Sustainable Cruise Ship ‘Costa Toscana’ Brings its Italian Flair to Piraeus, Greece – Photo Report
The environmentally conscious Costa Toscana, the flagship of Costa Cruise Lines, recently visited Piraeus, as part of its repositioning cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) to Dubai via the Suez Canal.
The ship arrived in Piraeus with almost 2,800 passengers and at least 1,500 crew members.
Costa Toscana, which had its maiden voyage in March 2022, is Costa Cruise Lines’ third LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) -powered ship, featuring the most advanced technology currently available in the maritime sector to reduce emissions.
Costa Cruise Lines is part of Italy’s biggest tour operator, the Costa Crociere Group which in turn belongs to the Carnival Corporation & plc Group, a world leader in the sector with a fleet of 103 ships and over 11.5 million passengers in 2016.
“Costa Toscana, which has arrived in Piraeus for the first time, is one of the most sustainable ships at sea at the moment representing the best the Italian spirit has to offer,” said Tatiana Hambas, President and CEO of Cruiseway Travel, Costa Cruises’ Preferred Sales Agent in Greece.
While Costa Toscana was docked in Piraeus and many of its passengers made one day trips in Athens, Hambas offered a tour to a group of journalists and travel agents who got to know this aquatic “smart city” offering more than the eye can see to its guests but also the environment.
Costa Toscana, which brings Italy’s style, art, culture and taste to the sea, is a 20-deck cruise ship with 1,550 balcony cabins, 13 swimming pools and hot tubs, 11 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges among other amenities it offers on board.
“Toscana offers a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience with its state-of-the-art performance spaces like the Colosseo and its 650 screens on board,” Hambas said.
“People really want to travel after the pandemic and new ships like Costa Toscana, which is one of the most beautiful and modern at sea, addresses this ‘eagerness’ in the best possible way,” she added.
Hambas went on to underline that Piraeus will be a home port to more cruises in 2023 offering Greek travelers an up close and personal opportunity to warm up to the idea of a cruise.
“If you choose a cruise, you can visit, for example, three countries and multiple urban destinations with a price that amounts to 1/3 of what you’d pay if you’d chose other travel means. You have everything in front of you, in the best price/quality combination you can imagine,” Hambas added.
Touring the Costa Toscana
The Costa Toscana was built in 2021 and has a maximum capacity of almost 6,600 passengers and more than 1,700 crew. It is 1,105 feet long and can travel at a speed of 22 knots.
World – class restaurants
The ship offers a wide variety of menus inspired by the Italian and international cuisine.
Archipelago, its new restaurant, sees three world-renowned chefs, Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León, bring together a world class experience of culinary mastery, authenticity and experimentation.
Everything at Archipelago has a history of environmental consciousness: From the decorative driftwood, which was recovered during a marine environment protection operation to the plates on which the food is served.
Costa Toscana’s guests can also visit the Teppanyaki restaurant where they can have a taste of the Orient and observe the craftsmanship of Japanese chefs or go “full’ Italian by choosing the Pummid’Oro Pizzeria.
The ship is also host to the Food LAB, a fun seaside cooking school where one can test their cooking abilities and taste their creations.
Beauty, Spa and Wellness
As every cruise ship that respects its guests, Costa Toscana offers a holistic package of wellness and relaxation.
From its gym area which boasts the latest exercising equipment to the Solemio Beauty Salon, there is always a choice of one feeling and looking her/his best.
While at the Solemio Spa area one shouldn’t forget to use the one-of-a-kind Snow Room while gazing at the endless blue of the sea.
Entertainment and Services on Board
Costa Toscana offers a wide variety of large communal outdoor and indoor spaces since it was designed on the note that other cruise ships fall behind on the communal experience.
Extroverts can experience a wide variety of performances at the three-deck high Colosseo theater or its nearby Poltrona Frau Arena, while introverts can do the same from their comfort of their room and TV screen since many of the shows are live streamed under a carefully planned multi camera screen direction.
During the 2022 World Cup season those on board can watch matches on the big screen set at the Piazza del Campo, a grand open- air staircase with stunning views overlooking the wake of the ship.
Sustainability and Social Consciousness
Sustainability could be Costa Toscana ‘s middle name with its series of cutting-edge, high-tech new features designed to further reduce its environmental impact.
Its desalinators are used to convert sea water to provide all of the ship’s daily water requirements while energy consumption is reduced to a minimum with the help of a smart energy efficiency system.
In addition, 100% of waste on board is sorted daily and materials such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum are recycled as part of an integrated approach that aims to bring circular economy projects to life.
On the same note, Costa Toscana pulverizes its food further reducing its environmental impact and collaborates with a number of ports it docks at, to offer its surplus of meals to people in need.
For every dinner eaten at the Archipelago, Costa Cruise Lines donates part of the proceeds to the Costa Crociere Foundation which supports environmental and social projects.
The Foundation has offered almost one million meals to date with almost 72,000 beneficiaries and has also supported 1,000 women victims of violence.
Its “Guardians of the Coast” environmental project has seen 2,610 km of coastline adopted by Environmental Guardians, a group of almost 25,000 students and teachers in Italy who voluntarily act to protect the contry’s coastal regions from pollution caused by plastics and marine debris.