Costa Cruises, the Italian brand of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, held the traditional coin ceremony for its new ship Costa Venezia on Nov. 1 at the Fincantieri yard in Italy. This is the company’s first ship built and designed to serve Chinese guests, whose operation begins in 2019.

During the ceremony, a commemorative coin was officially attached to the ship’s keel as a symbol of good luck and blessings for its future journey. The event symbolizes a historic milestone between Italy and China and was attended by Costa Rican government officials, business partners and executives.

“Costa is happy to have a ship that aims to offer the best experience to our Chinese customers. Costa Venezia demonstrates our commitment and confidence in the fastest growing cruise market in the world. With the arrival of the new ship in 2019, we have further increased our offer in the region and strengthened our leadership position in China, “said Michael Thamm, CEO of Grupo Costa and Carnival Asia.

Costa Venezia will have 135,500 tons and will offer 2,116 cabins for a total of 5,260 passengers. The design of the ship will be dedicated to the city of Venice. Chinese guests will enjoy a unique experience immersed in a virtual and multi-sensory journey through Venice’s gastronomy, art, music and entertainment.

“Costa Cruises is proud to show off the beauty of one of the most famous Italian cities for Chinese consumers. The arrival of a new ship for the Asian fleet is part of our continuous effort to innovate and exceed the expectations of our customers, “says Mario Zanetti, president of the Costa Asia Group.

The inaugural Costa Venezia cruise starts in March 2019, from Trieste, bound for Shanghai, and stops in Greece, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan, following the famous Marco Polo journey between Italy and the China.

A second vessel designed specifically for Chinese guests, brother of Costa Venezia, will also be built in Fincantieri and delivered in 2020. The new ships from the Coast to Asia will be the 13th and 14th cruise ships erected at the Fincantieri Italian shipyard, from of a total investment of 6 billion euros.

In addition to Costa Venezia and its sister ship, the Costa Group still has four ocean liners (two for Aida Cruises and two for Costa Cruises), scheduled to be delivered by 2021. They will be the first vessels powered by Liquefied Natural Gas. These four ships are under construction at the Meyer shipyards in Turku, Finland and Papenburg, Germany.

With the arrival of Costa Venezia, Costa will reposition the Costa Fortuna, one of the company’s five vessels currently in Asia, back to the Mediterranean, thus enhancing its cruise options in European waters.

In 2006, Costa Cruises was the first international company to operate in China, establishing itself as a market leader. With the start of a “New Coastal Era” in China, the company will strive to exceed the expectations of its guests by continually innovating to provide unforgettable onboard experiences.

Grupo Costa is the leading cruise company in Europe, based in Genoa, Italy. The 27 ships of the Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asia brands together have a total capacity of 76,000 beds. The fleet will be strengthened with six new ships by 2021. The company has a global workforce with 27,000 employees working on board and in its 20 offices spanning 14 countries.