MIAMI (April 6, 2009) - Costa, Europe's number one cruise line, has doubled its presence in the Far East with the arrival of the Costa Classica (53,000-tons, 1,308 dbl occ), which joins the Costa Allegra (28,400-tons, 820 dbl occ) in the region. The Costa Classica is the second ship to operate on a permanent basis in the Far East and recently departed on her first cruise from Singapore.

Costa became the first international cruise company to open the cruise market in China when it deployed the Costa Allegra from the region in July 2006. Costa's cruises in the region are sold to its key markets as well as local markets. Since commencing operations in China, nearly 100,000 guests have taken Costa cruises in Asia. Half of these guests are Chinese.

The Costa Classica was positioned to Asia after operating in Dubai for the 2008-2009 winter season, offering 7-night cruises in the Arabian Gulf, another Costa exclusive. The Costa Classica's first cruise in the Far East, which departed on March 27 from Singapore, was a 14-night itinerary that includes calls in Thailand, Vietnam, China and Hong Kong. For all of 2009, the Costa Classica will set sail from Singapore and from the Chinese ports of Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tianjin, with alternating extended and short cruises. The longer 14- and 15-night itineraries, preferred by international guests, will include calls to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, China and Vietnam. The shorter 4- to 6-night cruises, more popular with local guests, will call on some of the most coveted destinations in those markets, such as Okinawa (Japan), Kagoshima (Japan), Nagasaki (Japan), Fukuoka (Japan) and Cheju (South Korea). Various cruises offered by the Costa Classica in China will include three between China and Taiwan in the months of April and May, the first cruises of their kind to link between the two countries. Passengers will include the employees of Amway (China) Co., Limited, one of the leading manufacturing and distributors operating in China.

Given the great success of these Far East cruises, Costa will increase its activities in the area in 2010. Beginning in March 2010, the Costa Allegra will be replaced by an even larger ship, the Costa Romantica (53,000-tons and 1,356 dbl occ), to operate alongside her sister ship, the Costa Classica.

Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe's number one cruise line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in fun and relaxation. In 2007 over 1.1 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company's 12 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean.

Two more new ships - the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica - are due for delivery at the end of April and the end of May 2009, and will be christened together in Genoa, Italy on June 5 this year. Three additional ships are on order. Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA's Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca's 2008 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.

GENOA, ITALY - (October 18, 2007) Costa Crociere, the leading cruise line in Italy and Europe, has announced an order for two new 114,200-ton ships to be delivered in 2011 and 2012. Costa Crociere S.p.A, the Italian subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE CUK), signed an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of the two new vessels at an all-in cost of approximately €1 billion (€510 million per ship). The two new ships will be built at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard and be sister ships to the Costa Concordia, Costa Serena and Costa Pacifica, the latter of which is currently being built at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard. The new ships will each be able to accommodate 3,780 passengers in total (including all upper berths) or 3,012 guests based on double occupancy.

"By ordering two additional ships for our fleet of twelve, plus three ordered previously, we are not only reinforcing our position as the market leader in Italy and Europe, but also responding to the increasing demand for our product from our customers across the globe," said Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A. "We are very pleased to have Fincantieri build these two new Concordia class ships and to enjoy our continued successful relationship."

Fincantieri's Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe Bono, added: "We are most proud to have contributed and to continue contributing to Costa's growth. The largest cruise operator in Europe, Costa has just celebrated its millionth passenger in the year. I am confident that this alliance will stand the test of time and enable our companies to further consolidate our positions as market leaders in our respective business areas. This new agreement means that over the course of the last year we have gained, in the cruise sector alone, orders for 12 ships, of which 2 options, for a total value of over 5 billion euros."

The two new ships ordered will offer the same innovative elements featured on the other Concordia class ships including the 23,000 square-foot Samsara spa, which is one of the largest spas at sea, complete with exclusive cabins featuring direct access to the spa and a dedicated restaurant. The ships will also feature two swimming pools with retractable magrodomes, the central one equipped with a giant movie screen and authentic Grand Prix race car driving simulators, which provide the most accurate representation of Formula One driving available. In addition, the new ships will boast 17 additional veranda cabins and an overall total of 1,506 cabins, six more than the other Concordia class ships. The two ships will also feature additional innovations to the spa area as well as upgrades to onboard entertainment for both adults and children and teens, among many other new and unique features.

Costa's total capacity will increase by 20% (based on double occupancy) with the addition of the two new vessels, confirming the Italian cruise line's position as market leader in Europe. The two new orders bring Costa's fleet expansion program, which began in 2000, to a total value of €5.5 billion and the total number of vessels introduced between 2000 and 2012 to 13. By 2012, when the last of the new orders is completed, the Costa fleet will be 17 strong and have a total guest capacity of approximately 36,700 based on double occupancy.

