MIAMI, May 16, 2007 -- Costa Serena will be introduced on May 19 in Marseille. The line will also offer a simultaneous "virtual" inaugural via the online virtual world Second Life.

"Costa is the first company in the world to host a virtual inaugural in "Second Life" simultaneously with the ship's actual inaugural ceremony," said Daniele Mancini, Director of E-Business for Costa Crociere. "This project represents the beginning of a series of new projects in which the user is the center of all communication. Web 2.0 will now allow Costa's satisfied cruise customers to reach beyond friends and family to the entire Internet."

This reproduction of the inaugural ceremonies for Costa's twelfth ship aims to offer all Second Life "residents" a virtual experience of the Costa Serena inaugural. All users who register at http://www.secondlife.com will have the opportunity to take part in the virtual inaugural ceremony, complete with entertainment, a treasure hunt and fireworks display. The inaugural will be held at 1 p.m. EDT.

In addition, Second Life residents will have the unique opportunity to board the ship, stroll its outer decks, enjoy the ambience of the main atrium, visit the Samsara Spa (one of the largest spas at sea) as well as take a look at the ship's Grand Prix race car driving simulator first-hand. These virtual passengers will also be able to interact with virtual hostesses ready to answer all of their questions about the new ship in five different languages: Italian, French, English, Spanish and German.

In addition to its presence on "Second Life," Costa currently has an Internet presence in the form of a "business-to-consumer" Web site, http://www.costa.it , which is diversified for 17 markets in over 11 languages, ensuring localization of the global brand's product range.

For those who are not yet "residents" of Second Life, Costa has developed a microsite completely dedicated to the Costa Serena ( http://www.costaserena.net ) to allow them to view the ship, interact via a blog, and enter a competition to win a cruise aboard the ship. A winner will be selected according to the most original answer to the question "What makes you feel like a god on a cruise?" This theme is in line with the ship's design inspiration based on classical Roman and Greek mythology.

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.

Costa describes itself as follows:

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 114,000-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 Cruises is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL; 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.