Costa Fascinosa set for May 5 delivery

Costa Fascinosa, Costa Cruises’ new flagship, will be officially delivered to the cruise line in Venice on May 5. The 114,500-ton, 3,800-guest cruise ship was built at Fincantieri’s Marghera yard. Fascinosa has successfully completed sea trials, passing a series of running tests on its systems, machinery and engines, and will be officially handed over to Costa Cruises by Fincantieri a day before a scheduled preview cruise. On May 6, Costa Fascinosa is scheduled to depart Venice bound for Slovenia; Trieste, Italy, and Croatia on a cruise hosting the 19th edition of “Champions of the Sea,”an annual event honouring Costa Cruises’ travel agent partners. Costa Fascinosa then departs Venice May 11 on a 10-day inaugural cruise calling at Greece, Israel and Turkey. For the rest of the 2012 summer season through November, Costa Fascinosa will operate seven-day cruises from Venice and Bari, Italy, to Greece and Croatia. (http://www.costacruises.com)