Costa Cruises announced that it has placed a new order with San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa for major restyling operations on the ship Costa Romantica presently operating for the Costa fleet. Costa Cruises is investing a total of around 90 million euros for this work.

San Giorgio del Porto shipyard – which belongs to Genova Industrie Navali Holding Company – will be supported by the sister company T. Mariotti shipyard.

Thanks to the restyling, to be carried out from the end of October 2011 to the end of January 2012, the Costa Romantica will be completely renovated, just like her name, which will become the “Costa neoRomantica”.

This extensive make-over will include the construction of new areas and the introduction of services that represent a major evolution in the Costa product. The objective is to offer a renewed cruise experience: the perfect way to satisfy the needs of a special clientele target.

Sophisticated atmospheres will be created throughout the Costa neoRomantica, starting from a contemporary, particularly elegant and refined interior design. Tillberg Design, a Swedish design company that has designed the interiors of about 130 luxury yachts and prestigious cruise ships over the last 40 years, and Syntax, a London-based company that specialises in hotels and prestigious wellness centres, have been commissioned to develop the interior design.

The new areas on the ship will include a wine bar, with 100 different labels and a wide selection of cheeses from around the world, a coffee bar to enjoy sweets and coffee, a show lounge bar with dance floor, a cabaret and a night-club.

Amenities will also include the Samsara Spa, a 4,200-m² wellness area with gym, a swimming pool for thalassotherapy, treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, 50 cabins and 6 suites and a special restaurant. For those who love fine cuisine there will also be a restaurant club with menus created by the best award-winning chefs.

During the restyling works in the Genoa dry-dock, 2 new half-decks will be added along with 111 new cabins, and 120 cabins and suites with private balcony will be created. Total Guest capacity will increase from 1,697 to 1,800, while the number of cabins will increase from 678 to 789 and the total displacement to approximately 56,000 gross tonnage.

Once restyling has been completed, at the end of February 2012, the Costa neoRomantica will sail 11-day cruises to the Canary Islands, with departure from Savona. During the 2012 summer season, the ship will be positioned in North Europe for 2-week cruises with brand new itineraries.