First Glimpse Interestingly, Costa, which like other big ship cruise lines has been devoting its new-build strategy to bigger and bigger vessels, is taking a step back with the creation of Costa Luminosa (the photo here was taken in October 2007). The 92,700-ton, 2,260-passenger ship -- currently under construction at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard -- represents a new, smaller design for the cruise line. Among the highlights include the fleet's highest proportion of balcony cabins (772 of 1,130 cabins or 68 percent), the inclusion of Playstation 3 (PS3) game consoles in every cabin and an 18-hole championship golf course simulator. The ship will also tweak existing innovations, such as its double-deck Samsara Spa, along with the spa accommodations that it pioneered, a Grand Prix race car driving simulator, and a retractable magrodome that extends over two pools. Costa Luminosa will debut in spring 2009. A sister ship, still unnamed, will debut in spring 2010. --by Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor
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