Costa Fortuna is a cruise ship for Costa Crociere built in 2003 on the same platform as Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny class. She was inspired by the Italian steamships of the past. Models of these ships are on display in the ship's public areas. In the atrium, models of the 26 past and present ships of Costa's fleet are displayed upside down, on the ceiling, up to, and including, Costa Fortuna herself. She was refurbished between 10 and 16 December 2018 in Singapore and was re-positioned back to Genoa, Italy in March 2019.

Costa Fortuna
History
NameCosta Fortuna
OwnerCarnival Corporation & plc
OperatorCosta Crociere
Port of registryGenoa,  Italy
BuilderFincantieri, Italy
Launched2003
In service17 November 2003
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
Class and typeFortuna-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length272.19 m (893 ft 0 in)
Beam35.54 m (116 ft 7 in)
Draught8.2 m (26 ft 11 in)
Decks13
Installed power63,360 kW (84,970 hp)
Propulsion2 Azimuth thrusters
Speed23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) (max)
Capacity2,702 passengers (dual occupancy) 3,470 passengers (maximum)
Crew1,090

Design and description

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Ship models on atrium ceiling of Costa Fortuna

The vessel was built along the same lines as Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny class. The aft decks are tiered and have limited open deck space.[1] The vessel has a gross tonnage (GT) of 102,669 and 8,200 tons deadweight (DWT).[2][a] Costa Fortuna is 272.19 metres (893 ft 0 in) long overall and 230 metres (754 ft 7 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 35.54 m (116 ft 7 in) and a depth of 14.18 m (46 ft 6 in).[3][4]

The ship is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system creating 34,000 kilowatts (46,000 hp) servicing two azimuth thrusters.[1][b] There are 1,358 cabins ranging in size from 16.7–44.8 square metres (180–482 sq ft) of which 522 have a balcony. The vessel has a crew of 1,090.[1][3][c] Costa Fortuna has capacity for 2,702 passengers at dual occupancy and 3,470 passengers maximum. There are four restaurants and eleven bars and lounges. The interior decor is Art Deco.[1][3]

Construction and career

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Costa Fortuna in Dubrovnik in 2009

The ship was constructed by Fincantieri in Italy with a build date of 31 October 2003.[3][4] Named Costa Fortuna for the daughter of the mythological god of the sea Poseidon, the cruise ship entered service on 17 November 2003.[1][2] The vessel is owned and operated by Costa Crociere and registered in Genoa, Italy.[2]

In December 2018, the cruise ship underwent an €8 million, six-day refit in Singapore. Prior to the refit, the vessel was based in China. Following the refit, Costa Fortuna was to operate out of Genoa.[5] Costa Fortuna was replaced by Costa Venezia in the Chinese market.[6] For the 2020/2021 season, Costa Fortuna sailed the Mediterranean Sea, with stops in Turkey, Greece and Spain.[7]

Costa Fortuna attempted to dock at Phuket, Thailand on 6 March 2020, but was denied by Thai officials because it was carrying passengers who had left Italy within the last two weeks due to coronavirus fears.[8] On 7 March, the ship attempted to dock at Penang in northern Malaysia, but was denied due to a complete ban on cruise ships. The ship returned to Singapore on 10 March 2020 and all passengers were found well and were allowed to disembark.[8][9]

Notes

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  1. ^ Costa Crociere and Ward state that the vessel has a GT of 102,587.[1][3]
  2. ^ Leonardo Info states the vessel uses fixed-pitch propellers and creates 40,000 kW (54,000 hp).[4]
  3. ^ Ward has the crew numbering 1,068.[1]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Ward 2019, p. 691.
  2. ^ a b c Equasis.
  3. ^ a b c d e Costa Fortuna.
  4. ^ a b c Leonardo Info.
  5. ^ "Costa Fortuna to Drydock Before Europe Return". Cruise Industry News. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  6. ^ "New Ship Spurs Demand in China for Costa". Cruise Industry News. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Costa Shuffles Ships, Introduces New Mediterranean Programs". Cruise Industry News. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  8. ^ a b Corcoran, Kieran (7 March 2020). "An Italian cruise ship was turned away from ports in Malaysia and Thailand even though it has no cases of coronavirus on board". Business Insider. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  9. ^ Wei, Toh Ting (10 March 2020). "Coronavirus: 600 passengers disembarked from Costa Fortuna cruise ship as of noon, all found to be well". The Straits Times. Retrieved 25 March 2020.

References

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