Costa Cruises has been operating in China’s cruise market since 2006, yet Costa Venezia was the first of the brand’s ships built specifically for a Chinese audience. The vessel, delivered in 2019, brings the glamour and mystique of Venice to eastern waters.
Attempting to recreate the city’s unique charm on board a 5,200-passenger cruise ship was no simple feat, and there was always a risk that the end product would prove clichéd. However, YSA Design avoided this through a combination of creative thinking, painstaking materials selection and close collaboration with Italian master craftsmen. The result is an elegant interior filled with authentic Venetian touches.
Despite the scale of the vessel, YSA’s use of space and implementation of decorative elements create an atmosphere that evokes the narrow, winding alleyways for which Venice is famed. This is balanced with the subtle splendour of the city’s many piazze, which is reflected through lighting, signage and ‘Lion of Venice’ sculptures.
Central to the Venetian experience is the ‘Canal Grande Aft’ restaurant, which features plaster palazzo facades and Italian soft-stone doorframes, as well as a real gondola made by Squero di San Trovaso artisans. This genuine slice of Venice ‘floats’ on backlit glass and allows guests to enjoy their very own ‘canal moment’ from the comfort of a luxury cruise ship.
