Costa Venezia

The 2019-launched Costa Venezia cruise ship is the first liner for Costa Cruises constructed and designed specifically for China's market. Venezia and the sistership Costa Firenze (2020) were both produced by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri - Venezia at Monfalcone Shipyard (near Trieste), Firenze - at Marghera Shipyard (near Venice). Each vessel has GT tonnage 135,500 tons, 2116 cabins and passenger capacity 4200 (max / double-occupancy 5260 pax).

From the same series (Vista-Class sisterships) are also the Carnival liners Vista (2016), Horizon (2018) and Panorama (2019).

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).

Ship's design features more efficient use of both indoor and open-deck spaces, with several multi-functional areas. The activity (Lido) deck features aqua park with a water slide, high-rope garden, mini-golf course. The pool deck is covered with a retractable glass roof. The Beach Club (adults only complex) is beneath the glass roof and features a swimming pool, waterslides, 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 glass-bottomed skywalk, huge wellness complex (Organic Spa and Fitness), Plaza (with numerous bars and shops), Atrium Lobby Lounge (meeting place with a stage for street performers), large-capacity Theater (main show lounge).

Another agreement (with the German shipbuilder Meyer Werft) was signed in July 2015 and included the construction of 4 new ships of the Excellence/Helios-Class. The contract was finalized in April 2016. Of these 4 vessels, 2 are for Costa Cruises (Costa Smeralda and TBN-2021) and the other 2 for Carnival's German brand AIDA Cruises (AIDAnova and TBN-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 shipyard 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.

Cruise itinerary program

The inaugural voyage of Costa Venezia was scheduled for March 8, 2019. This eastbound repositioning cruise from Europe to China (53-day "world voyage" March 8-April 29 from Trieste to Yokohama via Suez Canal) included popular ports of call in Italy, Croatia, Greece, Israel, (Suez Canal transit), Jordan, Oman, UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China (Hong Kong), Taiwan and Japan.

The inaugural cruise was offered for booking in 3 different segments - 20-day (Trieste-Dubai), 18-day (Dubai-Singapore) and 17-day (Singapore-Yokohama. The ship will be homeported in China (Shanghai) for year-round passenger shipping operations exclusively in Asia. Inaugural cruise deals were also available for booking by European customers.

Cabins

Costa Venezia has a total of 2,116 cabins in 4 main categories: Suites, Balcony Staterooms, Oceanview Staterooms with picture windows, Inside Staterooms. 

All cabins provide a shower in the bathroom, twin beds which easily convert to a queen-sized bed, a hairdryer, safe, desk, and flat-screen TV. Balcony Staterooms also feature sofa beds as well as paid-for minibars. Wifi is available in all staterooms for an additional charge as well as in public areas. Suites receive free 24-hour room service, slippers, bathrobes plus drinks package and personal valet.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Costa Venezia offers a total of 15 restaurants and 6 main bars. The food offerings consist of classic Italian dishes, fast food, traditional Asian and Chinese cuisine. Italian food includes the menu of 3-star Michelin chef Umberto Bombana in Casanova Restaurant. However, authentic Chinese cuisine is available in the main and speciality restaurants at any time.

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

• The Main Restaurant (waiter-served) and the Lido deck buffet restaurant offer Chinese and Italian food from the early hours until night.
• The speciality Lu Hot Pot restaurant is where vacationers can cook their own choice of vegetables, seafood, and meat in a stock pot that is placed in the middle of the dining table.
• Another option is the street food, with Dim Sum offering traditional Chinese food and the Japanese Yan Teppanyaki where chefs work at the passengers’ tables.
• Casanova Restaurant is the ship's stand-out speciality restaurant. Its menu was created by Italian chef Umberto Bombana of 3-star Michelin restaurant Otto e Mezzo Bombana.
• Frutti di Mare is a seafood restaurant serving Venetian and oriental dishes.
• Lanai BBQ Restaurant and La Fiorentina Steak House both feature sea views.
• Napoli Pizza delivers classic Italian pizza anytime anywhere onboard.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Costa Venezia was specially designed to showcase Italian food, lifestyle, and culture, which is why the ship's atrium is modelled on the St Mark’s Square in Venice and there are a couple of real gondolas onboard. The Gondola Lounge is where travellers can have a virtual reality trip through the port city in a gondola and the Grand Canal Restaurant features a “canal-side” walk to admire the Bridge of Sighs - Ponte dei Sospiri. The restaurant replicates the architecture of Venetian alleys and guests are served by waiters specially dressed as 17th century Venetians. Costa Venezia voyages also offer a Venice Carnival party night with Italian entertainment and Venetian masks.

