Costa Delays Launch of Costa Smeralda

Costa Cruises reports that it has been forced to push back the debut of its newest ship, the Costa Smeralda, to November 30, 2019, due to construction delays. Originally, the ship had been scheduled to set sail in October. 

Costa said that all of the new flagship’s initial cruises and previously scheduled inaugural activities have been cancelled. The ship’s first cruise will now depart from Savona on November 30, 2019. The itinerary, which will apply to all of the ship’s 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).

Costa Cruises said that it is informing travel agencies and guests booked on the cancelled cruises of the changes. 

The Costa Smeralda will be the first ship for the cruise line to be powered both in port and at sea by cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas (LNG), which the cruise line has said will reduce harmful emissions. Other onboard features will include a number of public areas named after and with a design based on iconic Italian places, as well as food and wine offerings based on Italian culinary traditions. The ship will have 11 different restaurants (including one specifically conceived for casual family dining), 19 bars, a spa area with 16 treatment rooms, an onboard waterpark with waterslides, four pools and a dedicated kids’ facility. Also onboard will be the CoDe – Costa Design Museum, which will showcase Italian design.

A second LNG-powered ship, the Costa Toscana, is due for delivery in 2021. 

Related Stories

Costa Cruises Returns to Turkey and Israel

Preview: Itinerary Details for 1st North American Quantum Ultra Ship

Photo Tour: Scenic Eclipse

Carnival Ecstasy Makes First Call at Half Moon Cay Since Dorian