Thread: Costa Cruises Installs Funnel For Costa Favolosa

GENOA (June 22, 2010) – Work is continuing at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard on the construction of the Costa Favolosa, the fifteenth member of the Costa fleet. The ship’s distinct yellow funnel with blue “C,” a design that has been a signature feature of all Costa vessels for over 60 years, was recently installed on the ship. Since the establishment of the historic brand in the 1940s, which is today Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, some 35 ships have featured the iconic Costa funnel. Like the other 14 members of the fleet currently in service, the Costa Favolosa will fly the Italian flag, confirming Costa Cruises’ role as the only ambassador for “Italian-made” excellence in the cruise industry.

The Costa Favolosa (114,500 tons; 3,000 dbl occ) will enter service in summer 2011. She will be the first of two sister ships set to join the Costa fleet by 2012. The Costa Fascinosa, the sister ship of the Costa Favolosa, is also being built in Marghera and is scheduled for delivery in spring 2012.

Costa’s fleet expansion program, with five new ships due for delivery between 2009 and 2012, is presently the largest of its kind in the world. The Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica were delivered in 2009, while the Costa Deliziosa joined the fleet earlier this year. The addition of the two sister ships Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa will complete the expansion of the Costa fleet, Europe’s largest, which by 2012 will be 16-strong with accommodations for 45,000 total guests. All five of these ships have been, or will be, built in Italy by Fincantieri. Each one will require the labor of around 3,000 people, comprising both Fincantieri’s own employees and those of about 500 contracted suppliers, most of which are Italian firms. In overall terms, the fleet investment program launched back in 2000 by the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group (comprising Costa Cruises as well as the German brand AIDA Cruises and Iberocruceros, which operates mainly for the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets) is worth some 9.3 billion euros.

As her name suggests(Favola is Italian for “fairy tale”), the Costa Favolosa is intended to be the epitome of ship interior design, interpreting the excitement and emotion of people who view the cruise as a magical voyage in a “contemporary enchanted castle.” Magic, emotion, excitement and passion are the elements that have always inspired Costa Cruises in the design of the ships for its fleet and the creation of a unique and unforgettable cruise experience.

The Costa Favolosa will indeed be a contemporary fairy tale ship – a perfect combination of magical atmosphere and state-of-the-art high-tech fun with a truly fabulous range of amenities. The main innovations on board include six new veranda suites with their own jacuzzis; a new entertainment area called Club Cavallo Bianco with a 4D Cinema, PlayStation World, special bar serving ice-cream, drinks and popcorn, kids’ dance floor, children’s game room, and a new Aqua Park water playground for little ones with its own pirate galleon. Facilities will combine the very best of the Costa product including the Samsara Spa, one of the largest and most exclusive wellness centers ever built on a cruise ship; a large lido extending over two decks with a sliding glass roof and giant movie screen; a Grand Prix driving simulator; and a golf simulator. The aft pool area is particularly large and inviting with 1,000 m2 of space dedicated to relaxation and entertainment with the added attraction of new raised whirlpool tubs.

The Costa Favolosa is set to make her debut on a three-day premiere cruise departing from Venice on July 4, 2011, and calling on Dubrovnik and Koper. This will be followed by her grand inaugural cruise, which leaves Venice on July 7 – a 10-day itinerary taking in Israel, Greece and Turkey with stopovers in Bari, Corfu (Greece), Haifa (Israel), Izmir (Turkey) and Dubrovnik (Croatia). Throughout the 2011 summer season the Costa Favolosa will be offering 7-day cruises from Venice and Bari to Turkey (Istanbul and Izmir), Greece (Olympia) and Croatia (Dubrovnik).

Looking forward to Favalosa arriving, she sounds very interesting.