Thursday, May 9, 2013

Costa Cruises announces Around-the-World in 83 days from Shanghai


Italian cruise line Costa Cruises has announced the first around-the-world cruise departing from China which will sail across three oceans and five continents around the globe in 83-days cruise. Costa Cruises partners with Shanghai Airlines Tours for the cruise. The around-the-world cruise will depart from Shanghai, China's largest city by population, and visit 23 destinations in 16 countries and regions.

After departing from Shanghai on March 22 2014, the cruise ship Costa Atlantica will first stop in Vietnamese cities of Ho Chi Minh and Vung Tau from where the guests will be taken to tropical paradise islands of Phuket (Thailand), Sri Lanka and Maldives. From the tropics, the cruise ship will sail to Oman's Salalah and then Egypt's Sokhna before visiting Heraklion, Santorini and Athens in Greece.

After Greece, cruise tour of European cities will continue to Catania in Italy, Marseilles inFrance, Barcelona in Spain and Lisbon and Funchal in Portugal. In these countries Guests will be able to sample the best that Western Europe has to offer from fine wines to high-fashion in addition to learning more about these culture-soaked cities.

Costa Atlantica will cross the Atlantic Ocean to New York from Europe and later head south to Miami, Ocho Rios in Jamaica before a transit in the Panama takes her to Pacific Ocean. Manzanillo in Mexico, Kahului and Honolulu in Hawaii, and Guam, will complete this once-in-a-lifetime trip, allowing Guests to discover wonderful exotic destinations. After 83 days from setting off, Costa Atlantica will bring its world explorers back home to Shanghai on 13 June 2014.

“As a pioneer of the cruise industry in China and the first international cruise line to operate homeport cruises out of Shanghai since 2006, we are always challenging ourselves to bring more innovative holiday options to this market. China’s first Around-the-World cruise is a perfect example of this and is the lynchpin of our Asia strategy over the next couple of years. It heralds a new milestone in China’s cruise industry,” said Mr. Foschi, Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation Asia and Chairman of the Board of Costa Crociere S.p.A.,. “With our partners at Shanghai Airlines Tours, we will offer our Chinese Guests the chance to explore the world in a way that has never been possible before.”

Costa Atlantica at Naples
Cost Atlantica cruise ship will sail 83-days around-the-world cruise which will start and end in Shanghai.
Costa Atlantica is seen here at Naples.
Costa Cruises is introducing Costa Atlantica to the China market in 2013 before her 83 days around-the-world cruise from Shanghai. Costa Atlantica’s interior design celebrates Italian cinema and the arts: Fellini and La Dolce Vita, Madame Butterfly, the historic Caffè Florian in Venice, Via della Spiga in Milan, the Tiziano Restaurant. A significant majority - 58 suites and 660 cabins -of the 1,057 total cabins have balconies. A spa, four Jacuzzis, four pools, a theatre, disco and children’s area will keep Guests entertained between the frequent excursions. Berlitz, the world's most trusted guide to cruising.

Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Cruises, expressed his thanks to Costa’s partners for their help in making China’s first Around-the-World cruise a reality. “I am very grateful for the ongoing support we have received from the local government, tourism boards and our local tourism partners. Together we are working hard to supply Chinese travelers new and enticing cruise products. China remains one of Costa’s key markets and today’s partnership with SAT and our world cruise announcement highlights our commitment to the region.”

The announcement of China’s first Around-the-World cruise comes during China’s ‘Marine Tourism
Year’ which was launched in Sanya at the beginning of January 2013. The aim of the Tourism Marine Year is to boost the development of marine tourism resources, as well as bring Chinese citizens closer to the ocean. Costa Atlantica will depart from Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. This port has made a significant contribution to China’s cruising industry since it was first established, and Costa Cruises has repeatedly made use of its top-class facilities. Setting Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal as the homeport for China’s first Around-the-World cruise exemplifies the close relationship between Costa Cruises and the Chinese authorities as both work to further develop China’s cruise industry. It also underscores Costa’s steadfast commitment to bring

No comments:

Post a Comment