Costa Cruises has plans to give its cruise liner Romantica such a major overhaul that even its name will be changed in the process. When the 1,697-passenger ship comes out of the dry dock she will be known as the Costa neoRomantica.

She will enter the dry dock at the end of October and will only make an appearance again at the end of January 2012. The total cost of the refurbishment? A staggering 90 million Euros.

During the makeover Romantica will receive a number of new public services and areas, which include a coffee bar, a wine bar, a nightclub, a cabaret, a coffee and sweets bar, and a show lounge complete with dance floor.

A new Samsara restaurant club with menus designed by award-winning chefs and a spa will also be introduced, as well as 120 private cabins with their own balconies and 111 other cabins on two new half decks. In the process Romantica’s capacity will be boosted by more than 100 passengers from 1,697 to 1,800, and the number of cabins will increase from the current 678 to 789.

Once the neoRomantica leaves the dry dock in Genoa, it will depart on a series of 11-day cruises between Savona and the Canary Islands. Afterwards she will leave for the colder waters of North Europe for a range of brand new two-week itineraries.

The company at the head of the new design is Swedish Tillberg Design – a firm that has been responsible for redesigning 130 luxury cruise ships and yachts over more than 40 years.