Since 1990 Fincantieri has built 41 cruise ships. Today's order means that there are now 18 vessels on which construction is in progress or about to start up at the shipyards of Monfalcone, Marghera, Sestri Ponente and Ancona, thereby guaranteeing Fincantieri a market share of 45%. These 59 ships have brought the company revenues of over 25 billion dollars.

With a symbolic name that connotes concord and peace, the Costa Concordia-the largest ship built for an Italian company-entered service in July 2006 and currently sails the Mediterranean year-round. Ordered in January 2004 and valued at 450 million euros, the Costa Concordia was constructed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente (Genoa) Italy.

The ship's Samsara Spa makes history as the largest spa at sea, extending over two decks and featuring panoramic views of the ocean. The 20,500 square-foot haven of relaxation and rejuvenation offers travelers the ultimate wellness experience at sea, including a full menu of treatments based on Ayurvedic principles, a state-of-the-art fitness center, exclusive spa accommodations and a specialty restaurant. Elements of the spa's invigorating treatments and stunning design are inspired by the meaning of "Samsara," which is associated with the path to spiritual enlightenment, bliss and balancing of life energies. Guests who reserve one of the exclusive 55 cabins and 12 suites situated in the center of the spa have special privileges including flat screen televisions, Elemis bath amenities, and exclusive access to the signature Ristorante Samsara, featuring a full menu of wellness cuisine.

New features on the Costa Concordia include the "Ponte Francia" pool deck-spanning two floors and including two swimming pools with retractable glass roofs. It is the largest enclosable pool area on any cruise ship. An expansive cinema screen on the deck allows guests to watch movies day and night (it also features a multilingual audio system). Race car aficionados can drive like the pros on the Grand Prix race car driving simulator, identical to the cars in which real champions train. Guests even have the option of recording their performance.

The ship's specialty restaurant, the Club Concordia, features cuisine by renowned chef and creator of Italian molecular cuisine, Ettore Bocchia. By studying the physical and chemical properties of food, Bocchia focuses on enhancing the true flavor of ingredients while creating new textures for his cuisine. Bocchia is the executive chef of the Michelin-star restaurant of the renowned Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio, Italy.

The interiors and furnishings are designed based on the creative genius of architect Joseph Farcus, whose innovative ideas have already been applied to four other Costa ships. He designed the various public areas drawing inspiration from European architectural styles up to the 1900s including Irish gothic, Belgian Art Deco, Austrian baroque and Italian post-modern, among others. The public areas onboard are named after some of Europe's most beautiful cities such as Paris, Dublin, London, Prague, Vienna, Lisbon, Stockholm, Helsinki, Barcelona, Milan, Rome, Athens and Budapest. The Costa Concordia will offer a total of 1,500 cabins, including almost half fitted with verandas.

Guests aboard the new Costa flagship will also have access to the following facilities:

• Grand Prix Driving Simulator
• 13 bars, including one cognac and one cigar bar
• Five restaurants, including the specialty "Costa Concordia" restaurant, available only by reservation and featuring á la carte selections only
• Three pools, two with retractable magrodomes
• Five Jacuzzis
• One theater spanning three decks
• Outdoor jogging track
• Casino and nightclub
• Internet Café and Library
• Shopping Area
• Giant Video Screen on Central Pool Deck
• Squok Club (Children's Club, with its own Splash pool for kids)
• Mondovirtuale (Computer game area for teenagers)

Quick Facts
Gross Registered Tons 112,000
Length 951 ft
Width 116 ft
Draft 171 ft
Crew 1,068
Maximum Guest Capacity 3,780
Lower Berths 3,000
Crew 1,110
Number of Decks 13 Passenger
Maximum Speed 23.2 knots
Service Speed 20.5
Number of Guest Cabins 1,500
Oceanview with Verandas 501
Oceanview 343
Inside Cabins 586

Costa, Europe's Number One Cruise Line, offers an experience that is delightfully different in service and cuisine, in an atmosphere filled with love, laughter and la dolce vita. It's called "Cruising Italian Style" and true to its heritage, no detail has been overlooked in bringing the beauty and hospitality of Italy to the sea. Cruising Italian Style…that's Amore!

The ships of Costa range in size from 30,000-tons to 112,000-tons, and provide an ambience that is distinctly Italian - from the progressive architecture and stylish design to the unforgettable cuisine and gracious hospitality. With eleven ships in service and three on order, Costa offers cruises that span the globe on itineraries of three nights and longer throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, Transatlantic, Dubai, and the Far East.