Costa's new 105,000-ton flagship, the largest cruise ship in the history of Italian seafaring, left FincantieriÕs Sestri Ponente shipyards, where her fitting out is nearing completion, for the builder's Palermo yard. The crossing was used to carry out sea trials.
The ship is in Palermo until September 3 in FincantieriÕs local dry docks for a final coat of paint prior to official sea trials and speed tests. Testing will end on September 6, when she is due back at Sestri Ponente.
Said Pier Luigi Foschi, Costa chairman:
"Costa Fortuna's round of sea trials marks the latest development in our fleet expansion programme, which is going exceedingly smoothly. Thanks to the arrival of Costa Fortuna and her sister ship Costa Magica, our total fleet capacity will reach 19,000 Guests by 2004."
Costa Fortuna will enter into service in mid-November 2003 and will be the first large passenger ship to emerge from the shipyards in Sestri Ponente since the Michelangelo in 1965 - the same yard that built the legendary "Rex" (1932), "Andrea Doria" (1951), "Cristoforo Colombo" (1953), "Federico C" (1957) and "Leonardo da Vinci" (1958).
The ship offers guests a stunning array of facilities for relaxation and entertainment: 11 bars, 4 restaurants, a theatre on three floors, 3 swimming pools, casino, disco, and ballroom.
Costa Fortuna is one of two sister ships commissioned by Costa Crociere from Fincantieri, entailing an outlay of approximately one billion euros. Costa Magica, sister ship of the Costa Fortuna, is also currently under construction at the Sestri Ponente shipyards and will enter into service at the end of 2004.
