In August 2000, Costa Cruises announced that it had contracted with Finland's Kvaerner Masa-Yards for the construction of a new 86,000-ton cruise ship expected to enter service in summer 2003. This ship, now named the Costa Mediterranea, will be a sister to the popular Costa Atlantica. The total investment for the Costa Mediterranea was expected to be about $350 million.

Almost three years have passed, and the Costa Mediterranea had her inaugural cruise on June 16, sailing roundtrip from Genoa to Spain and Portugal.

The Costa Mediterranea spent the rest of the summer and fall of 2003 cruising the Mediterranean.