Costa's new ship takes to the seas

I've dubbed this week "new ship week" because so many cruise lines are making announcements about the newest additions to their fleet. Today is no different.

Costa

proudly proclaimed that the

Costa Serena

, which is set to make her official debut on May 19, will take to the open seas for the first time today.

The

Costa Serena's

voyage is no pleasure cruise. The ship will head to Palermo for hull coating and cleaning, then undergo official technical trials. During the trials, the crew will test the ship's ability to reach maximum speed, make an emergency stop, operate under automatic controls, and recover from a blackout. By the end of the testing, you should feel confident that the

Costa Serena

is seaworthy and safe.

Inaugural events will take place in Marseille, France, on May 19, and the

Costa Serena

will set out on her first public sailing on May 26. From June through November, the ship will sail seven-night cruises from Venice, calling in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. In the winter, the ship will switch to 10- and 11-night Canary Island itineraries.

The

Costa Serena

, twin to the

Costa Concordia

, will feature a Greek and Roman mythology theme. Like the

Concordia

, the new ship will possess one of the largest wellness centers at sea, two swimming pools, and a Grand Prix race car driving simulator. The ship's specialty restaurant, Club Bacco, will feature menus by a known Italian chef, Ettore Bocchia.

If you'd like to book passage on Costa's newest ship, visit its

website

, call 800-247-7320, or contact a travel agent.