Costa Kreuzfahrten

Costa Cruises is the cruise brand of the Italian company Costa Crociere S.p.A., headquartered in Genoa. Its documented passenger history dates back to March 31, 1948: on that day, the Anna C. left Genoa on her first transatlantic voyage to Buenos Aires. The ship began sailing the route in the postwar period, when the Italian shipping company focused on passenger service across the Atlantic. Today, Costa is the name of the travel offering; Costa Crociere S.p.A. is the company behind it.

The Anna C.’s first voyage

The Anna C. was originally a cargo ship and was converted for passenger travel. On the South American route, she connected Genoa with Montevideo and Buenos Aires. The fleet’s development at the time illustrates the transition from liner service to leisure travel: alongside scheduled transatlantic connections, Costa already lists a Mediterranean cruise by the Anna C. in 1953. By 1958, the Federico C, a purpose-built passenger ship, had joined the fleet. She sailed the route between Genoa and Buenos Aires, with Rio de Janeiro as a stopover. Eugenio C followed in 1966 as the second purpose-built passenger ship. This distinguishes the early conversions of existing freighters from later ships designed for passengers from the outset.

Costa, AIDA and Carnival

In 1986, Linea C changed its name to Costa Cruises and shifted the company’s focus more strongly toward cruises. Carnival and Airtours each bought half of the company in 1997; Carnival acquired the remaining stake in 2000. AIDA is also part of the Carnival group, but operates there as a separate cruise line. AIDA Cruises is therefore not simply another name for Costa, but a distinct brand within the same parent group. Brand and corporate group refer to different levels.

Costa Toscana and the onboard concept

Costa Smeralda was introduced in 2019, marking the start of LNG-powered ships in the Costa fleet. Costa Toscana joined as her sister ship. The cruise line includes both ships in its LNG development. In 2024, Costa introduced the “Sea & Land Destinations” concept. It combines onboard experiences with selected destinations and activities on land. Costa Toscana is an example of this newer generation of ships.