.”
Costa Cruises is duly informing travel agencies and guests booked on vacations originally planned on Costa Smeralda before November 30, 2019.
Like her sister ship Costa Toscana due for delivery in 2021, Costa Smeralda will be powered both in port and at sea by LNG, the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, thereby minimizing environmental impact. The introduction of LNG-fueling enables the virtual total elimination of sulfur dioxide emissions and particulate matter.
Costa Smeralda will be a showcase for and a tribute to the very best of Italy. All her decks and public areas are named after – and designed based on – iconic Italian places. The food&wine offerings on board will feature the finest Italian culinary traditions, with the collaboration of prestigious partner suppliers. The ship will have 11 different restaurants (including one specifically conceived for casual family dining), 19 bars, a splendid spa area with 16 treatment rooms, an onboard waterpark with waterslides, 4 pools and a dedicated facility where kids can hang out and make new friends their age. Costa Smeralda will also have her very own museum: the CoDe – Costa Design Museum, displaying the excellence of Italian design.
