Costa Favolosa cruise ship naming ceremony

Trieste will be hosting the naming ceremony on the 2nd of July 2011 for the Costa Favolosa, the new flagship of Costa Cruises

The naming ceremony, which will be open to the public, is supported by Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Administration, the Trieste Provincial Administration, the Municipality of Trieste, the local Port Authority and the Prefecture.

Costa Crociere S.p.A. Chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi expressed his gratitude to the local authorities: “The christening of the Costa Favolosa in Italy, in Trieste, is intended as a tribute to Italian excellence and the history of our beautiful nation, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of unification this year.

He added: “I am delighted that the local institutions have appreciated the significance of our decision to come here so that we can work closely together and stage an inaugural show that will be memorable for both the city and the region. The debut of a new ship is a momentous occasion, reflecting our company’s success and international leadership. It is also the result of our ongoing commitment to innovation and to rethinking the concepts of travel and hospitality, combining more than 60 years of worldwide cruising experience with the innate Italian knack of fostering homegrown excellence.”

The naming event for the Costa Favolosa (114,500 gross tonnage and 3,800 total guests) further strengthens the links between Costa Cruises and Trieste. Costa was the first cruise company to appreciate the city’s potential as a tourist destination and operated a ship based in the city as early as 2006. In 2012 Costa Cruises’ will once again be using Trieste as the homeport for one of its cruise ships. The Costa Classica, which was the last ship owned by the Italian Company to be deployed out of Italy’s most “central European” city back in 2008, will be making her return from 9am to 6pm every Saturday from 19 May until 24 November 2012, on eight day cruises to Greece and Croatia.

The Costa Favolosa is a floating ambassador for the “Made in Italy” label. This display of Italian-made excellence starts with Fincantieri, the leading cruise ship builder globally, which has built the Costa Favolosa in its yard in Marghera (Venice). Her construction has involved the labour of around 3,000 yard workers plus a further 7,000 people employed by about 500 contracted suppliers, most of which are Italian firms. The fittings and furnishings on the Costa Favolosa also owe much of their appeal and elegance to the intrinsic value of the genuine 100% “Made in Italy” trademark: featuring prestigious brands such as Moroso, Tino Sana, Rossi d’Albizzate and La Murrina.