Costa Cruises is a British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

-American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 owned Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 cruise line

Cruise line

A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain,...

, based in Genoa

Genoa

Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....

, Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

.

Founded in 1924, the company originally operated cargo ship

Cargo ship

A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...

s, until the introduction of passenger services in 1947, with regular services between Italy and South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

. The company later converted its entire fleet to full time cruising, and as an independent company became one of the largest cruise operators in Europe. Acquired by Carnival Corporation in 2000, Costa Cruises is now one of eleven brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC

Carnival Corporation & plc

Carnival Corporation & plc , is a American-British Company, and the world's largest cruise ship operator. It is a dual listed company, with headquarters at Carnival Place in the Miami suburb of Doral, Florida, USA, and at Carnival House in Southampton, England, UK...

 and accounts for approximately 16% of its revenue.

Today, as Costa Cruises Group, the company is one of the main operating companies in the Carnival group, with executive control of the groups activities in Europe. The company is responsible for operation of Costa Cruises in Italy

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

, AIDA Cruises

AIDA Cruises

AIDA Cruises is a British-American owned German cruise line based in Rostock, Germany.Originally founded as Deutsche Seereederei with a ship called Völkerfreundschaft , the company entered the cruise industry in the 1960s and was later acquired by P&O Princess Cruises PLC in 2000...

 in Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 and Ibero Cruises in Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

. AIDA was previously a subsidiary of P&O Princes Cruises PLC, being transferred to Costa following the merger of Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess in 2002. Ibero Cruises is a new brand, created in 2007 as a joint venture between Carnival Corporation and Orizonia Group

Orizonia Group

The Orizonia Group is a Spanish leisure and travel group founded in 2006. The company is based on the Spanish island of Mallorca, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the business groups leading Spanish tourism...

.

The Costa Cruises brand currently operates 15 cruise ships, which all sail under the Italian flag and provide cruise holidays in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe

Northern Europe

Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...

, the Caribbean

Caribbean

The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...

, the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...

, the Middle East

Middle East

The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...

, South East Asia and South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

.

Axel Johnson class

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Allegra Costa Allegra MS Costa Allegra is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Italy-based Costa Cruises. She was built in 1969 by the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland as the container ship MS Annie Johnson for the Sweden-based Rederi AB Nordstjernan...	1969	1992Present	28,430 tons		Previously Annie Johnson, Regent Moon and Alexandra

Classica class

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Classica Costa Classica Costa Classica is a cruise ship for Costa Cruises. She was built by Fincantieri Shipyards. In 2001 and 2005, she underwent major refurbishments. On board are two restaurants, 9 bars, 2 swimming pools, and 4 whirlpools.-MSC Poesia collision :...	1991	1991Present	52,926 tons
Costa Romantica Costa Romantica Costa Romantica is a cruise ship for Costa Cruises completed 1993 as a sister ship to Costa Classica and was refurbished in 2003. Her public rooms are decorated with rare woods, Carrara marble, and millions of dollars in original works of art. There is also a full luxury spa aboard...	1993	1993Present	53,000 tons		In dry dock receiving a €90 million refit and to be renamed Costa neoRomantica

Sky class

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Victoria Costa Victoria Costa Victoria is a Sky class cruise ship owned and operated by Costa Cruises. She debuted in 1996 and was refurbished in 2004. She was designed to reflect the spirit of Italy. Features include the panoramic Concorde Plaza, an indoor pool, the ultramodern Pompei Spa, and the seven deck Planetarium...	1996	1996Present	76,000 tons		Similar to Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun Norwegian Sun Norwegian Sun is a Sky class cruise ship operated by Norwegian Cruise Line. She entered service in 2001 in a dual christening ceremony at the Port of Miami with the Norwegian Star. She was constructed at the Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany... .

