Costa Toscana

The 2021-built Costa Toscana cruise ship is part of the new Helios-class vessels ordered by Carnival Corporation. The shipbuilding agreement with Meyer Werft was signed in July 2015 and included the construction of four new cruise ships. The contract was finalized in April 2016. Of these four vessels, two were designated for Costa Cruises and the other two for AIDA Cruises (Carnival's German brand).

Other Excellence-Class liners (Costa Toscana’s sister ships) include Costa Smeralda (2019), Carnival Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022), Carnival Jubilee (2023), Carnival Festivale (2027), Carnival Tropicale (2028), P&O Iona (2020), P&O Arvia (2022), AIDAnova (2018), and AIDAcosma (2021).

The vessel (IMO number 9781891) is currently Italy-flagged (MMSI 247431200) and registered in Genoa.

History - construction and ownership

Costa Cruises is a Genoa-based subsidiary of Carnival Corporation. Costa is Europe’s second-largest cruise line (after MSC) and operates year-round in the Mediterranean. Founded in 1854 as a cargo shipping company, Costa launched passenger services in 1947, operating regular Transatlantic crossings between Europe (Italy) and South America. In 2000, the company was acquired by Carnival Corporation.

The new Costa ships were scheduled for delivery in 2019 (Smeralda) and 2021 (Toscana). Costa ships were built in Turku, Finland, while AIDA’s ships were built in Papenburg, Germany. Each vessel has a gross tonnage of 183,000 tons, over 2,600 cabins, a double-occupancy passenger capacity exceeding 5,200 (maximum 6,600), and a crew of approximately 1,700.

The ship’s design emphasizes efficient use of both indoor and outdoor spaces, featuring several multi-functional areas. Deck 16 serves as the activity deck and includes a water slide, water park, high ropes course, and mini-golf. The pool deck is covered by a retractable glass roof. The Beach Club (adults-only area) is located beneath the glass roof and includes two waterslides, a rock climbing wall, and a sports area. A large LED screen provides outdoor video entertainment. The ship also has dedicated lounges for teens and children, including toddlers.

Panoramic glass elevators connect the outdoor areas. The ship also features a glass-bottomed skywalk located 45 meters above sea level, a large wellness complex (Organic Spa and Fitness), a shopping and dining plaza, an Atrium Lobby Lounge with a performance stage, and a large-capacity theater (show lounge).

The new Costa and AIDA ships are the industry’s first fully LNG-powered cruise vessels, generating all propulsion and onboard power using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), both in port and at sea. With these newbuilds, the Costa Group had seven ships on order, totaling a capacity of 41,000 berths. In comparison, the combined fleet capacity of Costa ships is 110,000 berths.

The four-ship contract was part of a previously announced larger shipbuilding order with Fincantieri (Italy) and Meyer Werft for nine new vessels scheduled for delivery between 2019 and 2022.

Managed by Costa Group, the combined Costa and AIDA fleet is the largest in Europe. In 2014, every second cruise tourist in Europe sailed on either an AIDA or Costa ship. By 2015, Costa Group operated 20 offices in 14 countries, employed around 27,000 shipboard staff, and offered a total passenger capacity of over 68,000 berths across the combined fleet. The group also leads the fast-growing cruise market in China and Asia.

In addition to the ship’s crew, Costa passengers are assisted by Pepper robots, a fleetwide innovation introduced in 2016. These humanoid robots welcome and guide guests during embarkation and assist throughout the cruise by providing information on dining, entertainment, enrichment programs (workshops, events), casino and shopping offers, and shore excursions. The robots are mobile, communicate in English, German, and Italian, and can interpret human emotions through voice tone and facial expression analysis.

Decks and Cabins

Costa Toscana staterooms (2663 total, 1550 with balconies) were designed by Dordoni Architetti and decorated according to deck and city themes. Italian companies were contracted to supply cabin furnishings (Molteni&C, Roda), mattresses (Dorelan), lighting (Flos), and fabrics (Dedar Milano, Rubelli). Additional Italian suppliers include Kartell (tables, chairs, accessories), Poltrona Frau (sofas, armchairs, tables), and Alessi (kitchenware).

