Costa Cruises
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn Italian cruise line serving primarily European holidaymakers with Mediterranean and worldwide itineraries.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
Costa Cruises, legally Costa Crociere S.p.A., is an Italian cruise line headquartered in Genoa and wholly owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. The business traces its corporate origins to 1854, when Giacomo Costa established a Genoese trading company dealing in olive oil and textiles. Costa later moved into shipping, first through cargo operations and then through passenger services. Its dedicated postwar passenger business began in the late 1940s under the name Linea C, when the company converted cargo vessels for scheduled service between Genoa and South America. The company’s transformation from an ocean-transport operator into a holiday cruise specialist occurred gradually. In the 1950s it introduced purpose-built passenger ships and began adding leisure voyages in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. The 1966 launch of Eugenio C represented a significant step in the development of the brand’s passenger fleet and design identity. By the 1980s, Linea C had become a substantial passenger-ship operator, and in 1986 it adopted the Costa Cruises name as the business concentrated on cruising rather than traditional liner transportation. During the late 1980s and 1990s, Costa modernized its fleet with ships such as Costa Classica, Costa Romantica and Costa Victoria. It also experimented with the EuroLuxe concept as an upscale European offering, although that brand was short-lived. In 1997, Carnival Corporation and Airtours acquired Costa on an equal basis. Carnival subsequently bought Airtours’ interest in 2000, making Costa a wholly owned Carnival business. The acquisition brought Costa into a larger international cruise platform and led to new ships based partly on Carnival design and construction platforms, as well as the transfer of vessels from other Carnival brands. Costa primarily targets the European cruise market and presents itself through an Italian cultural identity, combining Italian food, hospitality, entertainment and design with mass-market cruise operations. Its itineraries have included the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Asia and the Middle East. The fleet operates under the Italian flag and has included large contemporary ships, ships transferred from sister brands, and vessels designed for families and broad holiday markets. The brand’s history has also been shaped by serious maritime incidents. Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012, causing 32 deaths and leading to extensive legal, operational and reputational consequences. Costa Allegra suffered an engine-room fire the following month and was later removed from service. These events intensified scrutiny of cruise-industry safety and emergency procedures. Costa resumed limited operations during the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020, initially using Italian ports and restricting eligibility largely to Italian residents before expanding access in accordance with European health and travel rules. The company later adjusted its fleet in response to pandemic-era capacity and cost pressures, selling or transferring several ships. Costa also developed a lower-emission fleet direction: Costa Smeralda entered service in 2019 as one of the first cruise ships fully powered by liquefied natural gas, followed by Costa Toscana in 2021. In 2023, Costa marked the 75th anniversary of its postwar passenger service. It remains a Carnival Corporation brand focused on Italian-style cruise holidays for international customers.
History
Costa Cruises developed from the Genoese trading company founded by Giacomo Costa in 1854. The original business traded olive oil and textiles and later established a refinery and the Dante brand. In 1924, management passed to Costa’s sons Federico, Eugenio and Enrico. The family entered shipping in 1924 by acquiring the cargo vessel Ravenna, followed by additional cargo ships. Most of the fleet was lost during the Second World War, leaving the company to rebuild after 1945. The postwar strategy shifted toward passengers. Between 1946 and 1947, the company acquired three American-owned cargo ships and refitted them with passenger accommodation. In 1947 it began a scheduled service between Genoa, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. The company adopted the name Linea C, and in March 1948 it introduced full passenger operations on the South American route with Anna C. The ship’s passenger capacity was expanded substantially, and its voyage became an important early postwar South Atlantic service. Costa ordered its first purpose-built passenger ship, Federico C, in 1958. The vessel operated between Genoa and Buenos Aires through Rio de Janeiro. From 1959 onward, the company increasingly emphasized pleasure travel, offering cruises in the Mediterranean and Caribbean rather than relying solely on scheduled ocean transport. Eugenio C, introduced in 1966 and designed by Nicolò Costanzi, became another important expression of the company’s passenger-ship ambitions. By 1980, Linea C had accumulated a fleet of twelve additional ships and was described as the largest owner of passenger ships in the world at that time. In 1986 the company changed its name to Costa Cruises and focused its business on cruise holidays. Fleet modernization