Carnival Corporation has announced Howard Frank has been named chairman of Costa Crociere, the largest Italian travel group and a major force in cruising throughout Europe, Asia and South America. In this role, Frank will support Michael Thamm, chief executive of Costa Crociere.

Costa Crociere is has confirmed the appointment of Neil Palomba to the newly created role of senior vice president hotel operations and guest experience with the line. In this position Palomba will oversee and develop hotel operations and guest services for the Costa fleet, reporting directly to Michael Thamm, chief executive of Costa Crociere. 

Costa Diadema, the future flagship of Costa Cruises, today touched water for the first time during the technical launch ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera.

Costa Cruises has confirmed it is joining nine other leading cruise lines for the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum in Abu Dhabi. The brand was the first cruise line to launch regular cruising in the Middle East back in 2006 and still the company with the highest capacity during the 2013/2014 season.

Dockwise, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal Boskalis Westminster, has been awarded the contract to load and transport the Concordia wreck from Isola del Giglio onboard the Dockwise Vanguard. The contract was awarded by Costa Crociere. Following the successful parbuckling of the Concordia, and in anticipation of the pending re-float, Dockwise and the client have been in discussion to seek a safe solution to remove the Concordia wreck from Isola del Giglio in Italy.

Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia, which sank off Italy in 2012, has blamed his Indonesian helmsman for the accident. Schettino claims the helmsman failed to obey orders to slow down and steered the ship onto rocks.