MIAMI, May 11, 2007 -- Inaugural festivities for Costa Serena in Marseille on May 19 will include three popular French celebrities: actress and ship's godmother Marion Cotillard; journalist Gerard Holtz, who will serve as the master of ceremonies; and Pascal Barbot, the famous Michelin-starred chef who will create the inaugural dinner menu along with Chef Ettore Bocchia.

The beautiful and talented French actress Marion Cotillard has been named the Costa Serena's godmother. A rising talent in French cinema, Cotillard is also stepping into the international limelight thanks to her leading role in the soon-to-be-released film La Vie en Rose, regarding the life of Edith Piaf. During the inaugural ceremonies, she will cut a ribbon to break a bottle of champagne against the ship's hull. Then, to bring the ceremony to a close, the Marseille Opera Chorus will seal the alliance between Italian-based Costa and France's oldest city with "symbolic" opera arias of the two countries. For this event, the master of ceremonies will be Gerard Holtz, one of France's most highly-regarded television journalists. Holtz will also provide a first- hand report during the inauguration of the Grand Prix race car driving simulator, one of the most exciting new features of the company's latest flagship.

The inaugural festivities will be followed by a gala dinner for more than 1,200 guests, to be held in the ship's two main dining venues, the Vesta restaurant and the Ceres restaurant. As with other inaugural ceremonies of the company's latest flagships over the last few years, Costa has commissioned internationally-renowned chefs to create a special dinner menu. For the Costa Serena, the choice reconfirms the solid ties between Italy and France. Pascal Barbot, one of the world's most highly-esteemed young French chefs, will work with Ettore Bocchia, the renowned Italian Michelin-starred chef who will oversee the menus for both "a la carte" restaurants of Costa's two newest flagships (the "Club Bacco" on the Costa Serena and the "Club Concordia" on the Costa Concordia).

The evening's festivities celebrating the Costa Serena will end with an inaugural show, entitled "Mediterranean Serenade," involving the entire city of Marseille. Locals and tourists alike will gaze upon the Costa Serena, anchored in the bay of Marseille, and be treated to a spectacular display of lights and colors that "interact" with five of the city's most important monuments, including the Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, the Lighthouse Cove and Residence, the Sainte Marie Majeure Cathedral, the Entrecasteaux Castle and the Fort Saint-Jean, making the Costa Serena the city's sixth "monument."

Like her sister ship, the Costa Concordia, the 114,000-ton Costa Serena will be the largest vessel flying the Italian flag. The ship is 290 meters in length with 1,500 cabins and a total guest capacity of 3,780. She will also feature all of the main innovations offered on her sister ship, including the Samsara Spa -- one of the largest spas at sea, two swimming pools with a retractable magrodome, and an authentic Grand Prix race car driving simulator. The interiors of the Costa Serena are designed by the ingenious American architect Joe Farcus, with a central theme of Greek and Roman mythology. That same theme was also applied to the 6,000 works of art that can be admired throughout the ship.

The Godmother: Marion Cotillard

Born into a family of artists, including a mother who is a theater actress and a father who is a director, Marion Cotillard began her acting career in the 1990s. She made her debut on the big screen in the film Taxi by Luc Besson, a role that she continued to play in two subsequent sequels. With parts in numerous French films, Marion Cotillard had also played various roles in American movies, working with directors such as Tim Burton in Big Fish and Ridley Scott in A Good Year. In 2005, she won the Cesar Award (the French equivalent of the Oscars) for best supporting actress in A Very Long Engagement by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. In 2007, she will play the main character in a film dedicated to the life of Edith Piaf, entitled La Vie en Rose. Cotillard is also a strong supporter of the environment, a passion she shares with Costa, who is a partner of WWF Italy and a leader in environmental compliance.

The Master of Ceremonies: Gerard Holtz

One of France's most popular television journalists, Gerard Holtz is a 25- year veteran in the world of French TV. For the general public, he is a household name mainly as the host of various sports programs including Stade 2, one of the most popular shows on France's national network France 2. He is also a commentator for the Paris-Dakar and the Tour de France races and one of the main figures of Telethon, the television marathon held every year in France to collect donations for medical research. He has been a host of the France 2 daily news program and has presented on many popular television programs in France such as Inspecteur la Bavure, La Revanche and Banzai.

The Chef: Pascal Barbot

A young prodigy in the world of French cuisine, at just 34 years old, Pascal Barbot has already achieved international acclaim in the culinary world. His inspiration comes from the various cultures around the world in order to create a dynamic type of inventive cuisine that is rich in taste. Since 1997 he has worked alongside Chef Alain Passare as chef and co-owner of the prestigious restaurant Arpege in Paris. In 2000, along with Christophe Rohat, he opened the restaurant Astrance in Paris, which this year received three Michelin stars, the highest possible rating from the prestigious Michelin Guide.

Costa, named "one of the top 10 cruise lines" by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, offers an experience that is delightfully different in service and cuisine, in an atmosphere filled with love, laughter and la dolce vita. It's called "Cruising Italian Style" and true to its heritage, no detail has been overlooked in bringing the beauty and hospitality of Italy to the sea. Cruising Italian Style ... that's Amore!

The ships of Costa, Europe's Number One Cruise Line, range in size from 30,000-tons to 112,000-tons, and provide an ambience that is distinctly Italian -- from the progressive architecture and stylish design to the unforgettable cuisine and gracious hospitality. With eleven ships in service and four on order, Costa offers cruises that span the globe on itineraries of three nights and longer throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, Transatlantic, Far East, Dubai; and at the end of 2007, the Indian Ocean.

Costa describes itself as follows:

Costa Cruises is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK).

Costa Cruises is RINA certified with the BEST 4, a highly structured system of certifications involving social responsibility (SA 8000, 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 1996), safety (OHSAS 18001, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). Costa Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.