Costa Toscana

The 2021-built Costa Toscana cruise ship is from the new Helios-class vessels ordered by Carnival Corporation. The ship order agreement with Meyer Werft was signed in July 2015 and included the construction of all 4 new cruise ships. The contract was finalized in April 2016. Of these 4 vessels, 2 are for Costa Cruises and the other 2 for AIDA Cruises (Carnival's German brand). Other Excellence-Class liners (Costa Toscana's sisterships) are Costa Smeralda (2019), Carnival Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022), Carnival Jubilee (2023), P&O Iona (2020), P&O Arvia (2022), AIDAnova (2018), 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-headquartered subsidiary company owned by Carnival Corporation. Costa is Europe's second-largest cruise line (after MSC) with year-round operations in the Mediterranean. Costa was founded in 1854 as a cargo shipping company. It started passenger shipping services in 1947, with regular Transatlantic crossings between Europe (Italy) and South America. In 2000, Costa Cruises was acquired by Carnival Corporation (shipowner).

The new Costa ships were scheduled for delivery in 2019 (Smeralda) and 2021 (Toscana). Costa cruise liners were built in Turku Finland, AIDA's - in Papenburg Germany. Each unit has GT-tonnage of 183,000 tons, 2600+ cabins, double-occupancy passenger capacity 5200+ (max 6600), crew capacity ~1700.

Ship's design features more efficient use of both indoor and open-deck spaces, with several multi-functional areas. Deck 16 is the activity deck with a water slide, water park, high rope garden, mini-golf. The pool deck is covered with a retractable glass roof. The Beach Club (adults only complex) is beneath the glass roof and features an activity area with 2 waterslides, a rock climbing wall, sports deck area. This deck also has a giant LED wall for movies and other outdoor video entertainment. The ship has dedicated club lounges for teens and kids, including for toddlers.

The panoramic glass elevators also connect the outdoor areas. There is a 45-m above water level located glass-bottomed skywalk, huge wellness complex (Organic Spa and Fitness), a plaza with numerous bars and shops, Atrium Lobby lounge (meeting place with a stage for street performers), large-capacity Theater (show lounge).

The new liners for Costa and AIDA are the industry's first fully LNG-powered cruise vessels, generating all of the onboard and propulsion power from LNG (abbrev Liquefied Natural Gas) - both in ports and at sea. With the new vessels, Costa Group had a fleet of 7 ships on order. This brand new fleet has a total capacity of 41,000 berths. In comparison, the combined total capacity of Costa's fleet is 110,000 berths.

The 4-vessel contract was part of a previously announced larger shipbuilding order with Fincantieri (Italy) and Meyer Werft for all 9 new vessels with scheduled deliveries between 2019 and 2022.

Managed by Costa Group, the Costa and AIDA combined fleet is Europe's largest. In 2014, one out of every two cruise ship tourists in Europe sailed on either AIDA or Costa ship. In 2015, Costa Group had 20 offices in 14 countries, around 27,000 shipboard employees and total passenger capacity of over 68,000 berths (across the combined fleet). Costa Group also is the leader of China's rapidly growing cruise market in Asia.

Besides the ship's staff and crew, Costa cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation. They also assist them throughout the cruise by providing information and tips on onboard dining, entertainment, enrichment program (workshops, pre-scheduled events), casino and shopping promotions, shore excursions and tours. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian). They can also interpret human emotions by analyzing voice tones and facial expressions.

Decks and Cabins

Costa Toscana staterooms (2663 total, 1550 balconied) were designed by Dordoni Architetti and decorated depending on deck/city theme. For all passenger cabins were contracted Italian companies to provide their furniture (Molteni&C, Roda), matrasses (Dorelan), lighting (Flos), fabrics and upholstery (Dedar Milano, Rubelli). Among the Italian suppliers are also the brands Kartell (tables, chairs, furnishing accessories), Poltrona Frau (sofas, chairs, armchairs, tables, side tables), Alessi (kitchen accessories).

All Costa Toscana cabins offer as standard amenities sleeping area (twin beds convertible to Queen-size, bedside tables, reading lamps), lounge/living area (sofabed, ottoman seat/couch, low/coffee table, mirrored vanity table/desk with chair, sliding wardrobe/closet with drawers and hangers), smart HDTV (infotainment system, satellite reception, Internet, on-demand movies), direct-dial phone, electronic safe box (in the closet), hairdryer, en-suite bathroom (WC, shower cubicle), mini-bar/fridge, individual air-conditioning, complimentary 24-hour room service, complimentary in-cabin Continental breakfast. Most staterooms are equipped with single/double sofabed or Pullman/bunk beds for 3rd/4th person.

