PlayStation takes to the high seas

Costa Cruises and Sony Computer Entertainment Italia have announced a partnership which, for the first time anywhere in the world, will take the PlayStation to sea. Under the terms of the Italian company’s agreement, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2 will be placed on board the ships of Europe’s favourite cruise line.

The main innovation is “PlayStation World”, an area exclusively dedicated to PS3. PlayStations will also be available in the cabins, on the lido deck’s big screen TV and in the ship’s children and teen clubs. What’s more, the 1,000,000-plus guests who cruise with Costa each year will be given the chance to try out all the latest releases of all of PlayStation’s best known video games. For guests who want the entertainment to continue after the cruise is over, the latest PlayStation products and releases will also be available for purchase onboard.

The fun starts in May and June 2009, with the service primarily available aboard the newly launched Costa Luminosa (on Northern European cruises) and Costa Pacifica (deployed in the Mediterranean), before being gradually extended to the other 12 ships in the fleet. In addition to the PS3 and PS2 consoles available onboard, four PS3 touch screen cabinets will be set up in the Savona Palacrociere, the cruise terminal managed directly by Costa Cruises.

“The PlayStation has been pre-empting the demands of our clientele for over 13 years now. With PS2 and PS3 we have brought innovation and entertainment into people’s homes,” said Sony Computer Entertainment Italia Marketing Director Andrea Cuneo. “Now, thanks to Costa Cruises, we’re going to take the dynamism and cutting-edge technology of our brand around the seas of the world.”

“Costa Cruises was the first company in Italy and across Europe – said Fabrizia Greppi, Costa Cruises Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communication - to turn the cruise into a fun, accessible holiday and continues to build increasingly innovative ships at the cutting edge, offering amenities, entertainment activities and services designed to satisfy the demands of a modern international customer base. After the Grand Prix driving simulator, the golf simulator and the 4D cinema, this partnership will bring to our guests another exciting innovation and another world exclusive feature – the PlayStation, a veritable cult object for all video gamers.”

As a first for the global cruise industry, “PlayStation World” will be available on the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica as an area totally dedicated to latest generation of PS3-exclusive video gaming (PlayStation 3 being Sony’s multimedia entertainment system).

Guests on the Costa Luminosa will also be able to enjoy PlayStation 3 from the comfort of their own cabins, thanks to the “PlayStation on demand” service, enabling PS3 availability for the duration of the cruise.

Every ship in the fleet also provides younger guests with the chance to get to grips with the PlayStation 2, in both the children’s Squok Club and the Teen Club. These areas will be outfitted with the ultimate in interactive entertainment, in the form of “Social Games” like Buzz! (the crazy general knowledge quiz) and SingStar (the competitive music videogame), uniting friends & family around the consol.

After dark, the fun continues with “PlayStation Nights” on the lido decks’ giant 18m² screens (found onboard the Costa Concordia, Costa Serena, Costa Luminosa & Costa Pacifica). Thanks to the retractable glass roof, all of these facilities (including SingStar and Buzz!) can be used all year round.

Providing a perfect blend of technology and entertainment at the service of the most discerning clientele, introducing an innovation that will excite the imagination of video gamers young and old.

For more information, log on to Costacruises.co.uk.