Costa Fascinosa Concordia-Class Cruise Liner

Costa Fascinosa is the youngest cruise ship operated by the Italian cruise ship operator Costa Cruise. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

The Fascinosa can accommodate 3,800 passengers in 1,508 cabins. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

Costa Fascinosa was built by the Italian ship manufacturer Fincantieri. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

An open-air Acqua Park is located on the ship's top deck. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

Via col Vento Lido, measuring 1,000m, is located at the centre of the ship. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

Costa Fascinosa has five restaurants and 13 bars. Pictured is the Grand Bar Topkapi. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere

Costa Fascinosa's interior environments were designed by Joseph Farcus. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

Amarcord Bar is one of the 13 bars on the ship. Image courtesy of Costa Crociere.

Costa Fascinosa is the youngest Concordia-Class passenger ship operated by Italy’s Costa Crociere, an affiliate of cruise ship operator Carnival Corporation. Delivered in May 2012, she is the last of two sister-ships and represents an investment of $668.8m.

The first ship, Costa Favolosa, was delivered in June 2011. The two sister-ships are the largest cruise ships to bear an Italian flag.

Costa Fascinosa, the 16th member of the Costa fleet, was built by Fincantieri at its Marghera shipyard in Italy. Florida-based ship designer and architect Joseph Farcus had designed the vessel’s interiors.

Green Plus recognition for Costa Fascinosa

Fascinosa’s interior environments are inspired by film stars, exotic locations, memorable international celebrities and so on. Furnishings and interior decoration are based on silver, gold and purple colour themes.

Green features of Costa Fascinosa have helped her earn Green Plus notation. This is the highest notation awarded by Genoa-based classification society RINA, to new ships whose design architecture, onboard machinery and operational procedures contribute to achieve environmental performance better than the minimum international standards.

Costa Fascinosa is among the first ships in the world to be equipped for alternative maritime power (AMP). This means the vessel can be supplied with shore side electric power, enabling main and auxiliary engines to be turned off when berthed in ports.

Some of the sustainable features include 100% water separation and reprocessing of aluminium, glass and other waste products. The ship is fitted with reverse osmosis desalination plants to produce potable water.

Energy saving features include the use of LED light bulbs, ecological silicone-based coatings to improve resistance, and automatic lighting control systems which adjust the ship’s outside lighting in accordance with the presence of natural light.

Hot water produced by the engines is recycled and then reused for warming the cabins and common areas. The air conditioning is so optimised that its airflow adapts automatically to the outside temperature. Maintenance of propellers is undertaken on a routine basis so that they operate at optimum efficiency.

Constructing the Concordia-Class passenger ship

Costa Fascinosa was constructed as part of Costa’s $12bn (€9.6bn) fleet expansion which began in 2000. The multibillion programme called for the construction and delivery of nine vessels in nine years, with first delivery in 2003.

Construction of Costa Fascinosa and Costa Favolosa was announced in October 2007, with Fincantieri as the builder.

The keel of Costa Fascinosa was laid at Marghera in September 2010. Construction was started by lowering the first block, measuring 12m in length and 295t in weight, into the shipyard’s building dock.

In June 2011, the ship was floated out of the building dock and towed to the finishing dock for the final phase of her construction.

Initial sea trials were conducted in April 2012 and the ship was officially handed over to her operator one month later at the Venice Passenger Terminal.

Fincantieri had engaged approximately 3,000 yard workers and 7,000 other workers to complete the vessel’s construction. Upon completion, the ship’s gross tonnage was 114,500t and length was 290m.

Staterooms aboard Costa’s cruise liner

A total of 3,800 passengers can be accommodated in 1,508 cabins. About 35% of those are provided with private balconies. Staterooms aboard the vessel can broadly be categorised into suites, balconies, ocean views and inside cabins.

Suites include Grand Suite (deck seven), Samsara Suite with Veranda (deck ten), Suite with Veranda (decks seven and nine), Samsara Mini Suite with Veranda (deck ten) and Mini Suite with Veranda (decks six, seven and eight).

Samsara Veranda and Ocean View with Veranda are the two types of balcony staterooms. These cabins measure 220 square feet.

Ocean view staterooms, such as Samsara Outside, Outside and Outside Single, measure 191 square feet to 225 square feet. Samsara Inside and inside cabins offer 150 square feet of area. Inside single cabins, each featuring one single bed, cover 150 square feet.

Recreational venues aboard the Italian vessel

Facilities aboard the vessel include five restaurants, 13 bars, four swimming pools and five whirlpools. Sports facilities include a multipurpose court and a jogging track.

Samsara spa, one of the largest wellness centres built on a passenger ship, extends across two levels and covers 6,000 square metres. It has a gym, spa baths, thalassotherapy pool, sauna and UVA solarium.

A grand prix simulator, located on the vessel’s highest deck, reproduces the feeling of racing circuits. There is also a golf simulator. It is fitted with latest technology to create a realistic environment.

Other entertainment facilities include a theatre on three levels, casino, disco, dance club, library, duty free shops, a 4D cinema and kids’ and teen areas.