{{short description|Former cruise ship operated by Costa Cruises}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox ship | infobox_caption = ''Costa Victoria'' | display_title = ital |section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = "Costa Victoria" - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 2012 (cropped).jpg | image_caption = ''Costa Victoria'' in 2012 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | name = *''Costa Victoria'' (1996–2021) *''St. Victoria'' (2021) | owner = *Costa Crociere (1996–2020) *Genova Trasporti Marittimi (2020) *Piombino Industrie Marittime (2020–2021) | operator = Costa Crociere (1996–2020) | registry = *{{ITA}}, Venice (1996–1997) *{{LBR}}, Monrovia (1997–2000) *{{ITA}}, Genoa (2000–2021) | route = | ordered = 1994 | builder = Bremer Vulkan, Bremen, Germany | original_cost = | yard_number = 107 | way_number = | laid_down = | launched = 2 September 1995 | christened = | completed = 1996 | acquired = 10 July 1996 | maiden_voyage = 28 July 1996 | in_service = 1996 | out_of_service = 25 March 2020 | identification = *Call sign: IBLC *{{IMO Number|9109031}} *{{MMSI|247109000}} | fate = Scrapped in Aliağa, Turkey, in 2021 | notes = <ref name=vesseltracker>{{cite web|title=Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel ''Costa Victoria''|url=https://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Costa-Victoria-9109031.html|work=VesselTracker|year=2012|accessdate=26 February 2012}}</ref> }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = ''Victoria''-class cruise ship | tonnage = *{{GT|75,166}} *{{NetT|43,277}} *{{DWT|8,039}} | displacement = | length = {{convert|252|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | beam = {{convert|32.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | draught = {{convert|8.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | depth = | decks = 14 | deck_clearance = {{convert|3.207|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | ramps = | ice_class = | power = | propulsion = | sail_plan = | speed = {{convert|24|kn}} | capacity = 1,928 passengers (normal) 2,394 passengers (maximum) | crew = 766 | notes = }} }} '''''Costa Victoria''''' was a ''Victoria''-class cruise ship launched in 1995 and operated by Costa Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, from 1996 until 2020. Built at Bremen, Germany, she was designed to reflect the spirit of Italy, which was enhanced in a 2013 refit. During her service with Costa she operated in many areas, including Asia. In June 2020, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ''Costa Victoria'' was moved to the Port of Piombino, Italy and decommissioned. She was sold in December 2020 for possible conversion to worker's accommodation at a Genoa shipyard, but resold for demolition in Turkey, where she arrived on 28 January 2021.

== Design and construction == thumb|left|''Costa Victoria'' in the Bremer Vulkan shipyard in 1996 just prior to her christening. ''Costa Victoria'' was the first of two ''Victoria''-class cruise ships ordered by Costa Cruises from the German shipyard Bremer Vulkan as their yard number 107<ref name=Miramar>{{csr |register=MSI |id=9109031 |shipname=Costa Victoria |access-date=2021-02-01}}</ref> (the second was intended to become ''Costa Olympia'', but was completed as Norwegian Cruise Line's {{ship||Norwegian Sky}}).{{efn|During the construction of ''Costa Olympia'', the shipyard became bankrupt and her construction was halted. Costa Cruises declined to buy the unfinished hull and she was subsequently sold to Norwegian Cruise Line and she eventually entered service as {{ship||Norwegian Sky}}, followed by {{ship||Norwegian Sun}}, as the two-ship Sun class.<ref name="Newman">{{cite web |url=http://dougnewmanatsea.com/2008/05/07/from-norwegian-sky-to-pride-of-aloha-and-back-again/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719180819/http://dougnewmanatsea.com/2008/05/07/from-norwegian-sky-to-pride-of-aloha-and-back-again/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-07-19 |title=From ''Norwegian Sky'' to ''Pride of Aloha'' and Back Again |accessdate=2008-05-08 |date=2008-05-07 |last=Newman |first=Doug |work=At Sea with Doug Newman }}</ref><ref name="Asklander">{{cite web |url=https://www.faktaomfartyg.se/norwegian_sky_1999.htm |title=M/S ''Norwegian Sky'' (1999) |accessdate=2008-05-08 |last=Asklander |first=Micke |work=Fakta om Fartyg |language=Swedish }}</ref>}} ''Costa Victoria'' was launched on 2 September 1995 and delivered on 15 July 1996.<ref name="Miramar" /> She was {{convert|252.9|m|ftin|abbr=on}} in length with a {{convert|36.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} beam, had fourteen decks and was measured at {{GT|75,166|disp=long}}. She had a diesel-electric power plant, which gave her an operating speed of up to {{convert|24|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name="Miramar" />

