Costa Cruises celebrated on July 4 the traditional coin ceremony for its newbuild, Costa Smeralda, at Meyer Turku shipyard, one of the world's largest shipbuilding complexes.
Entering into service next year, Costa Smeralda will be the first cruiser marketed broadly to customers around the globe, that will be fully powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas), the cleanest burning fossil fuel in the world.
Some commemorative coins were positioned along the ship's keel during the ceremony, as a symbol of good fortune for all crew members, passengers and future trips. The symbolic moment, part of shipbuilding tradition, was celebrated via an official event attended by the senior management of Meyer Turku shipyard and Costa Cruises. 28-year-old Italian, Second Deck Officer in Costa fleet, Elisabetta Moraci, served as godmother of the ceremony.
Costa Smeralda is due to debut on October 20, 2019, with her 15-day maiden voyage from Hamburg to Savona. The itinerary features 2-day stopovers in some of Europe's cities with the richest history and culture, such as Hamburg, Rotterdam, Barcelona, Marseille, Lisbon.
Costa Smeralda naming ceremony will be celebrated in Savona on November 3, 2019. The 6-day inaugural cruise will depart Savona on November 4, and sail to Barcelona, Marseille and Civitavecchia-Rome. Smeralda will then continue to sail around Western Mediterranean through April 2020, offering 7-day cruises.