Costa Crociere

Costa Crociere, also known as Costa Cruises, is an Italian cruise line and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation conglomerate since 2000. Based in Genoa, Italy, the cruise line primarily caters to the Italian cruise market, but with itineraries sailing to countries globally.

Founded in 1854 by Giacomo Costa as Giacomo Costa fu Andrea, the company originally operated cargo ships, carrying olive oils and textiles, and shortly after being passed down to the founder’s sons, the name of the company was changed to Linea C, and that was when the passenger market started to flourish, with cruises being offered to South America, Caribbean and the Mediterran. In 1986, Linea C changed its name to Costa Cruises and became a cruise-centered business, the leading one in Europe with 19% of the market share. In 1997, 50% of the company was acquired by Carnival Corporation, purchasing the remaining half in the 2000’s.

On notable history mentions, Costa Crociere acquired the leading German company AIDA in 2004 and with the end of Ibero Cruises in 2014, all vessels were transferred to Costa and rebranded. In 2012, the company gained international attention when Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized off the coast of Italy on 13 January 2012. Thirty-two people died in the disaster. Six weeks later, the company made headlines again when a fire on Costa Allegra left it drifting without power for 13 hours in waters near Somalia frequented by pirates, before the ship was taken under tow back to safe waters.

All Costa’s ships sail under the Italian flag and due to the circumstances of using an Italian flag of convenience, crew members that are assigned to join any ship while in Italy are required to also acquire an Italian Visa, as technically they enter Italy and work under the country territory. You can read the necessary steps to acquire the VISA by checking our page on VISAS for Seafarers.

Costa Crociere is the only cruise company that broadcasts all announcements in at least 4 languages: English, Italian, German, French and sometimes in Spanish and in Portuguese, depending on the passengers demographics.