== Costa Cruises service == [[File:MS Costa Victoria (4190594232) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|''Costa Victoria'' in Mallorca, Spain in 2001.]] The last new acquisition before Costa Cruises was taken over by Carnival Corporation and Airtours plc in 1997, ''Costa Victoria'' entered service in mid-1996 with a capacity for 2,394 passengers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.philippineflightnetwork.com/2016/05/asia-cruises-costa-victoria-cruise.html|title=Costa Victoria Cruise Review|first=Darryl|last=Wilson}}</ref> In 2004, the ship underwent an extensive refit, which included balconies being added to 246 cabins. ''Costa Victoria'' underwent an additional refit in November 2013, in which public rooms were modernized and staterooms were remodeled to have a more "Italian" design.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.philippineflightnetwork.com/2013/10/new-costa-victoria-to-debut-in-november.html |title=New Costa Victoria to Debut in November |work=philippinesflightnetwork.com |last=Wilson |first=Daryl |access-date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

Costa Victoria hosted athletes for Universiade event at Naples in July 2019 with over 1,900 athletes and 38 national delegations worldwide were accommodated to aboard the ship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/21159-costa-victoria-to-host-athletes-for-universiade-event-in-naples.html|title=Costa Victoria To Host Athletes for Universiade Event in Naples|first=C. I. N.|last=Staff|date=29 June 2019|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com}}</ref>

[[File:Messina Costa Victoria 02.jpg|thumb|left|''Costa Victoria'' in Messina, Italy in 2019.]] During the COVID-19 pandemic, after the ship left Dubai on 7 March 2020, a female Argentine national tested positive after she had disembarked in Crete. 726 passengers on the ship were quarantined.<ref name="afp">{{cite web|date=25 March 2020|title=Coronavirus: Fears on cruise ship docked at Italian port after case confirmed|url=https://www.thelocal.it/20200325/coronavirus-fears-on-cruise-ship-docked-in-rome-after-case-confirmed|access-date=1 April 2020|work=The Local|agency=Agence France Presse}}</ref> The ship did not dock at Venice, her final destination, or nearby Trieste,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Two Costa Cruise Ships With COVID-19 Cases Head for Italy|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/two-costa-cruise-ships-with-covid-19-cases-head-for-italy|website=The Maritime Executive}}</ref> and passengers ultimately departed the ship after she docked in Civitavecchia on 25 March.<ref name="afp" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Le Messurier|first=Danielle|date=25 March 2020|title=West Live: Perth couple stranded on Costa Victoria cruise ship where COVID-19 case confirmed|url=https://thewest.com.au/news/coronavirus/west-live-perth-couple-stranded-on-costa-victoria-cruise-ship-where-covid-19-case-confirmed-ng-b881500084z|access-date=1 April 2020|work=The West Australian}}</ref> On 4 May 2020, a 69-year-old woman linked to the ship died from the coronavirus, while her husband was also infected.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Boseley|first1=Matilda|date=4 May 2020|title=Australia's coronavirus victims: Remembering those lost to Covid-19|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/04/australia-coronavirus-victims-tributes-friends-family-stories-age-names-covid-19-death-toll-australian}}</ref>

