CHRISTENING CEREMONY IN BARCELONA FOR COSTA TOSCANA, COSTA CRUISES’ NEW LNG-POWERED FLAGSHIP
Godmother of the ship is Chanel, the artist who represented Spain in the last edition of Eurovision.
The Gala dinner menu has been conceived by Spanish chef Ángel León, with whom the company is strengthening the collaboration by supporting an innovative sea food project.
According to research by Human Highway, nearly 14 million Europeans dream of taking a cruise in the next 12 months.
Barcelona, June 16, 2022 – Costa Cruises celebrates in the port of Barcelona the christening ceremony of Costa Toscana, the newest Italian-flagged ship in the Costa Cruises fleet, that leads to the discovery of “the art of living the sea”.
THE CHRISTENING EVENT WITH GODMOTHER CHANEL
Godmother of Costa Toscana is Chanel, a young singer, actress and dancer who enjoyed great success in Spain and in all Europe after her exhibition during the 2022 Eurovison Song Contest. She will join the ship’s Captain Pietro Sinisi for the ribbon-cutting ceremony in which a bottle will be shattered on the ship's prow, as per maritime tradition. The event will be hosted by two exceptional masters of ceremonies: Carlos Sobera and Flora Gonzalez, two real stars of Spanish television well loved by the general public. The ceremony will be closed by a performance of the Italian artist Andrea Casta, a "globetrotter" violinist who has performed all over the world with his electric violin and his unique luminous bow. The party will then move to the outer decks, specifically at the aft of the ship, on the Piazza del Campo terraces, where guests will enjoy the "Molecule Show": a stunning spectacle featuring a cluster of three hundred helium-inflated spheres that will lift an acrobat over a trapeze, allowing her to fly through the sky above Barcelona skyline and to create an ethereal, magical, and floating dimension. The christening party will also be attended by other Spanish celebrities, such as "El Sevilla". Finally, the ship's navigation from Barcelona to Valencia will be entertained by Meduza, the world's most famous Italian trio of house music producers, who will host an exclusive DJ set onboard. The aperitif and gala dinner will be signed by Spanish chef Ángel León known as the “chef of sea” who has been awarded 3 Michelin stars with his restaurant Aponiente. Leòn is one of the partners of Costa Cruises, together with other two world famous chefs: Bruno Barbieri and Hélène Darroze.
COSTA AND THE "CHEF OF THE SEA" TOGETHER FOR THE "FOOD OF THE FUTURE"
On the occasion of the christening of Costa Toscana, Costa Cruises and Ángel León are further strengthening their collaboration, addressing a theme that both have long been committed to, which is environmental sustainability. Through her Costa Cruises’ Foundation, Costa Cruises is, in fact, supporting a worldwide pioneering project: the development of the "marine grain." Restaurant Aponiente's research center has started the cultivation of the Zostera marina in the Bay of Cadiz. The Zostera marina is a plant that helps generate greater marine biodiversity, thus enriching the ecosystem. It contributes to mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon, and above all it is able to produce, from its seeds, a "superfood" with great nutritional properties, which could represent a future solution to the problems of hunger and malnutrition. Thanks to the support of Costa Cruises’ Foundation, the cultivated area of the ocean garden, which is currently about 3,000 m2, can be expanded, in order to promote the project and export Zostera marina to new coastal areas.
SUMMER 2022: THE DESIRE FOR CRUISING GROWS
Costa Toscana represents the restart of Costa Cruises’ fleet, which will operate 10 ships this summer. Summer 2022 appears to be heading toward a significant upswing in travel. According to research commissioned by Costa Cruises from Human Highway in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, nearly 14 million of Europeans dream of taking a cruise in the next 12 months. The sea seems to be the favorite place in all countries, while ingredients of the ideal vacation include rest, entertainment, gastronomy and discovering new destinations.
