The ship is elegantly decorated inside.

Costa Cruises will celebrate its new flagship Costa Diadema on November 7, during a special christening event in Genoa, the city where the company was founded and has its headquarters.

This year, for the first time, a travel agent will be chosen to be Costa Diadema’s godmother.

From July to September Costa will hold a dedicated initiative among its global travel partners to select the winner.

On the big night, the godmother will be treated like the celebrities who have christened Costa’s previous ships, such as actresses Claudia Cardinale, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Marion Cotillard and Margareth Made.

Expectations are high and Genoa is ready to host the new Regina del Mediterraneo (Queen of the Mediterranean Sea).

Guests will have the opportunity to book a place at the ceremony and match it with the Diadema’s vernissage cruise, departing from Trieste on November 1, or the inaugural cruise, departing from Genoa on November 8. They can also attend the inaugural event, which starts at 5pm, and spend the night of November 7 on board the liner.

The new flagship will be docked at Genoa’s historic shipping terminal Ponte dei Mille, and on the Emerald Theatre’s stage the godmother will say the ritual words: “I give you the name Costa Diadema” and the captain will answer: “In name of God, godmother, cut!”

The traditional moment is when the godmother will cut the ribbon and break a bottle of champagne on the ship’s bow.

Guests on board will be able to attend the ceremony held in the theatre, or watch it on big screens at the Lido Diana Magrodome Pool and on several decks

Guests on board will be able to attend the ceremony in the theatre, or watch it on big screens at the Lido Diana Magrodome Pool and on several decks.

Afterwards, guest chefs will prepare a special Mediterranean cuisine menu for a gala dinner, expressing the Made in Italy taste of Costa Cruises.

Dancers, acrobatic shows and music will entertain guests, with a light show illuminating the sky of Genoa, when Costa Diadema will bid farewell to the city.

The ship will leave during the night to reach Savona on November 8, from where it will depart on her first cruise.

The Diadema, which has cost some €550 million, is being built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice), with scheduled delivery on October 30.

The debut of the flagship will last the whole of November, including the vernissage cruise on November 1, the christening event on November 7 and three inaugural cruises on November 8, 15 and 22.

Costa Diadema will be deployed in the Mediterranean for exclusive cruises, visiting the main Italian ports of Trieste, Naples, Genoa, La Spezia and Savona in that month.

From November 15 and for the rest of the 2014/2015 winter season and for the 2015 summer season, the flagship will leave from Savona on seven-day cruises in the western Mediterranean, calling every week at Marseilles, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Naples and La Spezia.

The christening is a confirmation of Costa’s attachment to Genoa, where the company is expanding its presence by opening new offices for about 250 employees in Piazza Piccapietra, next door to the present headquarters. These will be open for business in the summer.

SMSMondial is local agent for Costa Cruises.