Costa, a part of Carnival Corporation, said the decision comes as a result of measures enacted by the Greek government in response to the number of coronavirus cases.

From April through November next year Costa Cruises will further extend its Mediterranean offer with a large variety of options and the convenience of multiple ports of departure.

The first ship to set sail will be Costa Deliziosa, on September 6th, offering weekly cruises from Trieste to discover the most beautiful destinations in Greece.

Built in 1993 and extensively refurbished in 2012, the 1,800-guest ship has 789 cabins, 132 of which feature balconies, as well as a variety of dining and entertainment venues, bars and lounges, two pools, a gym and a panoramic spa.

Celebrations were held earlier in Savona for the naming ceremony of Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises’ new flagship. The ship’s godmother and star of the event was international celebrity Penélope Cruz, who performed the ribbon-cutting duties with the traditional breaking of the bottle against the bow of the ship.

Carnival Corporation will launch four new cruise ships in 2020 across four of its global cruise line brands. On the slipway are Iona for P&O Cruises UK; Enchanted Princess for Princess Cruises; Mardi Gras for Carnival Cruise Line; and Costa Firenze for Italian brand Costa Cruises.