Costa’s Expansion Continues with New Costa Deliziosa

Costa Cruises said work is continuing at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy, on the Costa Deliziosa, the 15th member of the fleet. The Costa Deliziosa is due to enter service in January 2010. Over the last few days, procedures were carried out for the installation of the diesel engine generator sets, the engines that produce the power needed for propulsion and shipboard hotel services. The complex operation included the installation of six engines.

The 92,700-ton, 2,260-passenger Costa Deliziosa is a sister ship of the Costa Luminosa. Fincantieri is currently building three new Costa ships in its yards. The Italian ship builder is also completing the Costa Luminosa and the 114,500-ton, 3,000-passenger Costa Pacifica. They will be delivered at the end of April and the end of May 2009 with a joint inaugural on June 5.

Costa’s fleet expansion program includes the introduction of five new ships by 2012, all built in Italy by Fincantieri for a total investment of 2.4 billion euros. In addition to the Costa Pacifica, Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa, two sister ships of the Costa Pacifica will enter service in spring 2011 and 2012. The Costa fleet will then be 17-strong and able to carry some 46,400 guests, an increase of 50 percent on present capacity.