Costa Cruises' 53,000-ton, 1,697-guest Costa Romantica will undergo a major renovation totaling $128 million at the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The ship, which entered service in 1993, will undergo a “restyling” between late October and the end of January 2012. The newly renovated ship will be renamed Costa neoRomantica.
Tillberg Design, a Swedish company that has designed the interiors of approximately 130 luxury yachts and cruise ships over the last 40 years, and Syntax, a London-based company that specializes in hotels and wellness centers, have been commissioned to develop the interior design.
During the renovation, two new half-decks will be added along with 111 new cabins. Another 120 cabins and suites with private balconies will be created. Total guest capacity will increase from 1,697 to 1,800, while the number of cabins will increase from 678 to 789. The ship’s total gross tonnage will increase to approximately 56,000 tons.
New areas on the ship will include a wine and cheese bar, a coffee and sweets bar, a show lounge bar with dance floor, a cabaret and a nightclub. Amenities also will include the Samsara Spa, a 4,200-square-meter wellness area with gym, a thalassotherapy pool, treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, 50 spa cabins and six suites, and a spa restaurant. A specialty club restaurant also will be added.
When the refit is complete, Costa neoRomantica will sail 11-day cruises to the Canary Islands from Savona, Italy. During the 2012 summer season, the ship will be positioned in northern Europe for two-week cruises on new itineraries. For more information, contact your cruise specialist.
