Costa targets Aussies

Costa Cruises is targeting Australians in a push to book 1.5 million passengers in 2010 onto what will be the line’s 15-ship fleet.

[Pictured right: Costa Atlantica]

The Italian cruise line currently boasts 12 vessels and it recently became the first European cruise line to carry more than one million passengers in a calendar year – all booked in eight months.

Brett Dudley, Managing Director of online cruise booking agency, cruiseagents.travel said Costa was wooing Australians because it saw a natural fit with Aussie’s love of relaxed cruising and Mediterranean-inspired dining.

“It’s a company that hasn’t put its expansion plans ahead of its commitment to guest services and comfort,” Dudley said. “It can boast guest surveys showing 98 per cent either ‘Satisfied’ or ‘Very Satisfied’ with their cruise experience.

“And it has a very competitive pricing policy, allowing us in 2008 to offer fly/cruise packages on a half dozen of its ships from as low as $2849 per person for seven nights in the Mediterranean – this particular price including not only twin-share on the new four-star mega-liner Concordia, but return air from east coast capitals and Adelaide, onboard tips and a night in a Barcelona hotel pre-cruise.”

In addition, on most Costa cruises children under 18 years travel free, paying port charges only, if they share either with two parents or grandparents.

“It certainly puts Mediterranean cruise holidaying within reach of many who until now would have felt that for that sort of money, they couldn’t get much further a field than the South Pacific or Asia.”

Dudley urged agents with clients keen on sailing the Baltic to take a look at cruiseagents.travel’s seven-night Costa Cruise options in the Baltic in 2008. Prices started from $3599 per person twin-share, including return air from all mainland capitals, a night pre-cruise in Copenhagen or two in Amsterdam, and onboard tips.

“Our 2008 Costa Mediterranean program will run from April to November, and in the Baltic from May to September, and for those who want to extend their holiday experience we’ve also a wide choice of pre- and post-cruise add-ons.”

All Costa ships chosen by www.cruiseagents.travel for its 2008 Mediterranean and Baltic fly/cruise packages are rated four-star by the Berlitz Guide to Cruise Ships, although the brand-new 112,000-tonne Serena that will sail weekly cruises from Venice to Italy, Greece, Turkey, Croatia and back to Venice between April 20 and November 16, is yet to be rated.

The Serena fly/cruise packages also include a night in Venice pre-cruise, and a bonus free stop-over either to or from Venice at Raffles the Plaza in Singapore, including transfers.

All Costa Cruises’ ships offer a range of dining venues, multiple pools and sporting facilities, live-show entertainment, cinemas, casinos, shopping boutiques and children’s clubs.

Agents can book by phone on 1300 55 88 64 or online at www.cruiseagents.travel.

Cruiseagents.travel’s direct access to Costa Cruises’ reservation system ensures agents’ immediate confirmation.

A CruiseMole Report brought to you CrusieAgents.