The largest are category GS-Grand Suites (350 ft2 / 33 m2 plus 100 ft2 / 9 m2 terrace), each with dressing room, large bathroom (whirlpool bathtub, shower, WC/bidet), larger living area sectional double sofabed). Standard Suites are smaller-sized (290 ft2 / 27 m2 plus 55 ft2 / 5 m2 balcony). Terrace Suite (a new for Costa cabin category) are 205 ft2 / 19 m2 with a large-sized (8 m2) step-out balcony.

The boat has 20 decks, of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 11 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Dining onboard Costa Toscana includes 16 different options (11 venues), 19 bar venues/lounges, 4 main dining room restaurants /MDRs (Arleccchino, Il Meneghino, Il Rugantino, La Colombina), 2 buffet-style eateries, 5 food courts. The ship's 3 specialty restaurants (at extra charge) are Pizzeria Pummid'oro (Italian-style), Teppanyaki (Japanese food) and Laboratorio Del Gusto (where passengers can create their own food). Costa Club Perla Diamante level (loyalty program members) enjoy complimentary the exclusive Bellavista Restaurant, while Suite passengers can dine at their exclusive Panorama Restaurant.

Follows the complete list of Costa Toscana restaurants and food bars.

• Main Restaurants (waiter-served) include Arleccchino, Il Meneghino, Il Rugantino, and La Colombina.
• Teppanyaki Restaurant (at extra cost) is decorated in an Oriental style. Here can be ordered Japanese seafood specialties (sushi, sashimi, etc). The restaurant's tables are arranged around a large cooking table where the chefs prepare each meal at a time.
• Buffet / Self-Service Restaurant (Ristorante Buffet La Sagra dei Sapori) offers light snacks and full lunches, as well as quick dinner meals. La Sagra dei Sapori Restaurant provides scenic ocean views and menus including a variety of dishes (vegetarian, salads, fish, meat, pasta), delicious desserts and kids-menu options.
• Classic Restaurant (MDR) offers typical Italian or international freshly-prepared breakfasts. At dinner are offered some of the best-known Italian dishes, including cappelletti with braised meat, fillet of beef alla Rossini, Sardinian fregola with fresh vegetables, plus gourmet dishes from the seaports along the cruise itinerary. The most popular Italian dishes are at extra charge - like Cotoletta (veal breaded cutlet) or onboard-made Mozzarella (cheese from buffalo milk).
• Ristorante Tutti a Tavola is a family restaurant with live entertainment and fun activities.
• Pizzeria Pummid'oro's menu has 14 pizzas (by the slice) - from Margherita, Four Seasons, Calzone, and Napoli, to the gourmet cheese focaccia from Liguria, plus excellent draft beers and wines (by the glass) and a selection of desserts. Pizzeria's food is prepared with simple and natural ingredients, including extra virgin olive oil and fresh-made mozzarella cheese.
• Laboratorio Del Gusto (Taste Lab Restaurant) offers various made-your-own dinner options.
• The Salty Beach Street Food
• Bellavista is an exclusive restaurant for Costa Club Perla Diamante level passengers.
• Panorama is an exclusive suite-only restaurant.

Introduced in 2021, "Destination Dishes" are complimentary and available at the MDR's/main dining rooms fleetwide. They are based on individual recipes designed by a "celebrity chef trio" (Bruno Barbieri/Italian, Helene Darroze/French, Angel Leon/Spanish) and interpret the traditional food of the destinations to be visiting by the ship on the following day of the voyage.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Costa Toscana ship's entertainment options include Liquid Entertainment (live music, dancing, thrilling shows and other live performances at venues like Colosseum and Piazza Trastevere (bow-located). Piazza Grande Bellezza is a midship-located amphitheater/show lounge for live performances, while Piazza Ravello is an open space with a bar lounge area (with live music and served by Spritz Bar). Live entertainment (DJs and pianists) can be also found throughout the restaurants. Fun street performances are held in several public areas. Ship's best spots for evening entertainment are Casino Laguna (gaming lounge with bar) and Quelli Della Notte (piano bar).

The boat's wellness complex includes a large Fitness Center/Gym, and the Samsara Spa (beauty salon, thalassotherapy pool, sauna, salt room, snow room, relaxation room, Turkish Bath/hammam, treatment rooms for massages).

The cruise liner Toscana has 4x swimming pools - La Spiaggia (central/glass roof covered), Settimo Cielo (outside, with a swimming lane), 2 kids pools, plus 9x large Jacuzzies/outdoor hot tubs. Children also benefit from the Aqua Park and La Sala Giochi (teens-only interactive game room). Younger children can play at Luna Park. The CoDe Museum on Costa Toscana is the fleet's second (after Smeralda) Italian design-themed museum. The Trastevere (deck 8 forward) is a Mediterranean marketplace-style complex lined up with shops and bars (also representing the premium brands Ferrari, Illy, Campari).

