Costa returns to Turkey and Israel with revamped itineraries
Costa Cruises is boosting its presence in the Med from next year, with new itineraries on Costa Fortuna, that include the return to Turkey and Israel.
In addition, the cruise line is reacting to increased demand from the Chinese market by positioning soon-to-launch ship Costa Firenze in Asia earlier than anticipated.
For winter 2020/21, Costa Fortuna will operate two new 14-day itineraries out of Savona, offering overnights in the re-introduced ports.
The first, on December 6, 2020 and February 7, 2021, includes Marseille, Barcelona, Irklion (Greece), Izmir, an overnight call in Istanbul (pictured), Athens, Palermo and Naples.
The second itinerary, on January 10 and March 7, 2021, also calls at Marseille, Barcelona, Irklion as well as an overnight call in Haifa (Israel), Kusadasi, Palermo and Naples.
During the rest of the winter season, Costa Fortuna will be offering one-week itineraries in the Western Mediterranean, also calling at Valencia.
Costa Cruises president Neil Palomba said the line is making the Med ‘more than ever our home region’.
Costa’s presence in the Mediterranean Sea will be boosted by the arrival of Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, both under construction at the Meyer shipyard in Finland.
From November this year, Costa Smeralda will be offering one-week cruises in the Western Mediterranean, together with Costa Toscana, due to enter service in 2021.
Both ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), minimising environmental impact.
Another addition to the fleet, Costa Firenze, currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy will be deployed in Asia earlier than originally planned.
Costa Firenze and sister ship Costa Venezia, launched last March, are Costa’s first ships specifically designed for the Chinese market.
In order to meet the growing demand from Chinese and Asian guests, after delivery scheduled on September 30, 2020, Costa Firenze will be heading straight to China. This means the ship will no longer be operating on the Italy, France and Spain itineraries previously scheduled for October 2020.
As a result of these changes, in winter 2020/21 Costa Mediterranea will replace Costa Fortuna on itineraries from Singapore to Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand.
The company is also planning changes to Costa Victoria’s programme after September 9, 2020, and to Costa Luminosa’s Caribbean programme in winter 2020/21. Alternatives are being offered and Costa is contacting travel agents and guests to tell them the options.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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