Costa Cruises' totally restyled Costa neoRomantica departed Savona, Italy, on March 2 with 1,600 guests on board, following a private naming ceremony.

On the occasion of Costa neoRomanticas inaugural sailing from Savona, Costa Crociere top management attended a private blessing ceremony conducted by His Excellency Vittorio Lupi, Bishop of Savona.

At the beginning of the blessing ceremony, one minute of silence was observed in respect and mourning for the victims of Costa Concordia.

Following long-standing maritime tradition, a bottle of champagne was broken across the ships hull. Serving as Costa neoRomantica's godmothers were Francesca Scuffi, a member of the Costa Club for repeat guests, and Gabriella Gentile, a member of Costa Concordia's crew. She was chosen as a symbol of the gratitude the company expresses toward Costa Concordia's crew.

Costa neoRomantica was virtually a new ship when it left San Giorgio del Porto shipyard in Genoa. The five-month restyling represents an investment by Costa Cruises of approximately US$120 million (90 million euros), one of the most expensive and extensive cruise ship refit projects ever undertaken in the industry.

Costa neoRomantica's interior design has a contemporary, elegant and refined style created by Swedish architectural firm Tillberg Design and Syntax, the London firm specializing in prestigious hotels and spa.

Costa neoRomantica departed on an 11-night round-trip Canary Islands cruise calling at Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Arrecife and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal (Madeira), Portugal and Malaga, Spain.