Costa Cruises, Europe’s number one cruise company, has announced that it has placed a new order with San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa for major restyling operations on the ship Costa Romantica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,697 total guests).

Costa Cruises is investing a total of 90 million Euros for this work, which will be carried out from the end of October 2011 to the end of January 2012.

Costa Romantica will be completely renovated to become Costa neoRomantica. This extensive make-over will include the construction of new areas and the introduction of services that represent a major evolution in the Costa product.

A sophisticated atmosphere will be created throughout the Costa neoRomantica, starting with a contemporary, elegant and refined interior design. Tillberg Design, a Swedish design company that has been responsible for the interiors of about 130 luxury yachts and prestigious cruise ships over the last 40 years, and Syntax, a London-based company that specialises in hotels and prestigious wellness centres, have been commissioned to develop the interior design.

The new areas on the ship will include a wine bar with 100 different labels and a wide selection of cheeses from around the world, a coffee bar to enjoy sweets and coffee, a show lounge bar with dance floor, a cabaret and a nightclub.

Amenities will also include the Samsara Spa, a 4,200-m² wellness area with gym, a swimming pool for thalassotherapy, treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish bath, 50 spa cabins, six spa suites and a special restaurant. For those who love fine cuisine, there will also be a restaurant club with menus created by award-winning chefs. 

During the restyling in the Genoa dry-dock, two new half-decks will be added, along with 111 new cabins and 120 private balconies for cabins and suites. Total guest capacity will increase from 1,697 to 1,800, while the number of cabins will increase from 678 to 789 and the total displacement to approximately 56,000 gross tonnage.

Once restyling has been completed, the Costa neoRomantica will sail 11-day cruises to the Canary Islands, with departures from Savona. During the 2012 summer season, the ship will be positioned in North Europe for two-week cruises with brand new itineraries.