By
Rebecca Gibson |
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered Costa Cruises’ new €550 million flagship at its Marghera yard on 25 October.
Costa Diadema is the 15th ship in the Costa fleet and is the 12th vessel Fincantieri has built for the line. More than 1,000 shipyard workers, 2,500 subcontractors were involved in the project, while around 400 Italian suppliers were contracted to outfit the ship’s interior.
“Costa Diadema is the 44th cruise ship we have built since 2002 and the 12th cruise ship we have built for our friends from Costa Cruises,” said Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “This is thus a very special occasion to us and we are very proud to present the latest result of the Italian excellence, which confirms our leading position in ship design and construction for cruise sector, a sector without parallel in terms of technological complexity and competitiveness.”
Weighing 132,500gt and measuring more than 300 metres in length and 37 metres in width, Costa Diadema has 1,862 guest cabins and offers split-level and interconnected rooms directly overlooking the sea to evoke the atmosphere of an Italian coastal resort. In addition, the flagship offers a range of new dining and entertainment venues including Teppanyaki, Country Rock Club, an arcade with interactive games, Portobello Market Piazza, a three-level Samsara Spa and a 500 m open-air promenade with cabanas, restaurants and bars.
“Costa Diadema is our new flagship, she will set new standards in the European cruise industry and further strengthen Costa’s leadership in Europe,” said Michael Thamm, Costa CEO. “She is the best expression of our new brand positioning: Italy’s finest. Its passion and modern Italian lifestyle, hospitality and elegance.”
Departing from Venice on 30 October, Costa Diadema will sail to Trieste to host an onboard party, before embarking on her ‘vernissage’ cruise on 1 November, which includes calls at Dubrovnik, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Malta; and Naples and Genoa, Italy.
On 7 November, the flagship will be christened in Genoa by Italian travel agent Carolina Miceli, who will be joined by four maids of honour from Germany, Spain, France and China.
After her christening, Costa Diadema will sail to Savona, where her maiden visit will also mark the official inauguration of the second terminal of the Palacrociere, built by Costa with a total investment of €9 million.
From 8 November until the end of summer 2015, Costa Diadema will be deployed in the western Mediterranean, sailing seven-day cruises to Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Naples, Florence and La Spezia, Italy.