followed. Costa Classica and Costa Romantica entered service in 1991 and 1993, while former container ships were rebuilt as Costa Marina and Costa Allegra. Costa also introduced the short-lived EuroLuxe concept to pursue a more upscale European positioning. Costa Victoria entered service in 1996 and was the largest ship built in Germany at that time; it was the last major ship completed under the Costa family’s ownership before the corporate takeover. Carnival Corporation and Airtours acquired Costa in 1997. Carnival later purchased Airtours’ remaining interest in 2000, making Costa a wholly owned subsidiary. The new ownership began a substantial fleet-building program using design platforms related to Carnival’s Spirit and Destiny classes. Costa Atlantica, delivered in 2000, was the first new ship delivered under Carnival management. Older ships from sister companies were also transferred to Costa, including Costa Tropicale and Costa Europa. The 2002 merger of Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess Cruises created Carnival Corporation & plc. Costa expanded its position within that group, including through its 2004 acquisition of control of AIDA Cruises and the 2007 creation of Ibero Cruises with Orizonia Group. Ibero Cruises was later absorbed into Costa in 2014. Costa’s later history includes fleet expansion, environmental changes and major safety events. Costa Concordia’s 2012 grounding and capsizing caused 32 deaths and became one of the most consequential disasters in modern cruise history. Costa Allegra experienced an engine-room fire weeks later and did not return to service. The company subsequently continued operating as part of Carnival’s European portfolio while developing larger ships and new propulsion technologies. Costa Smeralda debuted in December 2019 as a fully LNG-powered ship, followed by Costa Toscana in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a worldwide suspension of Costa cruises in March 2020. Limited Italian operations resumed on 6 September 2020 under enhanced health procedures, with access later widened to eligible European residents. Pandemic-related financial and capacity pressures led to sales, layups and transfers of several ships. Costa Luminosa, Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze were designated for transfer to Carnival Cruise Line, while Costa Magica was sold to Seajets in 2023. Costa celebrated 75 years of postwar passenger operations in 2023 and continued to operate as Carnival Corporation’s Italian cruise brand.
- 2023
75th anniversary celebration
[1]Costa celebrates 75 years since the beginning of its postwar passenger service.
- 2021
Costa Toscana enters service
[1]Costa Toscana joins the fleet as a sister LNG-powered ship to Costa Smeralda.
- 2020
Operations restart after pandemic suspension
[1]Costa resumes selected sailings from Italy under enhanced health protocols.
- 2019
Costa Smeralda debuts
[3]Costa Smeralda enters service as a fully LNG-powered cruise ship.
- 2012
Costa Concordia disaster
[2]Costa Concordia grounds and capsizes off Giglio, killing 32 people.
- 2000
Costa becomes wholly owned by Carnival
[1]Carnival Corporation buys Airtours’ interest and takes full control of Costa Crociere.
- 1997
Carnival and Airtours acquire Costa
[1]Carnival Corporation and Airtours purchase Costa on an equal basis.
- 1991
Costa Classica enters service
[1]Costa Classica begins service as part of a major fleet modernization program.
- 1986
The Costa Cruises name is adopted
[1]Linea C changes its name to Costa Cruises as the company concentrates on cruise holidays.
- 1958
First purpose-built passenger ship
[1]Federico C enters the fleet as Costa’s first purpose-built passenger ship.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Products and positioning
A mainstream, family-oriented European cruise brand differentiated by Italian hospitality, cuisine, entertainment and design.
Cruise ship · 2019
Costa Smeralda
Costa Smeralda is a large Costa cruise ship introduced in 2019 and named after Sardinia’s Emerald Coast. It was designed to operate fully on liquefied natural gas, making it a central element of Costa’s lower-emission fleet narrative. The ship combines accommodation, restaurants, entertainment venues, family facilities and resort-style public areas for mainstream European cruise vacations.
Cruise ship · 2021
Costa Toscana
Costa Toscana is Costa’s sister ship to Costa Smeralda and entered service in 2021. It uses LNG propulsion and presents regional Italian themes through its naming, design and onboard experience. Its offering is built around large-scale resort cruising, with dining, entertainment, accommodation, children’s facilities and itineraries aimed primarily at the European leisure market.
Cruise ship · 2014
Costa Diadema
Costa Diadema is a large contemporary Costa ship designed for broad-market cruise holidays. Its onboard product includes cabins and suites, restaurants, bars, entertainment, family activities and recreational facilities. It has been used on European itineraries and was among the ships involved in Costa’s limited Italian restart during the COVID-19 period.
Cruise ship · 2009
Costa Pacifica
Costa Pacifica is a Costa cruise ship positioned around music-inspired design and a full resort-style onboard program. Like other major Costa vessels, it combines accommodation with multiple dining options, entertainment, pools, wellness facilities and family activities. It serves as part of the brand’s contemporary European fleet.
