Costa Serena is a Concordia-class cruise ship for the Italian cruise line, Costa Crociere. The name Serena was intended to symbolize harmony and serenity. Costa Serena was constructed by Fincantieri in Sestri Ponente. She had an older sister ship, Costa Concordia, launched in 2005. The ship, along with her three active sisters, was the largest and longest in the Costa Crociere fleet until being surpassed by the Costa Diadema in 2014. Two sister ships Costa Pacifica and Costa Favolosa were launched in 2009 and 2011 with Costa Fascinosa launched in 2012. Costa Serena's godmother is Marion Cotillard.

Construction and career

19 May 2007 marked the day of Costa Serena's inaugural event. The event was held in Marseille, France, and featured fireworks and a laser show. At the same time as the actual inauguration, Costa held an inaugural event in the virtual world of Second Life. In 2015, she re-positioned to Shanghai to sail year-round cruises from China visiting ports in Japan and South Korea. These sailings are catered for Chinese guests and are only bookable through Chinese travel agencies. Costa Serena currently sails from Shanghai year-round.

2020 COVID-19 outbreak

Fifteen passengers aboard Costa Serena on 24 January were suspected to have SARS-CoV-2. The ship arrived at its destination, Tianjin, China, on 25 January. Quarantine officials boarded the ship to screen all passengers and crew member, and found 17 people with fevers. All tests returned negative later that day, and everyone was ordered to disembark and have their photographs and temperatures taken as an additional precaution.

2023 Ship restarting

Chartered for the entire 2023/2024 season, the Costa Serena is set sail from the port of Leam Chabang for a series of 4/5 day cruises, before moving on to Japan and South Korea in June 2023, offering a series of short cruises dedicated to the local market. Costa Serena is all set to debut in the India market starting November 4th 2023, and will be the largest ship in Indian waters.

In popular culture

In 2007 Costa Serena was used for the setting of the movie Natale in Crociera. In 2009 Costa Serena and her crew was featured in the six-episode National Geographic Channel documentary series Cruise Ship Diaries.