Two milestones for Costa

It’s been a big week for Costa Cruises. Not only does the line’s record-breaking build program continue at a rapid pace, but the company celebrated its millionth booking!

A glamorous function was held in Genoa, Italy, attended by the lucky millionth customer – Luca Signori and his family, from the Italian city of Brescia, and 300 guests, including travel agents. To mark the occasion, Costa gave the Signori family a free cruise of their choice.

[Pictured, left to right, the owner of Brixia Viaggi, the travel agency which made the millionth booking, Costa Cruises Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi, Costa Cruises President Gianni Onorato, Costa Cruises’ Mario Martini, Costa Cruises’ Carlo Schiavon, the Signori Family and event host Kay Rush.]

Costa Cruises’ millionth booking is a first for any European cruise line and chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi said achieving the milestone had been a goal for the company as it approached its 60th anniversary.

The Italian cruise line also experienced a strong rise in sales for the Northern Hemisphere summer, with bookings for June, July and August jumping 26 per cent in 2007, compared with the same period in 2006.

This is good news for the line that also announced the 8000-tonne semi-completed bow section of the Costa Pacifica had been sailed to Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa Sestri Ponente from the yard in Palermo, Sicily.

The 3780-passenger Costa Pacifica will be the sister ship of the just-launched Costa Serena and Costa Concordia, the fleet’s current flagships.

“Costa Cruises are completely re-inventing the great Italian luxury cruise tradition with these incredible new vessels,” said Brett Dudley, Managing Director of cruiseagents.travel, one of only two Preferred Sales Agents (PSAs) for Costa Cruises in the Asia Pacific region.

Costa aims to consolidate its position as the largest and most advanced fleet in Europe. To this end, the line is investing €3.5 billion for the construction of seven new ships, as part of its upgrading program worth €4.5 billion which will include 11 new vessels between 2000 and 2010.

By 2010, after last of the four new orders is delivered, the Costa fleet will total 15 premium luxury liners with capacity for more than 30,000 passengers.

For more information on Costa Cruises visit www.cruiseagents.travel or phone 1300 558 864.

Reservation lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm and on Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

A Report by The CruiseMole, brought to you by www.cruiseagents.travel