Work is proceeding in the Fincantieri shipyards at Genoa-Sestri Ponente and Marghera on the construction of the Costa Pacifica and the Costa Luminosa, the next new flagships of Costa Crociere, the number one cruise operator in Italy and Europe. At present the finishing touches are being applied to the installation of the diesel engine generator sets, namely the engines that produce the electrical energy required to power the ship and supply the hotel services on board. The operation involved is very important and quite spectacular: in all there are 12 engines, 6 for each ship, capable of producing power of almost 140 Mw, equivalent to the electricity consumption of a city with a population of over 100,000.
On the Costa Pacifica each engine weighs 166,000 kg, has 12 cylinders and can generate power of 12,600 kW. The Costa Luminosa is fitted with two types of engine: four 170,000 kg, 12-cylinder, 12,000 kW generating sets plus two 120,000 kg, 8-cylinder, 8000 kW engines.
Delivery of the 2 new Costa flagships is scheduled for spring 2009.
The Costa Luminosa will be 92,700 gross tonnage with accommodation for 2260 Guests in dual occupancy cabins. The new ship will be one of a kind, combining the very best of the Costa product: wellness, entertainment, exclusive itineraries, art, fine food & wine. The ship will have 772 veranda cabins out of a total of 1130 staterooms, this being the highest percentage of veranda cabins in the whole Costa fleet (68%). Facilities on board will include the best of the latest innovations offered by Costa: “Samsara” Spa, one of the largest and the most exclusive wellness centers ever built on a cruise ship (over 6000 m2 including the spa itself, conveniently located cabins with direct access, and a dedicated restaurant for spa Guests); a large lido extending over two decks and fitted with a sliding glass roof; a giant movie screen; and a real and unique Grand Prix driving simulator. In addition, among the exclusive innovations never offered before, there will be a simulator providing an 18-hole championship golf course.
The Costa Pacifica, the sister ship of the present flagships Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, will be 114,500 gross tonnage and able to accommodate up to 3780 Guests. She will have all the main innovations that have proven so popular on her 2 sister ships, notably Samsara Spa, the covered swimming pool area on 2 decks, and the Grand Prix driving simulator.
Costa Crociere currently has 5 ships on order, more than any other cruise line anywhere in the world, making the Costa fleet 17-strong by 2012 with total Guest capacity of 36,800 in dual occupancy cabins. In addition to the Costa Luminosa and the Costa Pacifica, Costa Crociere has commissioned another three new buildings from Fincantieri’s Marghera yard: one 114,500-ton ship and two 92,700-ton ships. Costa’s fleet expansion program, which began in 2000, entails a total outlay of 5.5 billion euros with the addition of 13 new fleet members from 2000 to 2012.
