Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard handed over the Costa Venezia – designed to offer the Chinese market the best of Italy – to Costa Cruises in the presence of Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi.
The 135,500gt, 323-meter ship has capacity for more than 5,200 passengers and will be the largest vessel introduced by Costa to the Chinese market, where the Italian company began operating in 2006.
The ship is designed to introduce Chinese guests to Italian culture, lifestyle and excellence, starting with the interiors, which are inspired by Venice.
“As the name says, the interiors are inspired by the lagoon city, its streets and its squares, which will bring to life the passion of Venetian and Italian culture to Chinese cruise passengers,” Fincantieri said.
The ship will offer passengers a fusion of Italian and Chinese culture.
Cruisers will be able to enjoy Chinese food, Chinese-style karaoke and events like a Golden Party, with surprises and gifts awarded every 10 minutes.
The Costa Venezia will depart March 3, bound for Greece and Croatia.
On March 8, the ship will be back in Trieste for the start of its inaugural cruise, a 53-day journey tracing Marco Polo’s route through the Mediterranean to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Far East before arriving at Tokyo.
From May 18, the Costa Venezia will be dedicated exclusively to Chinese travellers for cruises in Asia departing from Shanghai.
