Costa Cruises has always been the choice of the discerning cruise lover and Costa Romantica in particular has been very popular among those in the know ever since its launch.

Even luxury cruise liners start to show a bit of wear and tear as times passes, though – which is why the company has decided to give the ship a radical €90 million makeover. Work has already started and the project will be completed in time for the 2012 summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

The project has been awarded to the San Giorgio shipyard in Genoa, Italy – specialists in ship conversions and repair. They have enlisted the help of an affiliate company, T. Mariotti.

The renovations will be so radical that the ship will, in fact, emerge from the dry dock with a new name. It will embark on its first cruise in mid-February next year under the name of Costa neoRomantica.

The refurbishments include adding 111 new cabins, two new half-deck extensions and 120 suites and cabins with private balconies. This will increase the Romantica’s capacity from 1,697 to 1,800 and the number of cabins from 678 to 789. Her gross tonnage will also increase to about 56,000 tons.

From the 20th February next year the Costa Romantica will offer cruise lovers a whole array of new destinations and itineraries – some exotic and far away, and some closer to home.

Her first cruise will be from Savona to Madeira, visiting Spain, Morocco and the Canary Islands on the way.