=== Deployments === [[File:"Costa Victoria" laid up at Piombino.jpg|thumb|right|''Costa Victoria'' laid up in Piombino, Italy in 2020.]] In April 2018, the ship sailed in Asia, including China, and in summer 2018, the Mediterranean.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=C. I. N.|date=2 April 2018|title=Photos: Costa Victoria|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/18793-photos-costa-victoria.html|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com}}</ref> In November 2019, the ship sailed cruises from Mumbai to the Maldives<ref>{{Cite web|title=Costa Victoria All Set To Sail From Mumbai To Maldives|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/story/69729/costa-victoria-all-set-to-sail-from-mumbai-maldives|website=outlookindia.com}}</ref> and fortnightly cruises to Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 November 2019|title=Costa Cruises begins Indian Ocean fortnightly cruises to Sri Lanka &#124; EconomyNext|url=https://economynext.com/costa-cruises-begins-indian-ocean-fortnightly-cruises-to-sri-lanka-31138/}}</ref> ''Costa Victoria'' was set to sail from Aqaba from October 2019 to 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 August 2019|title=Costa and Sahara Forest Project join forces for sustainable farming in Jordan|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/costa-and-sahara-forest-project-join-forces-sustainable-farming-jordan|website=seatrade-cruise.com}}</ref> but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Costa's operations were suspended and her planned sailings were cancelled prior to her ultimate departure from the fleet.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bartiromo|first=Michael|date=24 April 2020|title=Cruise lines owned by Norwegian, Carnival extend suspension of sailings into the summer|url=https://www.foxnews.com/travel/cruise-lines-norwegian-carnival-suspension-into-summer-coronavirus|website=Fox News}}</ref>

== Sale and scrapping== thumb|left|''St. Victoria'' being towed towards the scrap yards. She docked in Civitavecchia to disembark her final passengers on 25 March 2020. On 19 June, Costa sold ''Costa Victoria'' to Cantiere Navale San Giorgio del Porto SpA for possible conversion to an accommodation vessel for their shipyard workers in Genoa or, otherwise, for scrapping.<ref>{{Cite news|date=23 June 2020|title=Costa Victoria arrivata a Piombino ma non potrà essere demolita in Italia|language=it|work=Shipping Italy|url=https://www.shippingitaly.it/2020/06/23/costa-victoria-in-arrivo-a-piombino-ma-non-potra-essere-demolita-in-italia/|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Kalosh|first1=Anne|last2=Peruzzi|first2=Luca|date=19 June 2020|title=Costa Victoria reported sold to San Giorgio del Porto|work=Seatrade Cruise News|url=https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/costa-victoria-reported-sold-san-giorgio-del-porto|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref> On 23 June she was transferred to subsidiary Genova Trasporti Marittimi and berthed in Piombino.<ref>{{Cite news|date=3 July 2020|title=Sosta in disarmo nel porto di Piombino per la nave Costa Victoria|work=Livorno Press |language=Italian|url=https://livornopress.it/sosta-in-disarmo-nel-porto-di-piombino-per-la-nave-costa-victoria}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=9 January 2021|title=The Costa Victoria Will Be Scrapped|work=Cruise Industry News |language=English|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24174-the-costa-victoria-will-be-scrapped}}</ref>

thumb|right|''St. Victoria'' being scrapped in Aliaga, Turkey in May 2021. On 13 January 2021, renamed ''St. Victoria'', the ship left Piombino in towed of the tug ''VOS Chablis'', to Aliağa, Turkey, for demolition and was beached on 28 January. Scrapping began in March.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-01-30|title=These Cruise Ships Are Being Scrapped in Aliaga|url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24273-these-cruise-ships-are-being-scrapped-in-aliaga.html|access-date=2021-01-30|website=www.cruiseindustrynews.com|language=en-gb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130141639/https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24273-these-cruise-ships-are-being-scrapped-in-aliaga.html|archive-date=30 January 2021}}</ref><ref name=Gonzalez>{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Frank |title=Costa Victoria is ready for her last trip to Aliaga |url=https://www.cruises-info.com/2021/01/costa-victoria-is-ready-for-her-last.html |website=Cruises-Info.com |date=9 January 2021 |access-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131204148/https://www.cruises-info.com/2021/01/costa-victoria-is-ready-for-her-last.html |archive-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|IMO 9109031}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20161130045026/http://www.costacruise.com/usa/costa_victoria.html Official website (2016)] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED_OjyLZlJ8 Video tour of ''Costa Victoria'' (Philippine Flight Network)]

{{Sun class}} {{Costa Cruises}}

Category:Ships built in Bremen (state) Category:Ships of Costa Cruises Category:1995 ships Category:Cruise ships involved in the COVID-19 pandemic