Costa Classica could join two other smaller units of the Genoa based company in its new "slow cruising" business that offers passengers more time ashore, said Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere.

No decision has been made as yet whether Costa Classica that was built in 1991 and is of 52,926 gross tons and offers 1,680 lower berths would join its sister ship, Costa neoRomabtica that is a year younger and was heavily rebuilt for its new role. It will be joined by Costa neoRiviera, which until recently traded as Grand Mistral of sister brand Iberocruceros.

Thamm, who was speaking at a videoed news conference on the occasion of the launch of Costa Diadema, the latest ship of the Carnival Corp & plc group company, said that Costa intends to expand the slow cruise business.