Follows the complete list of Costa Toscana lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Teatro Sanremo (Theater Lounge, Grand Theatre) is offered a different Broadway-style show production each night, with professional performances by national and international artists (singers, dancers, acrobats, magicians, stand-up comedians). Talent shows allow passengers to become a star performing on stage.
• Liquid Entertainment programming features live music and shows, dancing and other performances at the Colosseum and Piazza Trastevere. Colosseo is a 3-deck-high, midship-located show lounge (on 3 levels) featuring large LED screens mounted on its walls and dome. The large screens display also ship's current cruise itinerary (as call ports and land tours) via themed videos.
• Piazza Grande Bellezza (amphitheater)
• Piazza Ravello (open space with a bar lounge area, live music, Spritz Bar)
• CoDe Museum showcases the best of the Italian design companies.
• Amarillo Ice Cream Shop & Chocolate Bar uses Agrimontana-based flavorings to prepare creamy Italian gelato (frozen desserts) and Italian confectionery made from Gobino chocolate and Biasetto (pastry shop) sweets.
• At the Teen Club (ages 12 to 17) teenagers are divided into 2 age groups - Teen Club Junior (12-14-year-olds) and Teen Club (15-17-year-olds). Among the most popular events are sports tournaments, disco and game competitions, themed dinners, open-deck pool parties, dance and music classes.
• The Beach Club (adults-only complex) is beneath the glass roof and has an activity area with 2 waterslides, rock climbing wall, sports deck area and outdoor theater with a giant LED wall for movies and other media).
• La Sala Giochi is an interactive game room for teens.
• Luna Park is an outdoor playground for kids.
• Aqua Park Toscana (outdoor park with water slides)
• The ship's 4 swimming pools are named La Spiaggia (midship, glass roof covered), Settimo Cielo (with a swimming lane, and is served by Bar Settimo Cielo / Seventh Heaven Bar), plus 2 kids pools.
• Sun Deck Private 19 is an adults-only sundeck area with swimming pools and jacuzzi.
• Passeggiata Volare (Fly Walk) is a Skywalk - glass-bottomed walkway located 65 m / 213 ft above sea level
• Campo da Gioco (Sports Court) is an outdoor playground for playing basketball/volleyball.
• Palestra Virtus (Gymnasium / Fitness Center) is fitted with the latest Technogym equipment.
• Centro Benessere Samsara (SPA & Massage) is the ship's wellness complex consisting of Venus Beauty Salon, thalassotherapy pool, sauna room, 16 treatment rooms (thermal massage, stone massage, Lime & Ginger massage).
• Trastevere is a marketplace-like string of shops and bars on deck 8. Shopping options also include Costa Boutique (branded merchandise) and Shop II Mercatino.
• Photo Shop, Area Foto (Photo Gallery and Shop)
• Lungomare Riviera (Promenade Deck)
• Piazza di Spagna
• Nutella Cafe
• Aperol Spritz Bar
• Quelli Della Notte (Piano Bar / Jazz Club)
• II cielo in una stanza (Piano Bar)
• Grand Bar Mastroianni
• Terazza e Bar Superba (outdoor bar lounge)
• Bar Orizzonte (Horizon Bar)
• Spazio Bollicine
• Bar II mattino
• Bar II Sole
• II Bacaro
• La Vetta
• Bar Maranello
• Bar La Cascata
• Casino & Bar Laguna, Disco Nightclub

The Galleria Shops is a 2-deck-high, 5500-m2/59200-ft2 sized retail shopping complex via partnership with Starboard Cruise Services. The "mall" groups a total of 13 boutique stores selling ultra-premium global brands specializing in designer clothing (also by Louis Vuitton and Chanel), shoes, fashion accessories, handbags and scarves, watches (also Olivia Burton London), jewelry (including Diamanti per Tutti and Little Switzerland's Engrace Diamonds), beauty and lifestyle products. Professional personalized services are provided by dedicated Retail Concierges (introduced on Costa Smeralda in 2020).

Itineraries

Costa Toscana itinerary program was announced in late-October 2020. The 14-day Inaugural Cruise was originally planned to leave from Hamburg on June 28, 2021, and end in Savona. However, due to delayed delivery, the vessel's launch/inauguration was postponed - first to 2021 (December) then to 2022 (March).

Costa Toscana had to start operations on December 4, 2021, with a "super mini-season" (Dec 4 through 16) in the Western Mediterranean, based on 6-7-day itineraries (leaving roundtrip from Savona, Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome) followed by the 2021-2022 winter season in South America/Brazil (December 26, 2021, through April 10, 2022). However, these plans were canceled, the Maiden Voyage was rescheduled for March 5 (Savona roundtrip) and the South American season - for winter 2022-2023 (Dec 16 thru April 16).

