Costa Magica departing at Tallinn on 31 May 2018
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
|
| Owner |
|
| Operator |
|
| Port of registry |
 Italy, Genoa
|
| Builder | Fincantieri, Genoa, Italy |
| Yard number | 6087 |
| Laid down | 1 September 2002 |
| Launched | November 2003 |
| Completed | 26 October 2004 |
| In service | November 2004 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Out of service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Destiny-class cruise ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 272 m (892 ft 5 in) oa |
| Beam | 35.5 m (116 ft 6 in) |
| Decks | 13 |
| Propulsion | 2 × diesel engines, 2 × propellers |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Capacity | 2,718 passengers |
| Crew | 1,068 |
Costa Magica is a Destiny-class cruise ship, owned by Seajets, a Greek/Cypriot ferry company, and previously operated by Costa Crociere. She debuted in 2004 as a sister ship to Costa Fortuna, and is also referred to as a Fortuna-class ship. Costa Magica pays homage to some of the most famous destinations in Italy including Positano, Portofino, Bellagio, and Sicily which are all incorporated into her public rooms and restaurants. At 102,784 gross tonnage (GT), she was one of the largest ships in the Costa Crociere fleet.
Design and description
The vessel was designed by the American architect Joe Farcus and is the sister ship to Costa Fortuna. As built Costa Magica had a gross tonnage (GT) of 102,857 and 8,200 tons deadweight (DWT). This later increased to 102,784 GT and 9,859 DWT. The cruise ship measures 272 metres (892 ft 5 in) long overall and 230 metres (754 ft 7 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 35.5 metres (116 ft 6 in).
The ship is powered by two diesel engines turning two fixed pitch propellers creating 34,000 kilowatts (46,000 hp). Ward states the ship has two azimuth thruster pods. This gives Costa Magica a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The vessel is also equipped with seven electric generating sets creating 64,610 kilowatts (86,640 hp).
Costa Magica has 1,359 cabins total ranging in size from 16.7–44.8 m2 (180–482 sq ft). 522 have a balcony. The cruise ship has capacity for 2,718 passengers and has a crew of 1,068. There is a nine-deck atrium with a bar on the lowest level, a 1,300 m2 (14,000 sq ft) spa and a three-deck theatre.
Construction and career
The ship was constructed by Fincantieri in Genoa, Italy with the yard number 6087. The vessel's keel was laid down on 1 September 2002 and launched in November 2003. The vessel was completed on 26 October 2004 and entered service in November of that year. The vessel was owned and operated by Costa Crociere and was registered in Genoa.
2020 COVID-19 pandemic
On 12 March 2020, two passengers aboard were reported to have tested positive for COVID-19 while quarantined in Martinique. The ship, with 3,300 people on board, had been disallowed entry to several sea ports including Grenada, Tobago, Barbados and Saint Lucia, due to over 300 Italian nationals on board. On 16 March, the ship was allowed only to take on provisions and refuel at St. Maarten with no one allowed to leave the ship.
It was later reported that passengers from the ship disembarked in mid-March leaving just the crew aboard. The ship then travelled to Miami, Florida but was not allowed to dock there. 13 crew members were evacuated from Costa Magica and Costa Favolosa to hospitals in Miami after displaying COVID-19 symptoms. The rest of the crew were tested aboard both ships which were lying three miles (4.8 km) off Miami and Eventually, the ship stopped three miles (4.8 km) offshore from Miami, and on 26 March, the U.S. Coast Guard reported evacuation of six sick crew members from the ship. On 30 March, those who tested negative were taken to the airport and put aboard charter flights to repatriate them to their home nations. Those who tested positive remained aboard the ships, which then sailed for Europe.
An update by CNN on 3 April 2020 stated the ship remained near Miami after "six crew members with respiratory symptoms were evacuated from the ship, and then transported to a hospital". The Port of Miami had not provided consent for the vessel to dock but all passengers had previously disembarked at Guadeloupe.
Transfer to Carnival Cruise Line
On 23 June 2021, it was announced that Costa Magica would be rebranded and transferred to the Carnival fleet in mid-2022, and would most likely join the Sunshine-class. On 14 June 2022, Carnival revealed that Costa Magica would remain in the Costa fleet, with Costa Luminosa to be transferred instead.
Sale to Seajets
On 8 February 2023, it was announced that Costa Magica was sold to Seajets, a Greek/Cypriot ferry company.
Citations
- "Costa Magica (9239795)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "9239795 Costa Magica". Leonardo Info. RINA. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Costa Magica (9239795)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- Ward, Douglas (2019). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2020 (28th ed.). Singapore: Berlitz. ISBN 978-1-78573-250-8.
External links
