By
Rebecca Gibson |
Costa Cruises’ Costa Fortuna is to homeport in Genoa in 2019, marking the first time the line has called in the Italian city in almost 15 years.
Currently operating in Asia, the 3,470-guest Costa Fortuna will start homeporting in Genoa from 26 March 2019 and make weekly departures from the city until 8 November. In the spring and autumn, the ship will sail itineraries to Marseille, France; Barcelona and Valencia; Spain; and Civitavecchia and La Spezia, Italy. In the summer months, the ship will offer cruises to Marseille, Tarragona and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. These voyages will include a long stopover in Ibiza and Olbia.
“After almost 15 years a Costa ship is coming back to Genoa, reflecting the success of the work the institutions have achieved together with the cruise company, with initiatives that will show Liguria in an even better light,” said Giovanni Toti, president of the Liguria Region.
Costa’s redeployment of Costa Fortuna is part of the cruise line’s plan to strengthen its presence in the Italian region of Liguria, which will also see new flagship Costa Smerelda calling at both Savona and La Spezia in 2019. Now under construction at Meyer Turku’s yard in Finland, the 6,600-guest Costa Smeralda will be one of the world’s first cruise ships to be powered by LNG fuel at sea and in port. From 3 November, the vessel will call at Savona and La Spezia every week as part of a seven-day itinerary that also includes visits to Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Civitavecchia.
The Authority Port System of Western Ligurian Sea will start work to deepen the port basin ahead of Costa Smerlda’s arrival, while Costa will invest €4.5 million to build two passenger boarding fingers and upgrade the Palacrociere buildings.
"Liguria has always been Costa Cruises' home throughout its 70 years in existence, which is why we are especially happy to strengthen our presence in all the three main ports of our region," said Neil Palomba, Costa Cruises President. "These new investments have become a reality thanks in part to the constant dialogue we have with local institutions, including the Liguria Region, the three city councils and the Port Authorities. In particular, the support of the mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci and the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti have played a decisive role in finally bringing back a Costa ship to Genoa after all these years."