By Travelmail Reporter
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Carnival Cruise Lines is in desperate need of some positive publicity and now the company that owned the doomed Costa Concordia is hoping its huge new flagship cruise liner will help to revive its ailing fortunes.
The company's cruise operator Costa Crociere launched Concordia’s sister ship, the 114,500-tonne Costa Fascinosa, in Venice yesterday.
The giant ship, which will make its inaugural cruise on May 11, can accommodate 3,500 passengers and features a shopping centre, five restaurants, 13 bars and casino rooms .
'Floating city': The Costa Fascinosa leaves Venice yesterday before setting off on its inaugural cruise on May 11
Carnival brushed off concerns that liners have grown too big, saying it is giving customers what they want.    Â
Carnival's Chief Operating Officer Howard Frank said: ‘It's true some people go for smaller ships for premium and luxury cruises but the bigger liners create additional amenities and they are the preference. They're here to stay for quite some time.’
The cruise industry was forced to focus on safety concerns after the Costa Concordia sank off the Tuscan coast in January.
The doomed vessel ran into a reef and capsized near the island of Giglio, killing at least 30 people.
Captain Francesco Schettino was accused of making an unauthorised diversion from his programmed route.
He was arrested and accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning his ship.
Glamour: The £415million Costa Fascinosa cruise ship can accommodate 3,800 passengers and is now the largest Italian-flagged cruise ship
No expense spared: Carnival has brushed off concerns that liners have grown too big, saying it is giving customers what they want
Some passengers said afterwards they had never taken part in an evacuation drill before the vessel capsized, although one had been scheduled.
At the time it was stipulated that a lifeboat and evacuation drill for all guests must be conducted within 24 hours of embarking.
Carnival said it had introduced a raft of new safety measures, including adopting a requirement for all passengers to be trained in emergency procedures before their vessel leaves the port.
It has also brought in an advanced system to monitor fleet routes, involving both on-board and ground staff, plus a recent industry policy to limit bridge access to only those with operational functions.
In implementing them, Costa Crociere will be moving 'even further ahead of current regulatory requirements', the company said.
Costa CEO and Chairman Pier Luigi Foschi said: ‘We can't ignore the January accident. It hit us hard. We are working on safety issues.’
Taking a bit of a gamble: The ship is a floating city and will offer its passengers plenty of entertainment including 13 bars and casino rooms
Blessings: The launching of the 114,500-tonne Costa Fascinosa is intended to revive Carnival Cruise's reputation
Mr Foschi said the Concordia disaster had not deterred holidaymakers and that bookings had since returned to normal levels.
He said: 'The delivery of the Costa Fascinosa is an important stepping stone on our company's road to recovery.
'Our share of the market in the main countries where we operate has not been affected. We were, are and will remain number one in Europe.'
Protesters in Venice, where the Fascinosa was built, have called for large vessels to be banned from sailing in the Lagoon waters in front of St. Mark's square because of the environmental damage they cause.
There are also concerns of damage to tourism in Giglio where the Concordia will lie for some time. The company says the ship can be towed away in nine months.
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Carnival says the cruise industry is something of a lifeline for Italy's flagging labour market, not just for the tourists it brings but for the shipbuilding industry too.Â
‘In the last 23-24 years Carnival has invested some $24 billion in building ships in Italy, I think that's the largest investment made in the country by any one company,’ Mr Frank said.
Costa Crociere said its fleet expansion programme would continue with the construction of an even bigger vessel - a new 132,500-tonne liner - which is due for delivery in 2014 and will feature 5,000 berths.
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