Spirit class 

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Atlantica Costa Atlantica Costa Atlantica is a Spirit-class cruise ship owned and operated by Costa Cruises. She was built in 2000 by the Kvaerner Masa-Yards Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland....	2000	2000Present	85,619 tons		Panamax Panamax Panamax and New Panamax are popular terms for the size limits for ships traveling through the Panama Canal. Formally, the limits and requirements are published by the Panama Canal Authority titled "Vessel Requirements"...  form factor
Costa Mediterranea Costa Mediterranea Costa Mediterranea is a Spirit-class cruise ship operated by Costa Cruises. She was constructed at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Helsinki, Finland at a cost of over 400 million Euros...	2003	2003Present	86,000 tons		Panamax form factor

Fortuna class

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Fortuna Costa Fortuna Costa Fortuna is a cruise ship for Costa Cruises built in 2003 on the same platform as Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny-class. She was inspired by the Italian steamships of the past. Models of these ships are on display in the ship's public areas...	2003	2003Present	105,000 tons		Identical to Carnival Triumph Carnival Triumph Carnival Triumph is a post-Panamax Triumph-class cruise ship, operated by Carnival Cruise Lines in the Caribbean.-Layout:Carnival Triumph has a "Great Cities of the World" theme. Her amenities include the Paris Dining Room, the London Dining Room, the Rome Lounge, Club Rio featuring music, and a...  and Carnival Victory Carnival Victory Carnival Victory is a Triumph-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Lines in the Caribbean.-Layout:Carnival Victory is themed to depict the different oceans and seas of the world. She is structurally identical to her sister ship, Carnival Triumph...
Costa Magica Costa Magica Costa Magica is a cruise ship for Costa Cruises. She debuted in 2004 as a sister ship to Costa Fortuna, built on the same platform as Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny-class. She pays homage to some of the most famous destinations in Italy. Places like Positano, Portofino, Bellagio, and Sicily are all...	2004	2004Present	105,000 tons		Identical to Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory

Concordia class

Concordia class cruise ship

The Concordia class is a class of cruise ships that are operated by Costa Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines, subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation & plc....

 

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Concordia Costa Concordia Costa Concordia is a Concordia-class cruise ship owned and operated by Costa Cruises. She was built at Fincantieris Sestri Ponente yards in Italy...	2006	2006Present	114,500 tons		Modified Conquest-class
Costa Serena Costa Serena Costa Serena is a Concordia-class cruise ship for the Italian cruise line, Costa Cruises. The name Serena was intended to symbolize harmony and serenity....	2007	2007Present	114,500 tons		Modified Conquest-class
Costa Pacifica Costa Pacifica Costa Pacifica is a Concordia-class cruise ship for Costa Cruises. She was handed over to Costa Cruises in 29 May 2009. Her sister ships, Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, were launched in 2006 and in 2007, and another two sister ships, Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa will be launched in 2011...	2009	2009Present	114,500 tons		Modified Conquest-class
Costa Favolosa Costa Favolosa Costa Favolosa is a cruise ship ordered for Costa Cruises in October 2007. Based on the Concordia class design, Costa Favolosa was laid down by Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard on 5 November 2009 and launched on 6 August 2010...	2011	2011Present	114,500 tons		Modified Concordia-class

Hybrid Spirit/Vista class

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Luminosa Costa Luminosa Costa Luminosa is a cruise ship, owned and operated by Costa Cruises. Costa Luminosa entered service on May 5, 2009. The ship's design is a Hybrid, taking the best elements of Spirit-class and Vista-class cruise ships. A sister ship, Costa Deliziosa was launched in February 2010 and is based on the...	2009	2009Present	92,700 tons		Hybrid design between Spirit and Vista-class ships
Costa Deliziosa Costa Deliziosa Costa Deliziosa is a cruise ship operated by Costa Cruises. Ordered in 2007 as part of a five-ship expansion of the Costa Cruises Fleet, Costa Deliziosa was constructed by Fincantieri, launched in March 2009, and handed over to Costa Cruises in January 2010...	2010	2010Present	92,700 tons		Hybrid design between Spirit and Vista-class ships

Voyager class

Ship	Built	Entered service for Costa	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Flag	Notes
Costa Voyager	1999	2011Present	24,391 tons		Formerly Grand Voyager for Iberocruceros Iberocruceros Ibero Cruises is a British-American and Spanish owned cruise line based in Madrid, Spain. The company was founded in 2007 as a joint subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc and Orizonia Corporation, under the executive control of Costa Cruises Group, Carnival Corporation's European division...