• Toscana's Mediterranean program is based on 7-day roundtrips from four homeports (Savona, Civitavecchia-Rome, Valencia, Marseille) additionally visiting Palermo (Sicily Italy) or Naples with Ibiza Island (Balearic Spain).
• Toscana's Brazil program is based on 7-day roundtrips from Santos-Sao Paulovisiting Salvador de Bahia and Ilheus.
• Note: Toscana's originally scheduled 2021-2022 program (December-March) was allocated to Costa Luminosa, which Mediterranean schedule was canceled due to Israel's travel restrictions.

Seasonally (on repositioning) the ship operates Transatlantic crossings between Europe and South America.

On July 30, 2019, at Meyer Turku Shipyard (in Turku, Finland) was held the vessel's steel-cutting ceremony. The vessel (yard number/hull 1395) was launched (floated out from drydock) on January 14, 2021. The ship was delivered in December 2021 (postponed from June due to the Coronavirus crisis). The sistership Costa Smeralda was delivered in December 2019. The vessel's max draught is 8,6 m (28 ft). Its service/cruising speed is 17 knots (32 kph / 20 mph).

Baltic Sea trials started on October 11, 2021. The delivery ceremony (held on December 2, 2021) was attended by Tim Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO) and Mario Zanetti (Costa Cruises' President).

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

Costa Toscana's hull assembly started on February 11, 2020, at Meyer Turku Shipyard's drydock hall. The special keel-laying ceremony was attended by Neil Palomba (Costa Cruises' President) and Jan Meyer (Meyer Turku Oy's CEO). The ceremony's Godmother was Minna Arve (Turku City's Mayor). Hull's first pre-assembled section was the 100-meter long FERU (engine room unit). Traditionally, under the vessel's first hull block were placed coins for good luck.

The new Costa liner is named after Tuscany (Toscana) - a 23,000 km2 (8,900 ml2) sized region in central Italy with population around 4 million and capital city Florence (after which is named the fleetmate Costa Firenze). Tuscany's Etruscan Coast (Costa degli Etruschi) is best-known for its white-sand beaches, the list of which includes Rosignano Solvay San Vincenzo, Lido di San Vincenzo. Other large beaches are Portoferraio's Spiaggia di Sansone (on Elba Island), Versilia's La Lecciona (Viareggio) and Marina di Pietrasanta (Pietrasanta), Marina di Vecchiano's Spiaggia del Gombo, Scarlino's Cala Violina, Porto Santo Stefano's Cala del Gesso, Poggio Pertuso's La Feniglia, Monte Argentario's La Cacciarella.

Like most large-sized newbuilds, the Costa ship Toscana is LNG-powered, with 4x Caterpillar Marine LNG engines (model MaK 16M-46DF) generating combined output 57,2 MW. The propulsion system is based on two Azimuting thrusters (combined power output 37 MW). The ship has 3x LNG tanks (cryogenic steel) with total capacity ~3200 m3. Two of the tanks are larger (length 35 m, diameter 8 m, LNG capacity 1525 m3), while the 3rd tank has length 28 m, diameter 5 m and capacity 520 m3.

The ship's christening ceremony was on June 14, 2022, held dockside at Port Barcelona. The naming event was attended by the godmother Chanel Terrero Martínez (1991-born Cuban-Spanish singer, dancer and actress), Captain Pietro Sinisi (the ship's Master), Mario Zanetti (Costa's President), as well as the Spanish celebrities Carlos Javier Sobera Pardo (actor and TV presenter), Flora González Lopez (journalist and TV presenter), Angel Leon (seafood chef). The event featured a live performance by the Italian electric violinist Andrea Casta.

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2022

Costa Toscana was scheduled to enter service in 2021 - first on June 28 (repositioning from Hamburg to Savona) then on December 4 (7-day roundtrip from Savona). The liner's inauguration was also originally planned to be in Brazil as part of the maiden South America 2021-2022 winter season. Costa decided to start Toscana with a "super mini-season" (December 4 through 16) in the Western Mediterranean, based on 6-7-day itineraries leaving roundtrip from Savona, Barcelona and Civitavecchia-Rome.

Followed the 2021-2022 winter season in Brazil (December 26, 2022, through April 10, 2023), with the inaugural South America (New Year's Eve) voyage departing roundtrip from Santos on Dec 26. The winter program was based on 7-day Santos roundtrips visiting Salvador de Bahia and Ilheus.

(inaugural South America cruise 2021/canceled) 7-day Brazil roundtrip from Santos. Excluding the New Year's Cruise (EUR 1270 / USD 1550 pp), general prices started from EUR 990 (USD 1210) per person with 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!