Costa Cruises recently celebrated the "National Day of Made in Italy," an event established by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy to promote Italian creativity and excellence on Leonardo da Vinci's birth anniversary. The celebration took place onboard the Costa Smeralda, the flagship of Italian taste, design, and craftsmanship.
Over 200 events were organized nationwide by numerous Italian companies participating in the initiative. Costa Cruises, the only Italian-flagged cruise company headquartered in Italy, hosted a series of events on board the Costa Smeralda. Roberto Alberti, SVP & Chief Corporate Officer of Costa Cruises, highlighted that for over 75 years, their ships have showcased Italian excellence in design, gastronomy and technology to international guests. He emphasized the significant economic contribution made by about 6,000 Italian suppliers to their fleet.

The onboard events were open to guests and included guided tours of the CoDe museum, dedicated to Made in Italy, and offered an authentic Italian taste experience. The CoDe museum, curated by architect and design critic Matteo Vercelloni, is the first museum built on a cruise ship. Located at the center of the ship on deck 7, the 400m2 space features a collection of over 470 pieces that epitomize Italian taste from product design to fashion, transportation, and cinema, spanning from the 1930s to today.

Costa Smeralda itself serves as a tribute to Italy, from its name, which references one of Sardinia's most beautiful tourist areas, to the names of its decks and public areas, named after famous Italian locales. Italian design features prominently throughout the ship, including furnishings, lighting, fabrics, and accessories in collaboration with prestigious Italian companies like Molteni&C, Roda, Flos, Dedar, and Rubelli.

The ship's gastronomic offerings reflect Italian excellence, with Archipelago restaurant offering three different menus by renowned chefs, including Bruno Barbieri. Guests can enjoy various thematic outlets in partnership with major Italian brands like Caffè Vergnano 1882, Osteria Frescobaldi, Campari lounge, Aperol Spritz bar, Ferrari Spazio Bollicine, Nutella at Costa, and Amarillo gelateria.