Costa Luminosa

Concept and construction

Costa Luminosa is the thirteenth ship of Costa Crociere, part of their five-ship expansion program, which include Costa Pacifica, Costa Deliziosa, Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa. Costa Luminosa and her sister ship, Costa Deliziosa, was ordered in the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard on 12 June 2006. The two ships have a gross tonnage of 92,700 and are 292 metres (958.01 ft) long. The keel of Costa Luminosa was laid on 10 October 2007 in the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice. She floated out of drydock on 30 June 2008 and completed her sea trials on 30 March 2009. At a period of 18 months, the ship was handed over to Costa Cruises on 1 May 2009.

Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa pioneered in the introduction of a new vessel design, which is a Hybrid; taking the best design elements of Spirit-class and Vista-class cruise ships.

Christening

The christenings of Costa Luminosa, and the Concordia-class Costa Pacifica were held in Genoa on June 5, 2009. It was the first time that two ships were simultaneously christened, not only for Costa but also in the world. With this, the dual christening ceremony set a Guinness World record in the category, "Most ships inaugurated in one day by one company". The two ships also launched simultaneously in their shipyard on 5 June 2008; Costa Luminosa in Marghera and Costa Pacifica in Sestri Ponente.

Amenities

Innovations included are the Samsara Spa, a three-level, 3,500 m (11,500 ft) wellness facility with gym, a thalassotherapy pool, treatment rooms, sauna, Turkish bath and UVA ray solarium; a retractable glass dome and poolside screen at the pool deck; a Grand Prix race car simulator, an 18-hole championship golf simulator and a PlayStation World area, where PS3 consoles are offered. The ship has a three-level theater and a 4D cinema.

The ship has 1,130 staterooms, 662 have private balconies and 52 spa staterooms, as well as 106 suites, and 4 spa suites. Eleven bars, including a cigar lounge and a coffee and chocolate bar; four restaurants including the Club Luminosa and Samsara restaurants, which both have additional charges and are reservations only.

Itineraries

Costa Luminosa made her first vernissage cruise on 5 May 2009, a 10-day cruise in the Eastern Mediterranean, departing Venice, with ports of call at Istanbul, Bari, Olympia, Rhodes, Smyrna, Mykonos and Athens. It was followed by mini cruises in Eastern Mediterranean, again departing Venice on 15 May 2009. Her second vernissage cruise was on 19 May 2009. In the summer of 2009, the ship offered 11 and 14-day cruises at the Baltic capitals, Norwegian Fjords and the North Cape.

During the 2009-2010 winter season, the ship operated in Dubai, offering 7-day cruises in the Persian Gulf with calls at Dubai, Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. After the political problems in Bahrein, the company changed the itinerary removing the Bahrain. Now in summer she sails on 7-night-cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and in the Baltic Sea. In fall she operates in the Mediterranean Sea, and during the winter period Costa Luminosa goes on 7-night-cruises in the Caribbean.

Controversial practices

Despite claims of sustainable practices by both Costa Cruises and its parent company Carnival, Costa Luminosa has continually been dumping the toilet waste of its 3200 passengers + crew in the sea, instead of taking use of harbor facilities, often provided free of charge e.g. by Baltic ports. Swedish television calculated that over 5 million liters of waste is dumped during a single cruise in the vulnerable Baltic Sea, already severely pestered by poisonous blue algae.

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