Cruise itinerary
Mediterranean cruise itineraries
Mediterranean cruises are Costa’s core geographic offering and reflect its European customer base and Italian identity. Voyages typically combine multiple coastal destinations with onboard dining, entertainment and accommodation, allowing the brand to sell a packaged holiday rather than point-to-point transportation.
Cruise itinerary
Worldwide cruise itineraries
Beyond the Mediterranean, Costa has operated itineraries in Northern Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Asia and the Middle East. These routes extend the Italian-style brand proposition to international markets while using the same integrated cruise-holiday model of shipboard services and shore excursions.
Controversies
2012
Costa Concordia grounding and capsizing
Costa Concordia ran aground near Isola del Giglio on 13 January 2012, partially capsized and caused 32 deaths. The ship was refloated in 2014, towed to Genoa and dismantled. Captain Francesco Schettino was convicted in Italy on charges including manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning passengers, and received a 16-year prison sentence that was upheld on appeal.
2010
Costa Europa pier collision
Costa Europa collided with a pier in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, killing three crew members and injuring four. Costa attributed the collision to strong winds.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Costa Cruises and Juventus partnership
Italy · International
Costa announced a partnership with Italian football club Juventus, linking the cruise brand with a prominent Italian sports property and its international supporter base.
Outcome. Partnership announced; detailed long-term outcome is not established in the supplied sources.
Brand decisions
2022
Fleet transfers to Carnival Cruise LineStrategyBackground
Carnival Corporation adjusted capacity across brands after the pandemic and the sale of several ships.
Action taken
The group announced transfers of Costa Luminosa, Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze to Carnival Cruise Line, with an Italian-themed concept for the latter two ships.
Aftermath
The transfers reduced Costa’s fleet while retaining some Italian design and hospitality elements within the wider Carnival portfolio.
2020
Phased operational restart during COVID-19StrategyBackground
The pandemic caused worldwide cruise cancellations and severe travel restrictions.
Action taken
Costa restarted selected sailings from Italy with enhanced health protocols and initially limited guest eligibility.
Aftermath
Access was subsequently extended to eligible European residents as travel rules changed.
2019
Launch of LNG-powered Costa SmeraldaProduct launchBackground
Carnival Corporation was developing alternative-fuel options for new cruise ships.
Action taken
Costa introduced Costa Smeralda as a ship fully powered by liquefied natural gas.
Aftermath
The ship became a defining part of Costa’s newer fleet and was followed by Costa Toscana.
1997
Sale to Carnival Corporation and AirtoursM&ABackground
Costa was a leading European cruise line seeking additional scale and fleet investment.
Action taken
Carnival Corporation and Airtours acquired the company on a 50:50 basis.
Aftermath
Carnival later acquired Airtours’ stake, bringing Costa fully into the Carnival group.
1986
Concentrate on cruise holidaysStrategyBackground
The business had evolved from scheduled liner and passenger shipping toward leisure travel.
Action taken
Linea C changed its name to Costa Cruises and adopted a cruise-centered strategy.
Aftermath
The change established the modern Costa brand and supported subsequent fleet modernization.
Recent events
- 2025
Costa Fortuna sale announced[1]
M&A
Costa Fortuna was announced as sold to Margaritaville at Sea, with the ship expected to leave Costa’s fleet in September 2026.
- 2023
Costa celebrates 75th anniversary of passenger service[1]
Other
Costa marked 75 years since the launch of its postwar passenger service in 1948.
- 2022
Costa announces fleet transfers and capacity changes[1]
M&A
Carnival Corporation announced plans to transfer Costa Luminosa, Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze to Carnival Cruise Line as the group adjusted fleet capacity after the pandemic.
- 2020
Costa resumes Italian sailings during the pandemic[1]
Other · Regulation
After worldwide cancellations, Costa restarted selected voyages in September using Costa Deliziosa and Costa Diadema, initially with Italian guests and enhanced health procedures.
- 2019
Costa Smeralda enters service as LNG-powered ship[3]
Product launch · Other
Costa introduced Costa Smeralda, a ship designed to operate fully on liquefied natural gas, extending the parent group’s alternative-fuel strategy.
- 2012
Costa Allegra suffers engine-room fire[1]
Other
An engine-room fire left Costa Allegra without propulsion in the Indian Ocean. The ship was towed to the Seychelles and subsequently withdrawn from Costa service.
Sources4 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/costa-cruises · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled