Costa Invests 66 Million Euros in Fleet Upgrades

The Costa Group is spending 66 million euros on dry-dock refurbishment for four ships for its Costa and Iberocruceros brands. The most significant investment, worth of about 55 million euros, is being carried out on Iberocruceros’ Grand Holiday in the S. Giorgio shipyards in Genoa from December through April.

The work will include a radical restyling of the ship that previously operated for Carnival Cruise Lines as the Holiday. The ship will enter service with the Iberocruceros brand in May. The objective is to adapt the ship for its Spanish clientele.

In addition to completely restyling the cabins and public areas, four new suites with balconies as well as a new wellness center will be built. The hull will be painted with a special silicone-based ecological paint that reduces the formation of micro-organisms on the hull without releasing toxic substances into the sea. This increases the vessel’s hydrodynamic performance while reducing its environmental impact given reduced fuel consumption.

At the end of the refurbishment, the Grand Holiday will be the fourth ship in the Iberocruceros fleet. The first cruise will depart from Barcelona on May 18 with destinations including Villefranche-sur-Mer, Leghorn, Civitavecchia and Porto Torres. For the summer season, the ship will sail seven-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean. Departing from Barcelona on Sundays, the ship will call on Villefranche-sur-Mer, Leghorn, Civitavecchia, Naples and La Goulette.

In addition to the Grand Holiday, three ships belonging to the Costa Cruises brand recently completed dry-docks: the Costa Magica, Nov. 4 to 18, and the Costa Mediterranea, Nov. 21 to Dec. 5, in Palermo, and the Costa Marina, Nov. 4 to 18, in Genoa.

The Mediterranea, Magica and Marina underwent routine maintenance, operations that the Italian company carries out every two years to maintain standards and comply with Italian and international safety norms.

The maintenance involved the hull and engine as well as the hotel section of the ships. In the hotel area, carpeting, curtains, fabrics and other objects and materials subject to wear and tear were replaced in the public areas and in cabins.