Costa Cruises’ newest ship, the Costa Fascinosa, fleet, was floated out July 29 during a technical launch ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy. The 114,500-ton, 3,800-passenger ship is set to debut May 2, 2012. Costa’s total investment in Costa Fascinosa is €510 million ($734 million).

During the ceremony, Attilio Dapelo, the shipyard’s director, invited godmother Mirca Pizzato, an employee of the Marghera shipyard, to cut the ribbon and break a bottle of champagne against the bow of the ship.

The dry-dock basin was then filled with water, and the ceremony ended with the welding of a coin at the base of the mainmast, a longstanding maritime custom to bring good luck to the ship and crew.