HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 26 April2019 - Costa Cruises, Italy'slargest tourism group and Europe's number one cruise company celebrated the maidencall of Costa Venezia to Hong Kong on April 24 and invited over 120 guests onboardfor a plaque and key ceremony.

Captain Tihomir Muzic was joined by Mr. MarioZanetti, President of Costa Group Asia, Mr. Aaron Liu, JP, Acting Commissionerfor Tourism, Tourism Commission, HKSAR Government, Mr. Anthony Lau, ExecutiveDirector of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and Clemente Contestabile, ConsulGeneral of Italy in Hong Kong for an auspicious lion dance eye-dotting ritual.  Together with a lively marching band and shipperformers, showcasing highlights from Costa Venezia's original musicalproduction, "Venezia Innamorata", five colourful lions danced to hip hopmusic and kick started the celebrations. Mr. Liu also signed on a specialbottle that brings blessingsfrom each port of the Costa Venezia's Marco Polo Voyage -- from Trieste, the Mediterranean to the MiddleEast, and subsequently from Southeast Asia to Hong Kong.

(from left to right) Clemente Contestabile, Consul General of Italy inHong Kong, Mr. Aaron Liu, JP, Acting Commissioner for Tourism, TourismCommission, HKSAR Government, Captain Tihomir Muzic, Mr. Mario Zanetti,President of Costa Group Asia, Mr. Antony Lau, Executive Director, Hong KongTourism Board

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Zanetti said: "As a ship builtspecifically for the Asian market, Venezia heralds the start of a new chapterfor Costa, Fincantieri and also the Asian cruise industry as a whole.  From conception to delivery,everything about Costa Venezia has been designed having the Asian customer inmind. Costa Venezia will continue to offer the authentic Italian experiencethat is a hallmark of Costa, but with further innovations that have never beenseen before and which are designed to meet the needs of the local market evenbetter."

Costa Venezia is the largestship introduced by Costa to Asia, where the Italian company was the first tostart operating in 2006.

With a grosstonnage of 135,500 tons, 323 meters in length, 2,116 cabins and a capacity for 5,260guests, the Costa Venezia offers a series of unprecedented innovations designedspecifically for Asian customers, introducing them to Italian culture,lifestyle and excellence, starting from the interiors, which are inspired by thecity of Venice.

OnCosta Venezia, guests will experience the uniqueness of Venetian and Italianculture. The ship's theatre is inspired by the world-renowned Venetian LaFenice opera house; the main atrium is reminiscent of St. Mark's Square, while themain restaurants recall the traditional architecture of Venetian alleys and squares. Actualgondolas, made by the Squero di San Trovaso artisans, can also be found onboard.

Guests are able to sample the delights of fine Italian diningwhile enjoying home comforts that include a range of Chinese cuisines. The twomain restaurants, Marco Polo and Canal Grande, offer a unique immersionin the Venetian atmosphere. Starting from a walk in the Grand Canal and theopportunity to sit close to a real gondola, to admiring the "Ponte dei Sospiri"(Bridge of Sighs) at the Canal Grande Restaurant, and continuing with theunique baroque architecture of the Marco Polo restaurant, where guests are servedby 17th century Venetian figured waiters.

At Casanova Restaurant,guests will find a special menu created by the Italian chef Umberto Bombana, chef of the three-starMichelin restaurant 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, one of the five speciality restaurants.  Guests will also feel at home with a widechoice of Asian food on offer, including hotpot, teppanyaki, dim sum andnoodles.

Costa Venezia features more than8,000 square feet of retail space amid a two-deck Venetian-style shoppingpavilion which Starboard Cruise Services, the premier retailer at sea, curatedwith some of the world's most celebrated brands.

Presented within an Italian-styleshopping experience in keeping with the iconic Costa Cruises brand, thecollection includes many famous Italian brands, including first-time-at-sea MaxMara, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bvlgari.

Costa Venezia further appeals tothe Asian shopper with the largest beauty space at sea, measuring more than2,500 square feet and including over 30 international brands, with thefirst-at-sea Clé de Peau Beauté and Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent, La Prairie,Bvlgari, Chanel, Dior, La Mer, SK-II and more.  Asian beauty brands include Dr. Jart+,Sulwhasoo and The History of Whoo. The Merchant of Venice, a refined perfumerthat pays homage to the beauty of Venetian culture, also makes its debut at seaand available for the first time in Asia.

In addition, Bvlgari joins Costa Cruises and Starboardto present the first production of its kind at sea: "The Bvlgari JewelryShow", an evening of elegance and glamour highlighting the Italianjeweller's masterful craftsmanship. During the show, Costa Venezia's passengers will experiencethe epitome of "la dolce vita," an Italian dream, presenting a dazzling displayof Bvlgari jewels featured onboard at the Bvlgariboutique.

The luxury line-up also includes Cartier,Jaeger-LeCoultre, Tiffany & Co., Mikimoto, and many more, making it evenmore irresistible when they can be purchased onboard tax and duty-free.

Apartfrom shopping, guests are entertained by nightly shows and performances,including "Venezia Innamorata", a musical inspired by the love stories of Venetianauthor and adventurer Giacomo Casanova, specially created for Costa Venezia'sTeatro Rosso. Themed parties such as the "Golden Party" and "Carnivalof Venice" masked ball recreate the magical atmosphere of "The City of Canals" onboard.

Soccerfans will find Asia's exclusive Juventus Football Club at sea and enjoy a360-degree Italian football experience with special facilities on CostaVenezia, including an outdoor soccer field, an indoor academy, a museum showcasing historic trophies and memorabilia from as farback as the 1970s, magazine photos from all eras, jerseys and signed shoes fromthe club's successful seasons, as well as a retail shop selling limited edition commemorativemerchandise.

Forguests who enjoy the outdoors, the ship has both outdoor and indoor swimmingpools and jacuzzis, an aqua park with water slides, a mini-golf course, ahigh-rope garden, outdoor fitness facilities, a wellness complex with gym andspa, clubs for teens and kids, and manymore.

On March 8, the ship embarked from Trieste for the start of itsinaugural cruise: an exceptional 53-day trip following the tracks of Marco Polothrough the Mediterranean to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Far Eastbefore docking in Tokyo.

A secondship designed exclusively for the Asian market, a sister ship to Costa Venezia,is currently under construction by Fincantieri in Marghera and is expected tobe delivered in 2020.  Together withCosta Venezia, the arrival of the second new built will help boost thedevelopment of the Asian cruise industry.

About Costa Group

The Costa Groupis the leading cruise company in Europe and China, headquartered in Genoa(Italy). The 28 ships of the brands Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Costa Asiatogether have a total capacity of more than 85,000 berths. The fleet will befurther strengthened by 5 new vessels by 2023. The company has a globalworkforce of 30,000 employees working onboard and in its 20 offices in 14countries.

Press releasesand photos available at www.costapresscenter.com