Karl WP Beyer September 16, 2019 - Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, is late in delivering the Costa Smeralda, which is currently under construction. Contrary to what was planned, the new building will not start from Savona until November 30, 2019 for the first 7-day Mediterranean cruise.
Costa Smeralda is the first Costa Crociere ship to be designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) at sea and in port. AIDA Cruises, which is part of the Costa Group, deployed the AIDAnova, their first LNG cruise ship, in spring 2019. The on-site delay of the Costa Smeralda means the cancellation of the first cruises of the new flagship and the previously planned opening activities. The ship will make its first voyage on November 30, 2019 all in the province of Savona . Until April 2021, it will commute between port cities in the western Mediterranean on a weekly basis. The large and well-known destinations are on the route planning Marseillee, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia and La Spezia.
Costa Smeralda - draft side view © Costa Crociere
Costa Crociere quotes President Neil Palomba as saying: “Our priority is always to provide our guests with a unique vacation experience that exceeds their expectations. Unfortunately, Meyer Turku Shipyard needs more time to ensure that the Costa Smeralda is just that. That is absolutely crucial for us. At the same time, I would like to underline that the Costa Smeralda is a completely innovative project, both in terms of technology and product ... "
All travel agencies and guests who have booked a Costa Smeralda trip before November 30, 2019 will be informed by the shipping company as soon as possible. Costa Crociere declares that Costa Smeralda can be seen as a tribute to the "best of Italy". All decks and public areas are named - and designed after - iconic Italian locations. The Food & Wine offer on board will offer the finest Italian culinary traditions in collaboration with renowned partner suppliers. The ship offers its guests 11 restaurants, 19 bars, a spa area with 16 treatment rooms, an on-board water park with water slides and four pools. A special feature on board is the “CoDe - Costa Design Museum”. It showcases the excellence of Italian design.
