Costa Pacifica
Encyclopedia
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 and 2012 respectively. Onboard facilities included are the Samsara Spa and the PlayStation World, an area boosting PS3 consoles, and the first recording studio at sea. The ship was inaugurated in a dual christening ceremony, along with Costa Luminosa
on June 5, 2009.
and Costa Serena
and will be followed by Costa Favolosa
and Costa Fascinosa
on 2011 and 2012, all part of the expansion program of Costa which entails an investment of 2.4 billion Euro
, and is currently the largest fleet expansion program in the world.
Costa Pacifica was ordered in 14 December 2005, by Carnival Corporation
, Costa Cruises parent. The order was four ships, which includes; Carnival Dream
, for Carnival Cruise Lines
; Nieuw Amsterdam
for Holland America Line
; and Ruby Princess
for Princess Cruises
, at a total cost of US$3 billion.
The bow section of Costa Pacifica was built at the Fincantieri
Palermo
shipyard and was launched in 24 July 2007. The section was then towed to Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente in August 2007 for further work, which also marked the announcement of the ships name. She was launched at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in 30 June 2008. She returned to Sestri Ponente from her sea trials on 30 March 2009, for the fitting-out process. Almost 3,000 workers helped in the construction of Costa Pacifica.
She was later christened at Genoa
, Italy
on June 5, 2009, in a dual christening ceremony, together with Costa Luminosa. The dual christening ceremony was the world's first, who set a Guinness
World Record, at the new category, "Most ships inaugurated in one day by one company".
s. The onboard Samsara spa, a two-level, 6000 m² (7,175.9 sq yd) wellness facility with gym, a thalassotherapy
pool, treatment rooms, sauna
, Turkish bath and a solarium. A poolside screen is located in the Pool deck. Costa Pacifica also have a three-level Theater. There is also the Grand Prix simulator, a Recording studio and a PlayStation
World area, where PS3 consoles are available. Costa Pacifica is the first cruise ship to have an onboard Recording studio, fitted with most sophisticated equipments.
, with a special 2-day layover in Palma de Mallorca
, Spain
.
In the entire 2009 summer season, Costa Pacifica offered 7-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean, with calls at Rome
, Savona
, Marseilles, Barcelona
, Palma, Tunis
, Malta
and Palermo
.
During the 2009-2010 winter season, Costa Pacifica departed from Rome and Savona, offering 10 and 11-day cruises in Egypt
, Israel
and Turkey
. In Summer 2010, she offered 7-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean, with calls at Rome, Savona, Barcelona, Palma, Tunis, Malta and Catania
.
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....
cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
for Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises
Costa Cruises is a British-American owned Italian cruise line, based in Genoa, Italy.Founded in 1924, the company originally operated cargo ships, until the introduction of passenger services in 1947, with regular services between Italy and South America...
. She was handed over to Costa Cruises in 29 May 2009. Her sister ships, 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...
and 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....
, were launched in 2006 and in 2007, and another two sister ships, 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...
and 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...
will be launched in 2011 and 2012 respectively. Onboard facilities included are the Samsara Spa and the PlayStation World, an area boosting PS3 consoles, and the first recording studio at sea. The ship was inaugurated in a dual christening ceremony, along with 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...
on June 5, 2009.
Concept and construction
Costa Pacifica is the third ship of the Concordia-class, preceded by sisters, Costa ConcordiaCosta 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...
and 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....
and will be followed by 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...
and 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...
on 2011 and 2012, all part of the expansion program of Costa which entails an investment of 2.4 billion Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
, and is currently the largest fleet expansion program in the world.
Costa Pacifica was ordered in 14 December 2005, by Carnival Corporation
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...
, Costa Cruises parent. The order was four ships, which includes; Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream is a Dream class cruise ship. At 130,000 tons, she is the biggest the line has ever built. Her sister ship, Carnival Magic is the latest in the Carnival Cruise Lines ships, being delivered on April 27, 2011, while her other sister ship Carnival Breeze is expected out in June...
