Totally Restyled Costa neoRomantica Departs Savona on First Cruise

The totally restyled Costa neoRomantica departed Savona, Italy, today with 1,600 guests on board, following a private naming ceremony.

On the occasion of Costa neoRomantica’s inaugural sailing from Savona,
Costa Crociere top management attended a private blessing ceremony
conducted by His Excellency Vittorio Lupi, Bishop of Savona.

At the beginning of the blessing ceremony, one minute of silence was
observed in respect and mourning for the victims of Costa Concordia.

Following long-standing maritime tradition, a bottle of champagne was
broken across the ship’s hull. Serving as Costa neoRomantica’s godmothers
were Francesca Scuffi, a member of the Costa Club for repeat guests, and
Gabriella Gentile, a member of Costa Concordia’s crew that were on board
Jan. 13, 2012. She was chosen as a symbol of the gratitude the company
expresses toward Costa Concordia’s crew.

Costa neoRomantica was virtually a new ship when it left San Giorgio del
Porto shipyard in Genoa. The five-month restyling represents an investment
by Costa Cruises of approximately US$120 million (90 million euros), one of
the most expensive and extensive cruise ship refit projects ever undertaken
in the industry.

Costa neoRomantica’s interior design has a contemporary, elegant and
refined style created by Swedish architectural firm Tillberg Design and
Syntax, the London firm specializing in prestigious hotels and spa.
Costa neoRomantica departed today on an 11-night round-trip Canary
Islands cruise calling at Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco;
Arrecife and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal (Madeira),
Portugal and Malaga, Spain.