All Costa Toscana cabins feature standard amenities such as: a sleeping area (twin beds convertible to Queen-size, bedside tables, reading lamps), a lounge/living area (sofabed, ottoman, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, sliding wardrobe with drawers and hangers), smart HDTV (infotainment system, satellite channels, Internet, on-demand movies), direct-dial phone, electronic safe (in the closet), hairdryer, en-suite bathroom (toilet, shower), mini-bar/fridge, individual climate control, complimentary 24-hour room service, and complimentary in-cabin continental breakfast. Most staterooms include a single or double sofabed or Pullman bunk beds for a third/fourth guest.

The largest accommodations are category GS-Grand Suites (350 ft² / 33 m² plus a 100 ft² / 9 m² terrace), featuring a dressing room, a large bathroom (with whirlpool tub, shower, WC/bidet), and a spacious living area with a double sofabed. Standard Suites are smaller (290 ft² / 27 m² plus a 55 ft² / 5 m² balcony). Terrace Suites (a new cabin type for Costa) measure 205 ft² / 19 m² and include a large 8 m² step-out balcony.

The ship has 20 decks, of which 16 are accessible to passengers and 11 contain cabins.

Shipboard Dining Options - Food and Drinks

Dining onboard Costa Toscana includes 16 different options (11 venues), 19 bars/lounges, and 4 main dining room restaurants (Arlecchino, Il Meneghino, Il Rugantino, La Colombina), 2 buffet-style eateries, and 5 food courts. The ship features 3 specialty restaurants (available at an extra charge): Pizzeria Pummid'oro (Italian-style), Teppanyaki (Japanese cuisine), and Laboratorio del Gusto (where guests can create their own meals). Costa Club Perla Diamante-level loyalty members enjoy exclusive complimentary dining at the Bellavista Restaurant, while Suite passengers have access to the exclusive Panorama Restaurant.

Costa Toscana's main restaurants (complimentary and waiter-served) include L’Argentario, Le Anfore, and three aft dining rooms: L’Oliveto (deck 5), La Maremma (deck 6), and Il Vigneto Osteria Buffet (deck 7), along with two exclusive venues: Bellavista and Archipelago.

Below is the complete list of Costa Toscana's dining venues (restaurants and food bars):

• Teppanyaki Restaurant (extra charge) features Oriental-style décor and offers Japanese seafood specialties like sushi and sashimi. Seating is arranged around a large cooking station where chefs prepare meals live.
• Buffet / Self-Service Restaurant (Ristorante Buffet La Sagra dei Sapori) serves light snacks, full lunches, and quick dinners. It features scenic ocean views and menus with a variety of dishes, including vegetarian, salads, fish, meat, pasta, desserts, and kids' options.
• Classic Restaurant (MDR) serves freshly prepared Italian and international breakfasts. Dinner includes well-known Italian dishes such as cappelletti with braised meat, beef fillet alla Rossini, and Sardinian fregola with vegetables, along with gourmet dishes inspired by seaports along the itinerary. Premium Italian specialties like Cotoletta and fresh-made buffalo mozzarella are offered at an additional cost.
• Ristorante Tutti a Tavola is a family-style venue featuring live entertainment and fun activities.
• Pizzeria Pummid'oro offers 14 types of pizza (by the slice), from Margherita and Four Seasons to Calzone and Napoli, along with gourmet cheese focaccia from Liguria. It also serves draft beers, wines by the glass, and a selection of desserts. All food is prepared using simple, natural ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and fresh-made mozzarella.
• Laboratorio del Gusto (Taste Lab/Food Lab Restaurant) provides interactive, build-your-own dinner experiences.
• The Salty Beach - Street food venue.
• Ristorante Bellavista – exclusive to Costa Club Perla Diamante members.
• Ristorante Archipelago – exclusive to Suite guests.

Introduced in 2021, “Destination Dishes” are complimentary and served in the main dining rooms fleetwide. These meals are based on recipes designed by a trio of celebrity chefs (Bruno Barbieri – Italian, Hélène Darroze – French, Ángel León – Spanish) and reflect the culinary traditions of the destinations visited on the following day.

Shipboard Entertainment Options - Fun and Sport

Costa Toscana offers a wide range of entertainment options, including Liquid Entertainment with live music, dance, shows, and performances at venues like the Colosseum and Piazza Trastevere (located at the bow). Piazza Grande Bellezza is a midship amphitheater/show lounge for live acts, while Piazza Ravello offers an open space with a bar/lounge and live music, served by the Spritz Bar. DJs and pianists also perform throughout the ship's restaurants. Street performances are held in various public spaces. Top evening entertainment venues include Casino Laguna (gaming lounge with bar) and Quelli Della Notte (piano bar).