Every night there are shows in the theatre with a focus on Italian productions like Venezia Innamorata, which is based on the life of Venetian lover Giacomo Casanova. The Lounge delle Stelle is where guests can join Costa Venezia Film Festival, being entertained with songs from popular films and watching Venice Film Festival movies.

Despite the Italian ambience of Costa Venetia, the vessel has been designed exclusively for Chinese passengers with much of the entertainment Chinese, including the Golden Party where there are gifts and surprises to be won every ten minutes.

Typical family entertainment is at the heart of the experience, including kids' clubs, mini golf, Rope Garden, and Water Park Laguna for onboard fun. Chinese guests can also enjoy duty-free shopping with luxury brands like BVLGARI, Cartier, and Tiffany.

The ship also features some of the most popular Asian entertainment. 11 rooms are dedicated to karaoke, and the masquerade ball is a colourful take on the famous Carnevale in Venice. Half a dozen main lounges are available for pre-dinner cocktails, plus Bella Bar for bubble teas and fruit juices.

In January 2016, the shipowner Carnival Corporation signed a MoA agreement with Fincantieri to build 4 new vessels. Contracts were finalized in April 2016. Of these, 2 units were for Costa Asia (Venezia and Firenze), 1 for Princess (Enchanted) and 1 for P&O Australia (TBN-2022). With this shipbuilding order, Carnival Corp had a total of 17 new ships on order scheduled for deliveries between 2016-2020. All four units areFincantieri- built (at the shipyards Monfalcone and Marghera) with scheduled deliveries in 2019-2020.

Vessel's a keel-laying/coin ceremony was held on November 1, 2017, at the Fincantieri Monfalcone Shipyard (near Trieste Italy). The propulsion system is diesel-electric. Ship's powerplant consists of all 5x Tier-II compliant MAN marine diesel engines (two model 14V48/60CR and three model 8L48 / 60CR) providing total power output 62,400 kW.

The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on June 22, 2018.

On December 9, 2018, the shipowner Carnival Corporation announced that the new liner will be christened in Port Trieste (Italy) on March 1, 2019.

The Costa ship Venezia was officially delivered by Fincantieri Monfalcone on February 28, 2019. The delivery documents were signed by Arnold Donald (Carnival Corp's President and CEO) and Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO).

Ship's christening ceremony was on March 1, held in Port Trieste. The special event featured an air show by Frecce Tricolori (aerobatic team of the Italian Italian Air Force / Aeronautica Militare) and a midnight firework show. The ceremony was attended by Massimiliano Fedriga (Friuli Venezia Giulia Region's President), Roberto Dipiazza (Mayor of Trieste) and the godmother Gan Beiye and her family (Costa Crociere fans since 2011).

After the naming ceremony, the liner was repositioned (via Suez Canal) to China for year-round deployment. Costa Venezia was one of all 7 newbuilds ordered by Carnival Corporation for Costa Group (scheduled deliveries 2019-2023) and part of company's EUR 6 billion investment plan. Venezia and Firenze are Costa's largest vessels homeported in China.

Inaugural cruise 2019 itineraries

Ship's inaugural cruise is scheduled for March 3 (2019) - 5-day Adriatic Sea itinerary roundtrip from Trieste.

Initially, for booking was opened (on March 2, 2018) only the Trieste-Yokohama voyage. Tickets for the maiden voyage were available for booking by both European and Asian customers. Prices started from USD 5000 pp (inside cabin rates based on double occupancy).

This eastbound repositioning cruise was offered for booking in 5 different itinerary segments:

• (March 8-27) 19-day (Trieste-Dubai) - prices from USD 2000 pp
• (March 27 - April 13) 17-day (Dubai-Singapore) - prices from USD 1700 pp
• (April 13-29) 16-day (Singapore-Yokohama) - prices from USD 1600 pp
• 33-day (Dubay-Yokohama) - prices from USD 3600 pp
• 36-day (Trieste-Singapore) - prices from USD 4000 pp

Homeport operations from Shanghai were scheduled to start on May 18, 2019. Next tables show the revised (slightly changed) repositioning cruise itinerary segments as destinations and port times.

19-day from Trieste to Dubai

17-day from Dubai to Singapore

16-day from Singapore to Tokyo

Godspeed to the new ship!