Costa Cruises has presented an innovative virtual reality preview of Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises’ new flagship and the first cruise ship to be powered both in port and at sea by liquefied natural gas (LNG) that is currently under construction at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland.
Costa Smeralda will be an authentic tribute to the Belpaese, offering a unique travel experience inspired by the style, hospitality and warmth of Italy. Smeralda’s debut is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2019, with a 15-day “vernissage cruise” from Hamburg, Germany, to Savona, Italy. After the voyage, while in Savona, the naming ceremony will take place on Nov. 3, 2019.
“In 2018 we are celebrating our 70th anniversary, but as we always have, we are constantly looking towards the future, to innovate and to constantly improve. This is why I am particularly delighted to unveil a preview of our new flagship, Costa Smeralda, a next-generation ship that will bring even more opportunities to take new target guests on cruises, offering them an unforgettable holiday experience,” said Neil Palomba, President of Costa Cruises.
An Italian-style and Next Generation Flagship
Costa Smeralda’s tribute to Italy begins with the ship’s name that is inspired by Sardinia’s “Emerald Coast.” In addition, the names of the decks and public areas are dedicated to famous places and squares of Italy, from Palermo (deck 4) to Trieste (deck 20).
The “heart” of the new flagship will be the Colosseo, an area in the middle of the ship with three levels that will host the best shows of each cruise. In addition, upon arrival at each port, the bright screens on the walls and on the dome will have a new story to tell in each port of call. The Colosseo will also be lined with lounge bars, where guests can enjoy a glass of Ferrari sparkling wine or a Campari.
The Piazza di Spagna will be a large stairway on three decks facing astern, with an open-air balcony on the top deck that has a glass floor, that gives the guest the impression of flying over the sea. At the ship’s bow, Trastevere will be another piazza where guests can relax, chat and enjoy the experience of bars like the Venice-style Il Bacaro and the Gelateria Amarillo (the ship’s Ice Cream Parlor), shops and musical entertainment all in one area. Another spectacular panoramic viewpoint will be the Passeggiata Volare walkway, which will reach the highest point of the ship of 213 ft.
One of Costa Smeralda’s unique features will be the addition of its very own onboard museum: the CoDe – Costa Design Museum, which will be curated by Matteo Vercelloni. The 4,305 sq. ft. museum will be dedicated to the excellence of Italian design and will feature many of the names that have contributed to the ship’s construction and its success.
“Costa Smeralda will be a tribute to Italy, and to the things that makes our country appreciated all around the world. Design is definitely one of them. We are proud to have real Italian design museum onboard Costa Smeralda, featuring many of the names that have contributed to the ship’s construction and its success,” said Palomba.
The ship will not only be a feast for the eyes, but a feast for the taste buds too. Costa Smeralda will feature eleven restaurants, including the Japanese-inspired Teppanyaki restaurant, the Pummid’Oro Pizzeria, the family restaurant Tutti a tavola that will also offer many entertainment activities, and the Laboratorio del Gusto (Taste Lab) where guests can enjoy making their dinner. There will be plenty of bars for guests to relax and enjoy a drink in, like the Ferrari Spumante Spazio Bollicine, the “Aperol Spritz Bar” on outside decks, the elegant Campari Bar, and many more besides. The Nutella Café will also include many delicious treats.
Of course, Costa Smeralda would not be complete without one of the jewels in Costa Cruises’ crown: its spa. The spa will include: a beauty salon, hammam, thalassotherapy pool, 16 treatment rooms, and snow, salt and relaxation rooms. Guests who want to relax and enjoy the sun can use the four swimming pools, including one pool with a roof and two kids pools, and one reserved swimming pool deck. People who want to stay in shape on holiday can use the gym and multi-sports pitch with sea view. The gym will display the most innovative Technogym equipment for a truly unique and engaging experience. And the fun continues at the water park with its slides, the theatre, disco, casino, jazz club, piano bar, game room and in the special kids areas.
The Cabins
The comfortable and elegant rooms exude Italian taste and style. They have been designed by the Milan-based studio Dordoni Architetti and decorated with the colors and the geometric patterns of the city to reflect the name of each deck, making the interiors welcoming and bright. The new category of rooms with a “terrace over the sea” feature a splendid annex where guests can have breakfast, sip on an aperitif, or simply enjoy the sound of the waves. There will be a total of 2,612 guest rooms on board Costa Smeralda, comprising 28 suites, 106 rooms with terrace, 1,522 rooms with balcony, 168 outside rooms and 788 inside rooms.
Italian Manufacturers
In order to provide a genuinely “Made in Italy” design experience, Costa Smeralda’s furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories have been selected in collaboration with prestigious Italian companies like Molteni&C (sofas and seats), Roda (balcony furniture), Flos (decorative lights), Dedar and Rubelli (fabrics and upholstery). These brands form part of a team of 15 renowned Italian suppliers, which includes companies like Kartell, Poltrona Frau and Alessi.
Itineraries
Costa Smeralda‘s 15-day “vernissage cruise” departs Hamburg on Oct. 20, 2019, ending in Savona. The itinerary will include two-day stops at: Hamburg; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Lisbon, Portugal; Barcelona, Spain; and Marseille, France. On November 4, 2019, the 6-day inaugural cruise will begin, departing from Savona with calls at: Barcelona; Marseille; and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy. Costa Smeralda will continue to sail in the western Mediterranean until April 2020 on one-week cruises calling at: Savona; Marseille; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Rome and La Spezia, Italy.
