Costa Victoria was the first of two sister ships ordered by the Costa Cruise Line. The Bremer Vulcan shipyards bankruptcy in 1996 led to the second ship being completed at Lloyd Werft for the Norwegian Cruise Line as their Norwegian Sky. Victoria is Costa’s first cruise ship to be classed in the large category. She followed their two 52,926-ton mid-sized cruise ships Costa Classica that entered service in 1992 and Costa Romantica in 1993.

Victoria has 12 passenger decks, 3 pools, 9 bars, casino, fitness center, 804-seat theatre, 573 outside cabins, 391 inside cabins, can carry 1,928 passengers and a crew of 800.

Victoria is normally operated on 7 night cruises out of Venice - various ports throughout the Mediterranean and Agean seas. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay cruises depart from Buenos Aires.

Websites, US: www.costacruise.com UK: www.costacruises.co.uk .