Costa Cruises celebrated its 75th Anniversary on March 31, 2023, the same day the cruise line’s Anna C left Genoa, Italy with 768 guests in 1948. Anna C was the first passenger ship of the Costa fleet, the first ship to cross the Atlantic since the end of World War 2, and the first passenger ship to offer air conditioning in her cabins. There were a few name changes, but the cruise line finally became Costa Cruises in 1986.
To continue the celebration of its 75th Anniversary, Costa Cruises is hosting a series of events in the city where it all began, Genoa. The events begin Thursday, October 19, 2023, and continue through Friday, October 27, 2023.
“Throughout all these years, day after day, Costa has been taking millions of guests on cruises around the world, sharing the happy and unforgettable moments of their holidays. On this special anniversary, our desire is to share equally unique emotions with the city of Genoa, through a magnificent show in one of the city’s most iconic squares. However, Costa also aims to maintain its role as a responsible member of the Genoese community, where our company originated, by bringing smiles and tangible assistance to those who are most in need,” said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises.
Friday, October 20, 2023, the cruise line will present a never-before-seen show in Italy–the Monumental Tour. The Monumental Tour combines the artistic heritage of a city with new technology and rediscovers a monument from a new point of view. The event will take place in Piazza Matteotti at 8:45pm and will be open to the public. The main facade of Palazzo Ducale, which overlooks Piazza Matteotti, will come alive with a show of images and lights that intertwines electronic music, cultural heritage and digital art created by French DJ and producer Michael Canitrot.
Preceding the Monumental Tour, a cocktail party will be held on board Costa Cruises’ flagship, Costa Toscana. Guests will enjoy a menu curated by Italian chef Bruno Barbieri along with a Ferrari Trento wine created just for the occasion. Renowned Italian pop artist Malika Ayane will close out the evening with a concert on board Costa Toscana
The cruise line is hosting a special lunch for about 150 guests of the Community of Sant’Egidio in an initiative to support the organization. The Community of Sant’Egidio is a local organization that is vital in helping the vulnerable. The lunch, held on Thursday, October 19, 2023, will be prepared by Costa Cruises’ chefs which includes chef Bruno Barbieri. Costa Crociere Foundation has been supporting the Community of Sant’Egidio since 2015 through a food assistance project.
“We participate with pleasure in this anniversary of Costa Cruises, a reality that is so important for our city,” said Andrea Chiappori, head of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Liguria, “It is a beautiful thing that Costa will be celebrating with all the people of Genoa, including the people who live in the physical and existential peripheries of our city. It is the crowning of an important collaboration between Costa and Sant’Egidio Community that has been going on for years; but it is also a sign of a continuing commitment to reducing inequalities and promoting solidarity”.
Other events include a charity comedy show featuring Italian comedian Angelo Pintus where the proceeds from the evening will be matched by Costa Cruises and donated in full to the Gaslini Paediatric Hospital. A group of patients from the hospital and their families will also board Costa Toscana and be treated to special activities and a lunch created just for them. Additionally, Costa Cruises will be the brand sponsor of the 40th annual assembly of the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI). Here the cruise line will host a workshop dedicated to Guardiani della Costa. Guardiani della Costa is an educational project aimed at all schools in Italy allowing students to increase their awareness of the unique naturalistic heritage of the Italian coasts and the problems resulting from marine pollution.
Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci said, “75 years represent an extraordinary milestone for Costa, the company born in our city that continues to carry the name of Genoa high in the world. The cruise market has been experiencing exponential growth in recent months. Genoa plays an increasingly central role in the global cruise industry, with millions of people every year having the chance to discover the beauty of our city thanks to the ships arriving in our port. We are happy that Costa has decided to organize a great series of initiatives to share and celebrate this milestone with the people of Genoa as well. Best wishes to Costa Cruises for many more years of success alongside Italy and our city.”