Costa Cruises brings its jewels to Dubai
DUBAI – The Italian group Costa Crociere has launched its third consecutive season operating from Dubai.
Both Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, the two Costa Crociere brands that in 2006 became the first lines in the world to offer regular seven-day cruises in the Arabian Gulf, are further increasing their capacity in the region.
Costa Cruises will expand locally by some 50 percent following the arrival of the Costa Victoria and Costa Classica, while AIDA Cruises will be almost doubling its own offer with the deployment of the biggest ship of the fleet, AIDAdiva.
Costa Cruises has also announced plans for winter 2009/2010.
The company will position in Dubai the Costa Luminosa, currently being fitted out at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera (Venice), which will enter service at the end of April 2009 and be christened in Genoa on June 5, 2009 together with the Costa Pacifica.
The Costa Luminosa will be joined in Dubai by the Costa Europa, the latter offering a new itinerary for a series of eight cruises from Savona to Dubai and vice versa.
The German brand AIDA Cruises will once again be operating its ship AIDAdiva, that will also offer two cruises from Dubai to India and vice versa at Christmas and New Year.
Costa Crociere chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi said the company was delighted to be to be starting its third consecutive season in the Arabian Gulf operating out of Dubai.
“In view of the great response from our customers (not only
Europeans but also Chinese and Asian cruisers), we have decided to deploy the Costa Luminosa in Dubai in winter 2009/2010. She will be the new jewel of the Costa fleet,†Foschi said.
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