Under Construction

Ship	Class	Delivery	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Planned Flag	Notes
Costa Fascinosa Costa Fascinosa Costa Fascinosa is a Concordia-class cruise ship that was ordered in October 2007 for Costa Cruises. Based on the Concordia class design, Costa Fascinosa will be constructed by Fincantieris Marghera shipyard in Venice...	Concordia	Spring 2012	114,500 tons		Modified Concordia-class

Future ships

Ship	Class	Delivery	Gross tonnage Gross tonnage Gross tonnage is a unitless index related to a ship's overall internal volume. Gross tonnage is different from gross register tonnage...	Planned Flag	Notes
unnamed	TBA	October 2014	132,500 tons		Costa's largest ship ever built, will be a variation of Carnival Cruise Line's Dream class cruise ship Dream class cruise ship The Dream class is a class of cruise ships, operated by Carnival Cruise Lines, The lead vessel of the class, Carnival Dream, entered service in September 2009.... .

Former fleet

• Andrea C (1948-1981)
• Anna C (1948-1981) Built in 10.1955 at Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam yard in Holland. LOA 150.3m, 19.2m, DWT 10,272, Flag Panama, Class Registro Italiano Navale. Sold in 1981 to Chaldeos Freighters Ltd and renamed Damenham.
• Amerikanis
  SS Amerikanis
  SS Amerikanis, formerly the SS Kenya Castle was a Greek owned cruise ship.-Building:Kenya Castle was completed in 1952 as a British passenger liner, also fitted with considerable refrigerated and general cargo capacity...
  
   (Chartered 1980-1984)
• Angelina Lauro (Chartered 1978-1979)
• Bianca C (1959-1961)
• Carla C/Carla Costa
  SS Flandre
  A number of steamships have been named Flandre, a cargo ship built in 1889 for the Wick & Pulteneytown Steamship Co Ltd, wrecked in 1920., an ocean liner built in 1913 for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique which struck a mine and sank in 1940, an ocean liner built in 1951 for the French Line....
  
   (1967-1985, 1986-1992) (1981-1984) (1995-1998)/ (1999-2000)
• Costa Tropicale
  Pacific Star (ship)
  The Ocean Dream is a cruise ship, built in 1981. The ship began sailing for Carnival Cruise Lines as the Tropicale in 1982. The Tropicale was Carnival's first newly built ship. Operating mainly in the Caribbean...
  
   (2001-2005)
• Costa Riviera (1981-2002)
• Costa Europa
  Costa Europa
  MS Thomson Dream is a cruise ship currently owned by Costa Cruises and operated under charter by Thomson Cruises. She was built in 1986 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, West Germany as MS Homeric for Home Lines. In 1988 she was sold to Holland America Line and renamed MS Westerdam. In 1990...
  
   (2002-2010)
• Costa Marina
  Costa Marina
  MS Costa Marina is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Italy-based Costa Cruises. She was built in 1969 by the Wärtsilä Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland as the container ship MS Axel Johnson for the Sweden-based Rederi AB Nordstjernan...
  
   (1969-2011)
• Danae (1979-1992)
• Daphne (1979-1997)
• Enrico C/Enrico Costa (1965-1994) (ex-Provence (1951))
• Eugenio C/Eugenio Costa
  SS Eugenio C
  The SS Eugenio C was a 1966 Italian built ocean liner/cruise ship originally owned by the Costa Line. She was scrapped as the Big Red at Alang, India in June 2005. -History:...
  
   (1966-1996)
• Flavia (1968-1982)
• Federico C (1958-1983)
• Franca C
  MV Doulos
  The MV Doulos Phos was the world's oldest active ocean-faring passenger ship. She is now owned by Mr. Eric Saw, Director and Chief Executive of BizNaz Resources International Pte Ltd in Singapore. She was previously owned by the German charity Gute Bücher für Alle , and was used as a floating ...
  
   (1952-1977)
• Fulvia (1969-1970)
• Giovanna C (1947-1953)
• Italia
  MS Sapphire
  MS Sapphire is a 1967 Italian built cruise ship that most recently operated for Louis Cruise Lines, now laid up at Eleusis Bay awaiting sale.-Construction:...
  
  (1974-1983 )
• Luisa C (1947-1951)
• Maria C (1947-1953)

External links

• Costa Cruises Official Website
• Costa Line - Linea "C" Page 1A - The Early Liners 1948-65