Work has commenced on the radical refurbishment of the Costa Cruises fleet member, Costa Romantica, which is due for completion in mid-February 2012. In August this year, Costa Cruises – the largest Italian travel group – confirmed it would invest around €90 million in the major restyling operations on the ship.

Costa Mediterranea will host meetings and debates from 19 – 23 September to discuss the importance of fresh and salt water on a study cruise called “World heritage: living with water”.

Going somewhat against the industry grain, Costa Cruises has confirmed it will avoid Tunisia and the majority of Egypt in 2012. The cruise line did, however, confirm it would continue to offer year-round departures from Sharm el Sheikh on the Red Sea.

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 Crociere has placed a new order with Fincantieri Ship Yard for the construction of a new cruise ship – the tenth new ship ordered by the line in ten years. When complete, the new ship will have a gross tonnage of 132,500 and accommodate 4,928 total guests in 1,854 cabins.

Trieste is today hosting the naming event of Costa Favolosa (114,500 gross tonnage and 3,800 total guests), the largest cruise ship flying the Italian flag and the new flagship of Costa Cruises, Europe’s number one cruise company.