Cruise Ship Profiles

Costa Overview

Costa Cruises is the largest Italian group in Tourism and one of the largest cruise companies in Europe, which boasts 60 years of history.

By 2012 the Costa fleet will be 17 strong with total Guest capacity of approximately 46,400.

All of the vessels fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean.

Costa Fleet

Children's Programs

Costa kid's stuff

Costa History

1854 - Giacomo Costa founded "Giacomo Costa fu Andrea", a small company dedicated to the small-scale trade of olive oil and fabrics. By 1924: "Giacomo Costa fu Andrea" developed into a company producing olive oil and purchased the steamer Ravenna for the supply of raw materials.

1947  - The company extended its business to incorporate passenger transport with the launch of the 50 passenger steamer, Maria C.

1948 - Launched the fleet's first transatlantic liner, the 768 passenger Anna C.   During the same year the company changed its name from "Giacomo Costa fu Andrea" to "Linea C".

1950s - The transport of passengers develops even further. The "Linea C", the scheduled service which connects Europe to South America, grows up with new ships. In the Sixties, Costa is the first operator in the world to offer Cruises in the Caribbean.

1986 - "Linea C" decided to concentrate on the cruise sector and Costa Crociere S.p.A. was founded.

1993 - The first tour operator to introduce television advertising campaigns, with the slogan "We sail for your enjoyment".

1997 - Costa Crociere S.p.A was acquired jointly by Carnival Corporation and Airtours with equal shares.  The advertising slogan became "Grande come il mare" (As big as the sea).

2000 - Costa Atlantica was born. Carnival Corporation bought out the 50% share of the company belonging to Airtours and acquired full control of Costa Crociere.

2001 - Costa Tropicale launched and Costa Riviera retired in November.

2002 - Launch of Costa Europa  The slogan is "La vacanza che ti manca" (The holiday you miss).

2003 - Launch of the Mediterranea (May) and the Atlantica (Nov). 

2004 - Launch of the Magica and Fortuna

2004 - Costa Crociere acquires the brand AIDA Cruises, cruise leader in Germany.

2005 - Costa Crociere announces the order to Fincantieri for a twin sister ship of the Costa Concordia, the Costa Serena, which will be ready in spring 2007, and transfer of the Costa Tropicale to the P&O Australia brand in October 2005. The growth programme of the fleet continued in December 2005 with the announcement of a third sister ship of the Costa Concordia and of the Costa Serena, named the Costa Pacifica, to be delivered by Spring 2009.

2006 - Costa announces its expansion in Asia Pacific and in Dubai. In June 2006 Costa placed an order with Fincantieri for two new 92,700-ton ships to be built at the Fincantieri Yard in Marghera, the Costa Luminosa and its sister ship, which will come into service in Spring 2009 and 2010. In July 2006, the Costa Concordia came into service.

 2007 - Costa Serena was delivered. On July 17, Costa Crociere reached a historical record in Europe: 1,000,000 Guests booked in only one year. The announced joint venture between Costa Crociere S.p.A. and Orizonia Corporaciòn was approved for the creation of the brand “Iberocruceros”, belonging to the Costa group and operating in the Spanish market. In October the order to Fincantieri for 2 further ships of the “Concordia” class to be delivered in spring 2011 and 2012 was announced.

 Since April 2003, Costa Crociere has been part of Carnival Corporation & plc, the largest cruise company in the world. Costa also owns AIDA Cruises, the leading brand in the German market with five ships in service and four on order. It also owns IberoCruceros, which operates in the Spanish market.