, for Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Doral, Florida, a suburb of Miami in the United States. Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of eleven cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc...
; Nieuw Amsterdam
MS Nieuw Amsterdam
MS Nieuw Amsterdam is a Signature class cruise ship for Holland America Line. Nieuw Amsterdam is the 81st ship to enter Holland America's service and the second largest Holland America ship to date....
for Holland America Line
Holland America Line
The Holland America Line is a cruise shipping company. It was founded in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company , a shipping and passenger line. Headquartered in Rotterdam and providing service to the Americas, it became known as Holland America Line...
; and Ruby Princess
Ruby Princess
Ruby Princess is a Grand-class cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises. She was built in 2008 by Fincantieri in Trieste, Italy. She is a sister ship to Crown Princess and Emerald Princess. Ruby Princess was turned over to Carnival Corporation and Princess Cruises in late October 2008...
for Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States. Previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises PLC, the company is now one of ten cruise ship brands operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC and accounts for approximately 19% share...
, at a total cost of US$3 billion.
The bow section of Costa Pacifica was built at the Fincantieri
Fincantieri
Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. is a shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. It was formed in 1959 and is the largest shipbuilder in the Mediterranean, and one of the largest in Europe...
Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
shipyard and was launched in 24 July 2007. The section was then towed to Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente in August 2007 for further work, which also marked the announcement of the ships name. She was launched at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard in 30 June 2008. She returned to Sestri Ponente from her sea trials on 30 March 2009, for the fitting-out process. Almost 3,000 workers helped in the construction of Costa Pacifica.
She was later christened at 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...
on June 5, 2009, in a dual christening ceremony, together with Costa Luminosa. The dual christening ceremony was the world's first, who set a Guinness
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
World Record, at the new category, "Most ships inaugurated in one day by one company".
Amenities
Costa Pacifica have 1,504 staterooms; 521 with private balconies and 91 spa staterooms; 58 suites with private balconies and 12 spa suites. There are 5 onboard restaurants, which include the reservations-only Club Blue Moon and Samsara Restaurant. There are 13 bars, including a Cognac & Cigar Bar and a Coffee and Chocolate Bar. Four swimming pools, 2 with retractable covers, 1 with Toboga, and 4 jacuzziJacuzzi
Jacuzzi is a company that produces whirlpool bathtubs and spas. Its first product was a bath with massaging jets. The term "jacuzzi" is now often used generically to refer to any bathtub with massaging jets.-History:...
s. The onboard Samsara spa, a two-level, 6000 m² (7,175.9 sq yd) wellness facility with gym, a thalassotherapy
Thalassotherapy
Thalassotherapy is the unproven medical use of seawater as a form of therapy. The properties of seawater are believed to have beneficial effects upon the pores of the skin. Thalassotherapy was developed in seaside towns in Brittany, France during the 19th century...
pool, treatment rooms, sauna
Sauna
A sauna is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities....
, Turkish bath and a solarium. A poolside screen is located in the Pool deck. Costa Pacifica also have a three-level Theater. There is also the Grand Prix simulator, a Recording studio and a PlayStation
PlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
World area, where PS3 consoles are available. Costa Pacifica is the first cruise ship to have an onboard Recording studio, fitted with most sophisticated equipments.
Operational history
The maiden voyage of Costa Pacifica was on June 6, 2009, an 8-day cruise and departed in SavonaSavona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
, with a special 2-day layover in Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, 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...
.
In the entire 2009 summer season, Costa Pacifica offered 7-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean, with calls at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
, Marseilles, Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Palma, Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
and Palermo
Palermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
.
During the 2009-2010 winter season, Costa Pacifica departed from Rome and Savona, offering 10 and 11-day cruises in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. In Summer 2010, she offered 7-day cruises in the Western Mediterranean, with calls at Rome, Savona, Barcelona, Palma, Tunis, Malta and Catania
Catania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
.