Costa Crociere S.p.A. has appointed Hansjoerg Kunze vice president, communication and sustainability, for the Costa Cruises, Aida and Iberocruceros brands, effective Oct. 1, 2013. He replaces Mina Piccinini.

Today at Fincantieri’s Marghera, Italy, shipyard, Costa Diadema’s fore-end block hull section was laid. The future flagship of Costa Cruises’ Italian-flagged fleet is scheduled for delivery Oct. 30, 2014.

President Bujar Nishani today showed his nation’s gratitude to Captain Giovanni Cosini, master of Costa Cruises’ Costa Voyager, by presenting him Albania’s highest civilian decoration, the Special Civil Merit medal.

This month Costa Cruises North America launches a “Better Than Ever Anniversary Tour” that is slated to visit 12 cities across the country, celebrating the line’s 65-year history.