Marseilles, 11 April 2007 – Costa Cruises, the number one cruise company in Europe, has chosen Marseilles for the inaugural event of its new flagship, the Costa Serena. She will be the 12th cruise ship in Europe’s largest and most modern fleet. The event is to take place on 19 May 2007 in the port of Marseilles and will include an official ceremony in accordance with maritime tradition, together with an impressive inaugural show laid on for all the locals and tourists of the city.

The official naming ceremony for Marseilles’ first cruise ship launch

The evening will begin with the official naming ceremony in the port of Marseilles, attended by the company’s guests, business representatives and local authorities. In accordance with maritime tradition the godmother of the ship will cut the ribbon and break a bottle of champagne against the hull of the vessel.

French champagne brand Piper will have its name associated with the event, creating a special-edition magnum of champagne, whose label will be specially designed for the occasion and dedicated to Costa Serena.

Finally, the Choir of the Opéra de Marseilles will enchant all those present, bringing the ceremony to its climax and sealing the union between Costa Cruises and Marseilles. Over 1000 guests will be attending the ceremony.

The launch of the Costa Serena: an event for the people of Marseilles

Later that evening, the inaugural show for the Costa Serena, entitled MEDITERRANEAN SERENADE, will involve the entire city. The ship itself, together with the great monuments of Marseilles, will take “centre stage”.

Facing the seawall of Sainte-Marie, all eyes will be on the Costa Serena, whether viewed from the quayside, the city or the sea. For the event, the church of Notre Dame de la Garde, the Pharo Cove and Palace, Sainte Marie Majeure Cathedral, the Entrecasteaux Castle and the Fort Saint-Jean will be invited to share in a display of lights and images, with the Costa fleet’s latest flagship becoming the sixth “Monument” of Marseilles.

Event company Courant Chaud has chosen Bruno Tric as artistic director of the event and show. Tric has already staged countless events and amassed a wealth of experience in the field. He has taken part in coordinating high-profile events such as the Eiffel Tower Centennial, the 2nd International Fashion Show and the G7 Summit in France.

The MEDITERRANEAN SERENADE show he has prepared for the people of Marseilles will feature no less than 70 light projectors, each one as bright as a lighthouse, 800 kg of explosive powder, 2500 pyrotechnic bombs, five days of setting up and 90 technicians working on the show. The show will span a distance of two km.

“Without a shadow of a doubt Marseilles has the greatest potential of any port in the Mediterranean,” said the Mayor of Marseilles and Vice-President of the Senate Jean-Claude Gaudin, “and we’re delighted that a company like Costa Cruises has given us this vote of confidence. Marseilles is not only France’s main commercial port, but it has also now become a cruise port recognised worldwide. In 2006 we had 400,000 cruise passengers. Prospects for the future are very encouraging, so we can confidently expect to have between 800,000 and one million cruise passengers by 2010. A terrific growth in only three years! Tourism is now an integral part of our local economy. Cruises alone generate economic benefits amounting to 60 million euros for the city. The international scale of these figures reflects the fact that Marseilles is thriving and dynamic and business is currently booming!"

“The christening of our new flagship, the Costa Serena in Marseilles,” said Costa Cruises President Gianni Onorato, “is an act of gratitude towards this splendid city, where our ships have been calling since the 1980s, and towards France as a whole. We see France as our second most important country in the world, in terms both of passengers and of sales, accounting for 14% of our total worldwide guests. This is why we have decided to produce a one-off christening show, a spectacular ‘son et lumière’, which will involve the entire city and be offered for the enjoyment of all the locals and tourists who are in Marseilles on the evening of May 19.”