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New Costa Cruises ship Costa Favolosa takes to the sea

Costa Favolosa, the new Italian-made flagship of Costa Cruises fleet, took to the sea on Friday (August 6) for the first time at the technical launch at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy.

In a traditional ceremony, the ship’s godmother Beatrice Siri, who has been directly involved in the construction of the fleet’s last six ships, cut the ribbon and the bottle of champagne duly broke against the bow of the ship.

Setting sail on her first cruise in July 2011, the 114,500-ton Costa Favolosa is the fourth of five new ships due for delivery between 2009 and 2012, marking a total investment worth €2.4 billion.

The addition of the Costa Favolosa’s sister ship Costa Fascinosa, also being built in Marghera, will complete the Italian company’s ambitious fleet expansion programme when she launches in Spring 2012.

The construction of each new ship involves the labour of around 3,000 people, including both Fincantieri’s own employees and around 500 contracted suppliers, most of which are Italian firms.

“It is a source of great pride for us to launch this new jewel we are building for Costa Cruises, Europe’s cruise leader, with whom we are pleased to further strengthen our long-lasting, successful relationship,” says Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO.

The main on board innovations include: six new suites with private verandas and Jacuzzis, a new entertainment area for teenagers (but other age groups will enjoy it too), 4D Cinema, PlayStation World, a bar with ice-cream, drinks and popcorn, and a Teens’ Dance Floor; plus a children’s game room, and a new open-air Aqua Park water playground with its own pirate galleon.

Innovations

The Samsara Spa, one of the largest and most exclusive wellness centres ever built on a cruise ship

A large lido extending over two decks, with a sliding glass roof and giant movie screen

Grand Prix driving and golf simulators

The brand new design aft pool area: 1,000 sqm of space dedicated to relaxation and entertainment with the added attraction of new raised whirlpool tubs

Costa Favolosa is set to make her debut on a three-day mini cruise departing from Venice on July 4, 2011, calling at Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Koper (Slovenia). This will be followed by her grand inaugural cruise, leaving Venice on July 7 and comprising of a ten-day itinerary taking in Israel, Greece and Turkey with stopovers in Bari (Italy), Corfu (Greece), Haifa (Israel), Izmir (Turkey) and Dubrovnik (Croatia).

Throughout the 2011 summer season, Costa Favolosa will be offering seven-day cruises from the Italian ports of Venice and Bari to Olympia (Greece), Izmir and Istanbul (Turkey), and Dubrovnik (Croatia).