Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Overview

*1991–2014: Costa Classica *2014–2018: Costa neoClassica *2018–2022: Grand Classica *2022–present: Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

owner	1991–2018: Carnival Corporation & plc 2018–present: Classica Cruise Operator Ltd. Inc.‡R1R‡‡R2R‡
operator	1991–2018: Costa Crociere 2018–2022: Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line *2022–present: Margaritaville at Sea
registry	1991–1994: Naples, 🇮🇹 Italy 1994–2000: Monrovia, 🇱🇷 Liberia 2000–2018: Genoa, 🇮🇹 Italy 2018-2022: Madeira, 🇵🇹 Portugal *2022–present: Nassau, 🇧🇸 Bahamas
builder	Fincantieri, Monfalcone, Italy
yard number	5877
launched	2 February 1991
christened	Godmother Emilia Costa 1991
completed

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is a cruise ship owned and operated by Margaritaville at Sea. The ship was built in 1991 in Italy for Costa Cruises as Costa Classica. In 2000, a planned lengthening and refit was cancelled at the last moment. She was renamed Costa neoClassica in 2014, then left Costa fleet in 2018 when sold to Bahamas Paradise as Grand Classica. Since May 2022, the ship has been sailing as Margaritaville at Sea Paradise, after the cruise line announced a partnership with Margaritaville Resorts & Hotels.

Costa Classica

The contract for the Costa Classica was signed with Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani in July 1987 with a value of $287 million. The ship was built as hull 5877[4] at Fincantieri's shipyard at Monfalcone, completed in 1991, and was Costa Cruises' first purpose-built newbuild since Eugenio C in 1966.[5] The first of two Classica-class sister ships, the other being

Incidents and accidents

acquired	7 December 1991

maiden voyage	17 December 1991

renamed	2014, 2018, 2022

identification	Call sign: C6EQ3 *

status	In service

MSC Poesia collision

On June 6, 2008, MSC Poesia and Costa Classica collided in the Adriatic Sea near Dubrovnik, after the anchor line became slack on MSC Poesia and she went adrift. There were no injuries, and the damage was minimal. Both vessels continued on their scheduled itineraries with no delays.

2009 passenger disappearance

A Hong Kong woman and her son disappeared while on a cruise from Beijing to Fukuoka in July 2009. It was reported that three letters were found in their cabin concerning the distribution of their belongings. The agency Hong Thai Travel confirmed that the pair were among 35 tourists who boarded the cruise ship in Tianjin and its tour guide realized the pair were missing on 7 July. Costa Cruises said it had reported the incident to law enforcement bodies in Korea, China and Japan.[29]

2010 collision near Shanghai

On 18 October 2010, Costa Classica collided with the Belgian-flagged cargo ship Lowlands Longevity near the deep water channel of the Yangtze River as she returned to Shanghai from Jeju, Korea. Several passengers reported to the infirmary with minor injuries. Three passengers were sent ashore for further medical checks. News images showed a gash along the starboard side of Costa Classica that stretched about 60 feet, and well above the ship's waterline. Costa Classica docked a few hours after the incident and passengers on the current voyage of the ship were disembarked.[30][31]

Costa Classica then sailed to Changxing, China to undergo an emergency drydock. It took just 96 hours to complete repairs, resuming service afterwards.[32] The next voyage was resumed in Hong Kong on 25 October, two days short, and its Manila port destination was cancelled.

2019 Grand Classica banned from entering Havana, Cuba

Viva Travel, a Florida-based travel agency, chartered Grand Classica for what was advertised as a Valentine's Day cruise to reunite Cuban exiles with their relatives aboard the vessel. Despite claims by the cruise line and travel agency that they had secured the necessary governmental approvals, the ship was denied entry and diverted to Nassau, Bahamas. [33]

Margaritaville at Sea Paradise

Costa Classica

2000 lengthening refit cancellation

Refit as Costa neoClassica

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Lines

Partnership and rebrand with Margaritaville

Incidents and accidents

MSC Poesia collision

2009 passenger disappearance

2010 collision near Shanghai

2019 Grand Classica banned from entering Havana, Cuba

External links

References