Costa Romantica Enters Dry Dock for Total Renovation

Costa Romantica Enters Dry Dock for Total Renovation
By Theresa Norton Masek

Costa Cruises’ Costa Romantica entered an Italian shipyard to undergo a €90 million (about $124 million) renovation and restyling. The work is scheduled for completion in February, when Costa Romantica will be renamed Costa neoRomantica. The renovation will add two half-deck extensions, 111 new standard cabins and 120 cabins and suites with balconies.

The ship’s total guest capacity will increase from 1,697 to 1,800 as the number of cabins rises from 678 to 789. The refit will increase the ship’s size to approximately 56,000 gross tons, from 53,000 gross tons.

The work began today at the San Giorgio del Porto shipyard, a division of Genova Industrie Navali Holding Company, supported by its sister company, T. Mariotti shipyard. Of the €90 million investment, about €40 million will be spent in the Province of Genoa. Nearly 40 Genoese companies are participating in the project. The refurbishment is expected to involve almost 1,000 naval architects, marine engineers, project managers, shipboard managers and skilled workers.

Among new areas being added is a wine and cheese bar offering 100 vintner labels and cheeses from around the world, a coffee and chocolate bar, an Italian pizzeria, a cabaret lounge and a nightclub. The neoRomantica also will have Costa’s branded Samsara Spa — a 45,200-square-foot wellness facility with a gym, thalassotherapy pool, treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, 50 spa cabins, six spa suites and a dedicated spa restaurant.

The restyled ship will debut Feb. 20, setting off from Savona, Italy, on a series of 11-day cruises to Spain, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Madeira, through April 4. From April 4 through May 2, and then again Sept. 5, Costa neoRomantica will offer 15-day cruises to the Atlantic capitals of Spain, France, Portugal, U.K., Belgium or the Netherlands.

During the summer, Costa neoRomantica will operate in northern Europe, sailing 15-day cruises that for the first time will offer the fjords and Baltic capitals, and two cruises to the Spitsbergen Archipelago. Starting Sept. 19, neoRomantica departs on a 107-night cruise from Italy to Australia and New Zealand.