Costa neoRomantica
Costa neoRomantica was an Italian Costa Cruises cruise ship that operated from 1993 until its retirement and demolition in 2021.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Costa neoRomantica was a cruise ship operated by Costa Crociere, the Italian cruise company commonly marketed as Costa Cruises. The vessel was constructed by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, under yard number 5899. Her keel was laid on 23 April 1992, she was launched on 28 November 1992, completed on 25 September 1993, and entered passenger service in November 1993 as Costa Romantica. She was developed as a sister ship to Costa Classica and formed part of Costa’s expansion of contemporary cruising capacity. As originally completed, the ship measured approximately 220 metres in length and had a gross tonnage of about 53,049 tons. Four diesel engines produced 22,800 kilowatts and drove two propellers, giving the vessel a reported maximum speed of 19.5 knots. Her accommodation comprised 789 cabins for a stated passenger capacity of 1,578, supported by a crew of approximately 662. The ship’s facilities included passenger cabins, dining spaces, bars, lounges, and other amenities associated with a mid-sized ocean cruise vessel. Costa Romantica received a major refurbishment in 2003. A much more extensive €90 million rebuilding project took place in November 2011 at San Giorgio del Porto in Genoa. The work added two half-decks, 111 cabins, and a further group of balcony cabins and suites, while also introducing additional bars and lounges. The modifications increased gross tonnage to approximately 56,769 tons and slightly extended the vessel’s overall length. Following the project, the ship was renamed Costa neoRomantica and began operating under the new name in March 2012. The “neo” positioning was associated with a more contemporary, experience-oriented presentation within Costa’s fleet. The vessel served several cruise regions during its Costa career. In early 2017, Costa neoRomantica was assigned to the Asian market and arrived in Hong Kong for regional operations. Its Asia deployment included cruises associated with China and other destinations in the region. In February 2018, the ship provided the setting for The J Winter Fashion Show 2018 in Hong Kong, extending its use beyond ordinary cruise itineraries into an event and fashion context. The ship also experienced operational disruption. On 25 February 2009, while off Punta del Este, Uruguay, a fire affected an engine and an electrical generator. The resulting loss of electricity and running water left the vessel stalled for more than 24 hours. After partial repairs, passengers were evacuated and the next scheduled cruise was cancelled. The incident did not end the ship’s career, and it continued operating after subsequent repairs. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a later and ultimately final interruption. Cruises from China were cancelled from late January and early February 2020, with the suspension later extended through February. While awaiting permission to sail, the vessel remained in Vietnam. On 26 March 2020, it anchored near Vladivostok without passengers to replenish water, fuel, and food, but Russian authorities denied entry because dock workers would have faced a 14-day quarantine requirement. No COVID-19 cases aboard were reported in the cited account. In July 2020, Costa neoRomantica was sold to Celestyal Cruises and renamed Celestyal Experience. It was laid up first at Piraeus and later at Eleusis, but it never entered Celestyal’s passenger service. In September 2021, the ship was sold again to Beacon & Bay Shipping Services of Dubai and renamed Antares Experience. After being offered for onward sale and subsequently reported sold for scrap, the vessel sailed to the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard in Pakistan in November 2021 and was beached for demolition on 3 December 2021. The ship is therefore no longer active as a cruise product.
History
Costa neoRomantica began life as Costa Romantica, a Costa Crociere cruise ship built by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy. Its keel was laid in April 1992, the ship was launched in November of that year, and completion followed in September 1993. Passenger service began in November 1993. The vessel was conceived as a sister ship to Costa Classica and operated under the Italian Costa Cruises brand. The ship was approximately 220 metres long and originally had a gross tonnage of 53,049 tons. Four diesel engines generated 22,800 kilowatts for two propellers, giving it a maximum speed of 19.5 knots. It accommodated 1,578 passengers in 789 cabins and carried a crew of about 662. Its product was the conventional ocean-cruise combination of accommodation, meals, entertainment, bars, lounges, and destination itineraries. A first refurbishment took place in 2003. The most significant transformation occurred in November 2011, when the vessel underwent a reported €90 million rebuilding at San Giorgio del Porto in Genoa. Two half-decks were added, along with 111 cabins, balcony cabins and suites, bars, lounges, and other amenities. The changes raised gross tonnage to approximately 56,769 tons. The ship was renamed Costa neoRomantica and began operating under that identity in March 2012. During the Costa era, the ship served European and international cruise markets. In early 2017 it was moved to the Asian market and arrived in Hong Kong. It continued operating in the region until the COVID-19 crisis disrupted its schedule. In 2018, it was used as the venue for The J Winter Fashion Show in Hong Kong. The vessel’s career included a serious operational incident in February 2009, when a fire affected an engine and an electrical generator off Uruguay. The resulting loss of power and water caused a prolonged interruption, passenger evacuation, and cancellation of the next cruise. The ship later returned to service. The pandemic ended its active Costa deployment. China cruises were cancelled from late January and early February 2020, and the ship remained without passengers while authorities controlled maritime movements. It was later sold to Celestyal Cruises in July 2020 and renamed Celestyal Experience, but never operated for that company. In September 2021 it was sold again, renamed Antares Experience, and eventually sent to the Gadani ship-breaking area in Pakistan. It was beached for demolition on 3 December 2021.
