A revolutionary ship that showcases the very best of Italy
The arrival of Costa Cruises’ new flagship, Costa Smeralda, had to be delayed because of construction delays at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. But
when she finally set sail from Savona on 21 December, 2019, it was worth the wait.
At 185,000 tons, making her the biggest Costa ship to date, she was bound to make a huge impact, especially being the first in the fleet to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel.
She showcases the very best of Italy. All her decks and public areas are named after – and designed based on – iconic Italian places.
Food and wine offerings on board feature the finest Italian culinary traditions, with the collaboration of prestigious partner suppliers.
The ship has 11 different restaurants (including one specifically conceived for casual family dining), 19 bars, a splendid spa area with 16 treatment rooms, an onboard waterpark with waterslides, four pools and a dedicated facility where kids can hang out and make new friends their age.
The exclusive interior design of the ship is inspired by “Italy’s finest”: a festive, creative celebration of “Italian taste,” its history and its expressions, interpreted by four architecture and interior design studios, under the guidance of the Creative Director, Adam D. Tihany.
The inspiration chosen by Tihany for the interior design of Costa Smeralda is “Italy’s finest”: a festive, creative celebration of “Italian taste”, its history and its expressions.
“The concept of ‘Made in Italy’ is a key component to the Costa Smeralda design story” says Tihany. “What better way to showcase Italy’s Finest on board the ship than with Italian products, made by Italians?”
Costa Smeralda features the first ever design museum on a cruise ship, the only space onboard that Tihany and his firm designed directly. The Costa Design Collection Museum (CoDe) is the concentrated summary of the Italian taste, an interactive celebration of the best of contemporary Italian design, from fashion and film to furniture and household objects.
“Italy’s finest, to me, is a national pride that has been passed from generation to generation,” adds Tihany. “It’s a place where every taste feels like a dream and where time itself seems to slow. Here style is king, beauty is queen and the attitudes of the people could change the world.”
In Costa Smeralda’s staterooms, designed by Dordoni Architetti, national pride meets bespoke Italian style on a sort of “Grand Tour” through Italy.
Every deck is associated with an Italian city, taken as the reference point for the decorative patterns of the interiors, setting the chromatic tone and shaping the atmosphere, from the long circulation corridors to the interiors of the cabins, conceived as “cities in a
room.”
Beginning on deck four with the city of Palermo, this journey heads north through 11 decks, where each one is themed to represent an Italian marvel like Capri, Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan, ending with Bellagio on deck seventeen.
Merging theater and architecture, Rockwell Group designed many of the ship’s grand amenities, including the “Colosseo,” a flexible events space; “Teatro Sanremo”, a theater that transforms into a nightclub; and a beach club and pool deck reminiscent of the terraced landscapes of Southern Italy.
Evoking an Italian piazza, the three-storey “Colosseo” features a Campidoglio-inspired floor and a domed atrium that accommodates
acrobatic performances. Additional spaces include several fine dining and casual restaurants; bars and lounges; a shore excursion and photography gallery; and kids and teens clubs.
Jeffrey Beers International focused on certain themes on board Costa Smeralda: the Casino, the Jazz Club, bars and restaurants, organized in various figures depending on uses and modes of experience.
Each venue uniquely celebrated Italian art, culture and craftsmanship. Murano glass chandeliers, colorful furnishings and floors that link back to Italian palaces and piazzas alternate with custom carpeting created like abstract paintings, with references to Italian icons and customs.
Partner Ship Design headed the design of a series of bar and restaurant types for different configurations and uses, cooking workshops and spaces for personal care, as well as designing the exteriors: accessorised decks, an outdoor promenade and all the open areas that are a fundamental part of the cruise ship experience.
In order to provide an authentic “Italian-made” design experience, Costa Smeralda furnishings feature prestigious Italian companies synonymous with the country’s exceptional quality and style of design.