HOLLYWOOD, FL — Costa Cruises is launching a contest to select Costa Diadema’s godmother through a worldwide search among female travel agents.

The application submissions run July 18 through Sept. 15, with the winner and four ‘bridesmaids’ to be announced Oct. 15.

Female travel agency owners, managers or frontline sales staff of any travel agency that sells Costa Cruises may enter the contest. Those who want to be considered should visit madrinadellaregina.it, insert the Costa agency code and follow the instructions to complete the application form, which is available in Italian, French, German, English and Spanish.

“We rely on our travel agent partners to sell Costa’s Italian-style product and to communicate what makes our cruises different,” said Scott Knutson, vice president of sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. “There is no better way to say thank you for their support and efforts than to honour five Costa travel sellers from around the world at the ceremony to welcome our new flagship into the fleet.”

Candidates will be asked to upload a photograph and answer three questions. The ideal godmother and bridesmaids will be proven partners of Costa who can represent the company and its values. The selection committee will look for individuals who are passionate about their job, outgoing, spontaneous and who demonstrate a positive attitude.

Once the contest closes Sept. 15, a special Costa Cruises committee based in Genoa will choose the travel agent who will become La Madrina della Regina and her four bridesmaids.

The cruise line will officially name Costa Diadema Nov. 7, 2014, at a christening event in Genoa, Italy. On the night of the christening those five women will take their place of honour alongside other women who have christened Costa ships in the past, including Claudia Cardinale, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Marion Cotillard, Margareth Madé and others. To be sure that the godmother feels like a true regina, Costa is adorning her with a new dress fit for the grand gala.

Starting Nov. 8 and for the rest of the 2014-15 winter season and the 2015 summer season, Costa Diadema – the Regina del Mediterraneo or Queen of Mediterranean – will depart Savona, Italy, on seven-night cruises to the western Mediterranean, calling at Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Naples and La Spezia, Italy.