Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises expects to take delivery of the LNG-powered Costa Toscana in December, as work continues to progress at the Meyer Turku yard in Finland.
Costa Cruises said the 185,000 GT vessel has completed its sea trials after it left the yard some two weeks ago.
In addition, the second part of the traditional “coin ceremony” took place on Tuesday at Meyer Turku.
“Following the maritime tradition, some commemorative coins were placed on the ship, as a good luck charm for crew members, guests and future itineraries,” Costa Cruises said.
To remind, the yard floated out the cruise ship in January this year. It is a sister vessel to LNG-powered Costa Smeralda that joined the Italian brand of Carnival in 2019.
First cruise in March
Costa Toscana’s first cruise will homeport from Savona, Italy, on March 5, 2022, with a week-long itinerary that includes Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Palermo and Civitavecchia/Rome.
Following her debut, the new LNG-powered ship will remain deployed in the Western Mediterranean throughout the year.
During the summer season, Costa Smeralda will call at Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples,
Ibiza, Valencia and Marseille, while during the fall season Palma de Mallorca will replace Ibiza, according to Costa Cruises.
Carnival and its units are heavily investing in LNG-powered vessels as they look to slash emissions and costs.
Costa Group, which includes Costa Cruises, Germany-based AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia, has ordered several new LNG-powered ships. Two of these, Costa Smeralda and AIDAnova, are already in operation.