October 22, 2007 - Costa has ordered two new 114,200-ton ships for delivery in 2011 and 2012.

The Italian line signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the two new vessels, each costing about £355 million.

The ships will be built at the Marghera shipyard and be sisters to the Costa Concordia, Costa Serena and Costa Pacifica, the latter of which is currently being built at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard. They will each be able to accommodate 3,780 passengers in total (including all upper berths) or 3,012 guests based on double occupancy.

Said Costa chairman Pier Luigi Foschi: "By ordering two additional ships for our fleet of 12, plus three ordered previously, we are not only reinforcing our position as the market leader in Italy and Europe, but also responding to the increasing demand for our product from our customers across the globe."

The new ships ordered will offer the same innovative elements featured on the other Concordia class ships including the 23,000sq-ft Samsara spa, two swimming pools with retractable magrodomes, the central one equipped with a giant movie screen and authentic Grand Prix race car driving simulators.

In addition, the new ships will boast 17 additional veranda cabins and an overall total of 1,506 cabins, six more than the other Concordia class ships. The two ships will also feature additional innovations to the spa area as well as upgrades to onboard entertainment for both adults and children and teens, among many other new and unique features.