It had the most unfortunate name in the history of the cruise industry, but it has just completed twenty years in service.
The Costa Fortuna, a 110k-ton vessel, completed its 20th anniversary. It was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Italy, and delivered to Costa Cruises on October 31, 2003.
After the inaugural festivities in November 2003, which included a naming ceremony with Italian actress Maria Grazia Cucinotta, the Fortuna embarked on its maiden voyage, a ten-night cruise visiting seven ports in Italy, Spain, Morocco, and England.
Over its two-decade career with Costa, the Fortuna sailed to various destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, South America, Northern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Far East.
After having its future schedule canceled in 2022, the ship began offering new itineraries in Southern Europe this year. These included cruises to the Greek Islands, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and combined Eastern and Western Mediterranean destinations. In the 2023-24 winter season, it is set to sail in the Caribbean with a series of seven-night itineraries departing from Fort-de-France, Martinique, visiting islands like St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, and Tobago.
