Costa Cruises’ first LNG-powered ship Costa Smeralda is to begin her inaugural cruise season later than planned in November, as construction delays have set in.
The 183,900 GRT 5,000-passenger ship is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
Her initial cruises and inaugural activities have been cancelled and her first cruise will now be from Savona on November 30th, 2019. Her ongoing itineraries up to April 2021 are unchanged.
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 onboard our new flagship and we’ve already made the necessary arrangements so as to offer them a new choice of departure dates.”
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 onboard 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.