STATEMENT BY MARIO ZANETTI
Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises commented: “It is a great thrill to celebrate the christening of our Costa Toscana in Barcelona, a city to which we are particularly attached and where we have been at home since the beginning of our history. For this occasion, we have organized an event to celebrate the start of a summer that marks the serene resumption of travel and vacations. The event also features the excellence of Costa's offerings in all aspects, from high gastronomy to high quality entertainment, to unique experiences ashore. According to recent market research, nearly 14 million Europeans are dreaming of taking a cruise in the next 12 months, and cruises are among the trips with the highest potential to meet the needs of destinations exploration. We must take advantage of this upswing to promote a more sustainable tourism that respects the environment and values local communities. Our commitment is expressed not only through technologically advanced ships such as the LNG-powered Costa Toscana, but also by supporting innovative projects whose scope goes beyond the tourism sector, such as Chef Ángel León’s project."
COSTA TOSCANA: A TRAVELLING "SMART CITY"
Costa Toscana is a true travelling "smart city." Thanks to the use of liquefied natural gas, it is possible to eliminate almost completely the emission of sulfur oxides (zero emissions) and particulates (95-100% reduction) into the atmosphere, while also significantly lowering emissions of nitrogen oxide (direct reduction of 85%) and CO2 (up to 20%). The Costa Group, which includes the Italian brand Costa Cruises and the German brand AIDA Cruises, was the first in the world in the cruise industry to use liquefied natural gas and can currently count on four ships powered by this technology: the AIDAnova, Costa Smeralda, Costa Toscana and AIDACosma.
In addition to this, the ship features several cutting-edge technological innovations designed to further reduce its environmental impact. All daily water needs are met by transforming water of the sea through the use of desalinators. Energy consumption is minimized through an intelligent energy efficiency system. In addition, 100% of separated collection and recycling of materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum are carried out on board. The sea wood that furnish the islands of the new Archipelago restaurant were recovered thanks to the "Guardians of the Coast", the environmental education program to safeguard the Italian coastline promoted by Costa Crociere Foundation. For every dinner sampled at Archipelago, Costa Cruises will donate part of the proceeds to support the Foundation's environmental and social projects.
COSTA TOSCANA: ITALIAN DESIGN, A UNIQUE ON-BOARD OFFERING AND THE BEST OF THE MEDITERRANEAN TO EXPLORE
Costa Toscana's interiors are the result of an extraordinary creative project, curated by Adam D. Tihany, created to enhance and bring to life the colors and atmosphere of this wonderful Italian region in a single location. Furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories are all "Made in Italy," created by 15 partners highly representative of Italian excellence. The onboard offer is perfectly integrated in this extraordinary context: from the Solemio Spa, to the areas dedicated to entertainment; from the thematic bars, in collaboration with great Italian and international brands, to the 21 restaurants and areas dedicated to the "food experience," including the new Archipelago restaurant, which offers menus created for Costa by three great chefs, Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León, conceived to explore the cruise destinations also through taste. For the enjoyment of the little ones there is the Splash AcquaPark, with its slide positioned on the highest deck, a new area dedicated to video games, and the Squok Club.
During summer 2022, Costa Toscana offers a week-long itinerary making calls in some of the most beautiful cities and islands of the Western Mediterranean, including two calls in Spain: Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Ibiza, Valencia, and Marseille. During the fall season Palma de Mallorca will take the place of Ibiza. Costa Toscana allows her guests to discover the destinations included in the itinerary with an exceptional range of excursions, exploring the most genuine traditions, flavours and colours.
For more information:
Costa Cruises Press Office – tel. +39 010 5483523 / 010 5483068 - costapressoffice@costa.it
Gabriele Baroni - Communication Director – mob. +39 3497668013 - baroni@costa.it
Rossella Carrara - VP Corporate Relations & Sustainability Costa Group – mob. +39 3497668008005 rossella.carrara@costa.it
Davide Barbano - Media Relations Manager – mob. +39 334 6525216 - barbano@costa.it
www.costapresscenter.com