- 2021
Final renaming and demolition
[1]Renamed Antares Experience, the ship was beached at Gadani, Pakistan, for demolition in December.
- 2020
Sale to Celestyal Cruises
[1]The ship left Costa’s fleet, was renamed Celestyal Experience, and entered lay-up without operating for Celestyal.
- 2017
Asian-market deployment
[1]The vessel arrived in Hong Kong for service in the Asian cruise market.
- 2012
Costa neoRomantica name introduced
[1]The rebuilt ship began its first voyage under the Costa neoRomantica name in March.
- 2011
Large-scale rebuilding
[1]A €90 million refurbishment added accommodation and public areas and increased the ship’s tonnage.
- 2003
First major refurbishment
[1]Costa Romantica received an earlier refurbishment before its larger 2011 rebuilding.
- 1993
Costa Romantica enters service
[1]The ship was completed in September and entered passenger service in November as Costa Romantica.
- 1992
Keel laid at Fincantieri
[1]Construction began at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard on 23 April 1992.
Products and positioning
A mid-sized Costa Cruises passenger ship positioned around Italian-style cruise hospitality, onboard leisure, and later a more contemporary boutique-oriented experience after its 2011 rebuilding and renaming.
Cruise ship · 1993
Costa Romantica
The vessel’s original identity under Costa Crociere. It offered passenger cruises with cabins, dining, bars, lounges, and entertainment facilities from its entry into service in 1993 until the 2011 rebuilding and subsequent renaming.
Cruise ship · 2012
Costa neoRomantica
The ship’s post-2011 identity following a major reconstruction. The updated vessel added cabins, balcony accommodation, suites, bars, lounges, and other amenities, and later operated in the Asian market, including cruises associated with Hong Kong and China.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018The J Winter Fashion Show 2018
Hong Kong
Costa neoRomantica served as the setting for The J Winter Fashion Show 2018 in Hong Kong, using the cruise ship as an event and fashion venue.
Brand decisions
2020
Sell the vessel to Celestyal CruisesM&ABackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted cruise schedules and contributed to the ship leaving Costa service.
Action taken
The ship was sold to Celestyal Cruises and renamed Celestyal Experience.
Aftermath
The vessel remained laid up and never operated for Celestyal before being sold again in 2021.
2017
Deploy the ship to the Asian marketStrategyBackground
Costa assigned the vessel to expand or maintain its presence in Asian cruise operations.
Action taken
Costa neoRomantica arrived in Hong Kong and operated cruises in the region.
Aftermath
The vessel continued Asian operations until pandemic-related cancellations and its eventual sale.
2011
Rebuild and rename the shipGeneration changeBackground
Costa sought to modernize the existing Costa Romantica rather than retire it after its first decade of service.
Action taken
The vessel received a major Genoa refurbishment, including additional decks, cabins, balcony accommodation, bars, and lounges, and was renamed Costa neoRomantica.
Aftermath
The rebuilt ship entered service under its new name in March 2012 and later became part of Costa’s Asian deployment.
Refurbishment cost. €90 million (2011)
Recent events
- 2021
Vessel renamed Antares Experience before demolition[1]
M&A · Other
After remaining laid up, the ship was sold to Beacon & Bay Shipping Services of Dubai, renamed Antares Experience, and subsequently sent for recycling at Gadani, Pakistan.
- 2020
China cruises suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Regulation · Other
Cruises from China were cancelled from late January and early February, with the suspension extended through February. The ship later remained without passengers in Vietnam and was denied entry at Vladivostok while seeking supplies.
- 2020
Ship sold to Celestyal Cruises and renamed Celestyal Experience[1]
M&A
The vessel was sold to Celestyal Cruises in July, renamed Celestyal Experience, and placed in lay-up. It never entered service for the new operator.
- 2017
Costa neoRomantica is assigned to the Asian market[1]
Other
The ship arrived in Hong Kong as Costa deployed it for cruises in the Asian market.
- 2011
Costa Romantica undergoes major rebuilding and becomes Costa neoRomantica[1]
Product launch
A major refurbishment in Genoa added half-decks, cabins, balcony accommodation, bars, and lounges. The ship adopted the Costa neoRomantica name and began its first voyage under that name in March 2012.
- 2009
Engine-room and generator fire disrupts Costa Romantica voyage[1]
Other
A fire affected an engine and an electrical generator while the ship was off Punta del Este, Uruguay. The vessel lost electricity and running water for more than 24 hours, passengers were evacuated after partial repairs, and the next scheduled cruise was cancelled.
Sources2 sources
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