The ship's wellness complex includes a large Fitness Center/Gym and the Samsara Spa, which features a beauty salon, thalassotherapy pool, sauna, salt room, snow room, relaxation area, Turkish bath (hammam), and massage treatment rooms.

Costa Toscana has four swimming pools: La Spiaggia (central, with a retractable glass roof), Settimo Cielo (outdoor, with swimming lane), and two kids' pools, along with nine large Jacuzzis. Children can enjoy the Aqua Park and La Sala Giochi (a teens-only game room), while younger kids have access to Luna Park. The CoDe Museum, dedicated to Italian design, is the second of its kind in the fleet (after Smeralda). Trastevere (deck 8 forward) is a Mediterranean-style marketplace lined with shops and bars, featuring premium brands like Ferrari, Illy, and Campari.

Below is the complete list of Costa Toscana’s lounges, clubs, and entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults:

• Teatro Sanremo (Grand Theatre) features Broadway-style shows with professional performers (singers, dancers, acrobats, magicians, comedians). Talent shows allow passengers to perform on stage.
• Liquid Entertainment includes live music, shows, and performances at the Colosseum and Piazza Trastevere. Colosseo is a three-deck-high, midship show lounge with large LED screens on walls and ceiling, displaying cruise itinerary videos and themed visuals.
• Piazza Grande Bellezza – amphitheater.
• Piazza Ravello – open space with lounge and Spritz Bar.
• CoDe Museum – showcases Italian design excellence.
• Amarillo Ice Cream Shop & Chocolate Bar – offers Italian gelato with Agrimontana flavorings and sweets from Gobino chocolate and Biasetto pastries.
• Teen Club (ages 12–17) is divided into Teen Club Junior (12–14) and Teen Club (15–17). Activities include sports tournaments, discos, game competitions, themed dinners, pool parties, and dance/music classes.
• The Beach Club (adults-only area) under the glass roof includes two waterslides, rock climbing wall, sports deck, and an outdoor theater with a giant LED screen for movies and media.
• La Sala Giochi – interactive game room for teens.
• Luna Park – outdoor playground for kids.
• Aqua Park Toscana – outdoor water park with slides.
• Four swimming pools: La Spiaggia (midship, with glass roof), Settimo Cielo (with swimming lane and served by Bar Settimo Cielo), and two pools for children.
• Sun Deck Private 19 – adults-only sundeck with pools and Jacuzzi.
• Passeggiata Volare (Fly Walk) – glass-bottom skywalk located 65 m (213 ft) above sea level.
• Campo da Gioco – outdoor sports court for basketball and volleyball.
• Palestra Virtus – gym equipped with the latest Technogym machines.
• Centro Benessere Samsara – wellness center with Venus Beauty Salon, thalassotherapy pool, sauna, and 16 treatment rooms offering thermal, stone, Lime & Ginger massages.
• Trastevere – a marketplace-style area on deck 8 with shops and bars. Shopping includes Costa Boutique and Il Mercatino.
• Photo Shop and Area Foto – photo gallery and store.
• Lungomare Riviera – Promenade Deck.
• Piazza di Spagna
• Nutella Café
• Aperol Spritz Bar
• Quelli Della Notte – piano bar/jazz club.
• Il Cielo in una Stanza – piano bar.
• Grand Bar Mastroianni
• Terrazza e Bar Superba – outdoor bar lounge.
• Bar Orizzonte (Horizon Bar)
• Spazio Bollicine
• Bar Il Mattino
• Bar Il Sole
• Il Bacaro
• La Vetta
• Bar Maranello
• Bar La Cascata
• Casino & Bar Laguna, Disco Nightclub

The Galleria Shops is a two-deck-high, 5,500 m² / 59,200 ft² retail shopping complex developed in partnership with Starboard Cruise Services. This onboard "mall" features 13 boutique stores offering ultra-premium global brands, including designer clothing (Louis Vuitton, Chanel), shoes, fashion accessories, handbags, scarves, watches (such as Olivia Burton London), and jewelry (including Diamanti per Tutti and Little Switzerland's Engrace Diamonds), as well as beauty and lifestyle products. Personalized shopping services are provided by dedicated Retail Concierges, a feature first introduced on Costa Smeralda in 2020.

Smoking on Costa Toscana is permitted only in designated open-air areas located on decks 7 (Montepulciano), 8 (Bolgheri), 17 (Montecatini Terme), 18 (Viareggio), 19 (Pietrasanta), and 20 (Forte dei Marmi).

Itineraries

The Costa Toscana itinerary program was announced in late October 2020. The 14-day Inaugural Cruise was originally scheduled to depart from Hamburg on June 28, 2021, and conclude in Savona. However, due to delivery delays, the ship’s launch and inaugural voyage were postponed—first to December 2021, then to March 2022.

The ship was initially expected to begin operations on December 4, 2021, with a short “super mini-season” (December 4–16) in the Western Mediterranean, offering 6- and 7-day roundtrip cruises from Savona, Barcelona, and Civitavecchia-Rome. This was to be followed by a winter 2021-2022 deployment in South America/Brazil (December 26, 2021 – April 10, 2022). However, these plans were canceled. The Maiden Voyage was rescheduled for March 5, departing from Savona, while the South America season was postponed to winter 2022-2023 (December 16 – April 16).

• Toscana's Mediterranean program is based on 7-day roundtrip itineraries from four homeports: Savona, Civitavecchia-Rome, Valencia, and Marseille, with calls in Palermo (Sicily) or Naples, and Ibiza Island (Balearic Islands, Spain).
• The Brazil program features 7-day roundtrips from Santos–São Paulo, visiting Salvador de Bahia and Ilheus.
• Note: The originally planned 2021–2022 South American program (December–March) was reassigned to Costa Luminosa, after Costa Toscana’s Mediterranean schedule was disrupted due to travel restrictions in Israel.

Seasonally, during deployment changes, the ship operates Transatlantic crossings between Europe and South America or Suez Canal transits between the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf (RepositionCruises.com).

During winter 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 (December through March), Costa Toscana is deployed in the Arabian Sea, offering 7-day voyages available with a “flight+cruise” package. These week-long fly-cruise itineraries (roundtrip from Dubai and Abu Dhabi) visit the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Qatar (Doha), and Oman (Muscat), with 2-day/1-night port stays in the UAE homeports.

The vessel (Meyer Turku yard/hull number 1395) has a gross tonnage of 186,364 GT, a deadweight of 13,000 tons, and a maximum draught of 8.5 m. Her powerplant is based on MaK-Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model MaK 16M-46DF) with a combined output of 57.2 MW. The registered shipowner and operator is COSTA CROCIERE SPA, while the ISM Manager is CARNIVAL MARITIME GMBH.

On July 30, 2019, the steel-cutting ceremony was held at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland. The ship (yard number 1395) was launched (floated out from drydock) on January 14, 2021, and delivered in December 2021 (postponed from June due to the pandemic). Her sistership, Costa Smeralda, was delivered in December 2019. Toscana's maximum draught is 8.6 m (28 ft), and her service/cruising speed is 17 knots (32 kph / 20 mph).

Sea trials in the Baltic Sea began on October 11, 2021. The delivery ceremony on December 2, 2021, was attended by Tim Meyer (CEO of Meyer Turku) and Mario Zanetti (President of Costa Cruises).

For Toscana’s steel-cutting, Meyer Werft used for the first time a new plasma cutter/panel line, part of a EUR 100+ million investment in the Perno yard’s steel halls. For both ships, the German shipbuilder contracted ALMACO Group to supply all staterooms (pre-fabricated passenger and crew cabins), wet units, provision stores, and galley/kitchen equipment.

Hull assembly for Costa Toscana began on February 11, 2020, in the drydock hall of Meyer Turku Shipyard. The keel-laying ceremony was attended by Neil Palomba (President of Costa Cruises) and Jan Meyer (CEO of Meyer Turku Oy). The Godmother of the ceremony was Minna Arve (Mayor of Turku). The hull’s first pre-assembled unit was the 100-meter-long FERU (engine room unit). Following tradition, coins were placed beneath the first hull block for good luck.

The ship is named after Tuscany (Toscana), a region in central Italy covering 23,000 km² (8,900 mi²) with a population of around 4 million. Its capital is Florence, which also inspired the name of fleetmate Costa Firenze. Tuscany’s Etruscan Coast (Costa degli Etruschi) is renowned for its white-sand beaches such as Rosignano Solvay and Lido di San Vincenzo. Other popular beaches include Spiaggia di Sansone (Elba Island), La Lecciona (Viareggio), Marina di Pietrasanta, Spiaggia del Gombo (Vecchiano), Cala Violina (Scarlino), Cala del Gesso (Porto Santo Stefano), La Feniglia (Poggio Pertuso), and La Cacciarella (Monte Argentario).

Like most largenewbuilds, Costa Toscana is LNG-powered, featuring four Caterpillar Marine LNG engines (MaK 16M-46DF) producing a combined 57.2 MW. Her propulsion system includes two Azimuth thrusters with a total output of 37 MW. The ship is equipped with three cryogenic steel LNG tanks totaling ~3,200 m³. Two tanks measure 35 m in length and 8 m in diameter (1,525 m³ each), and the third is 28 m long, 5 m in diameter, with a 520 m³ capacity.

The christening ceremony was held dockside at Port Barcelona on June 14, 2022. Attendees included godmother Chanel Terrero Martínez (1991-born Cuban-Spanish singer, dancer, and actress), Captain Pietro Sinisi, Costa President Mario Zanetti, and Spanish celebrities Carlos Javier Sobera Pardo, Flora González Lopez, and Ángel León. The ceremony featured a live performance by Italian electric violinist Andrea Casta.

ChocoCruise 2023

In partnership with Barry Callebaut Group (founded 1996, Zurich, Switzerland), Costa organized the pastry-themed "ChocoCruise – Explore the World of Chocolate" aboard Costa Toscana.

The 7-day Mediterranean cruise (November 17–24, 2023, roundtrip from Genoa) visited Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari (Sardinia), Naples, and Civitavecchia-Rome.

The voyage featured five world-class master pastry chefs from the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy, all serving as Ambassadors: Alberto Simionato (Italy), Joel Perriard (Switzerland), Philippe Bertrand (France), Ramon Morato (Spain), and Alexandre Bourdeaux (Belgium). They were joined by Riccardo Bellaera, Costa’s Corporate Pastry Chef & Baker.

Chocolate-themed onboard activities included meet-and-greet sessions, cooking shows where chefs shared stories and techniques, and daily demonstrations of chocolate dishes.

In the ship’s galley lab (The Lab), guests participated in chocolate workshops and tastings of the chefs’ signature desserts.

Additionally, two Italian master bartenders—Bacardi’s Europe Cruise Brand Ambassadors—presented exclusive chocolate-infused cocktails.

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2022

Costa Toscana was originally scheduled to debut in 2021—first on June 28 (repositioning from Hamburg to Savona), then on December 4 (7-day roundtrip from Savona). Her inauguration was initially planned for Brazil as part of the 2021–2022 South America winter season. However, Costa instead launched Toscana with a "super mini-season" (December 4–16) in the Western Mediterranean, offering 6- and 7-day roundtrips from Savona, Barcelona, and Civitavecchia-Rome.

This was followed by the 2021–2022 winter season in Brazil (December 26, 2022 – April 10, 2023), beginning with the inaugural South American voyage (New Year’s Eve cruise) from Santos on December 26. The program featured 7-day roundtrips from Santos visiting Salvador de Bahia and Ilheus.

(Canceled inaugural South America cruise 2021) – a 7-day Brazil roundtrip from Santos. Except for the New Year’s Cruise (EUR 1270 / USD 1550 pp), general prices started at EUR 990 (USD 1210) per person, based on double occupancy.

In 2022, the eastbound Transatlantic crossing (repositioning from Brazil to Europe/Italy) was scheduled to depart from Santos on April 17, 2022.

However, due to delayed delivery, both programs were scrapped and the Maiden Voyage was rescheduled for March 5, 2022.

(Inaugural Cruise 2022) 7-day Mediterranean itinerary roundtrip from Savona

Inaugural 7-day Mediterranean itinerary with Ibiza and Naples

The itinerary program allowed embarkation in all of the above ports (excluding Palermo and Palma) and ended with the westbound Transatlantic crossing from Europe to South America.

(2022) 19-day Transatlantic from Savona to Santos

Godspeed!