The only Australian at the
ceremony, Caroline
Gladstone reports from Italy.
ITS NAME MEANS ‘FABULOUS’ IN ITALIAN, AND
fittingly the launch of Costa Cruises’ latest
superliner, the Favolosa, lived up to its
namesake.
The Italian cruise line’s new
flagship, and 15th vessel in the fleet,
was christened in a spectacular
ceremony in the historic city of Trieste
on Saturday.
More than 2000 guests and
thousands of the city’s residents
gathered in the Piazza Unita d’Italia,
one of the largest squares in Europe,
to witness an event that included
ballerinas and an aerial gymnast tethered to
hundreds of white helium balloons.
Guests waved illuminated flags as Italy’s
tri-colours were beamed across the sky to
not only mark the ship’s naming, but to
honour the 150th anniversary of the
unification of Italy.
Italian theatre actor Alessandro Rossi
recited the ‘Hymn to Beauty’ as 3D laser
images of the floodlit ship were projected
onto baroque buildings.
After the traditional blessing by the bishop
of Trieste, the ship’s godmother, Italian
actress Margareth Made, performed the
official honours as the sky erupted with
fireworks.
The Costa Favolosa, carrying a maximum
of 3,800 passengers, is the fourth ship to be
launched by Costa Cruises in just two years.
Costa CEO Pier Luigi Foschi called it an
“enchanted castle”, and it certainly has
many “fairy tale” features including a ninedeck
atrium glistening with Swarovski crystal
panels, 6000 pieces of art, new spa cabins
with private Jacuzzi balconies, and acres of
marble, onyx and alabaster.
Its family attractions are a 4D cinema,
complete with moving seats, Playstation
World, a Grand Prix driving simulator and
the world’s most advanced golf simulator
with more than 30 famous courses.
Between 07 July and late summer 2011,
Favolosa will cruise out of Venice on 11-day
roundtrip itineraries with calls at Bari, Izmir,
Istanbul, Mykonos, Piraeus, Olympic and
Dubrovnik.
In December she repositions to Dubai for
cruises around the United Arab Emirates.
