By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Italy-based cruise line Costa Cruises is growing its Mediterranean presence starting from 2020. The line will offer two new 14-day itineraries onboard Costa Fortuna, making its return to Israel and Turkey.
The first itinerary, which will depart from Savona, Italy on 6 December 2020 and 7 February 2021, will stop in Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Iráklion, Greece; Izmir and Istanbul (overnight) in Turkey; Athens, Greece; and Palermo and Naples, Italy.
The second will sail from Savona on 10 January and 7 March 2021 and will take guests to Marseille, Barcelona and Iráklion, with an overnight call in Haifa, Israel; Kusadasi, Turkey; and Palermo and Naples. During the rest of the winter season, Costa Fortuna will be offering one-week itineraries in the Western Mediterranean, also calling in Valencia, Spain.
“Costa’s strategy for the next few years is based on sustainable development while meeting the increasing trends in demand,” said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises. “This announcement is in line with that strategy, our aim being to exceed our guests’ expectations. For this reason, we are working to further enhance our presence in the Mediterranean, making it more than ever our home region, with a range of itineraries suiting all needs, in terms of both duration and destinations covered.”
Costa’s increased presence on the Mediterranean Sea will also be boosted with the arrival of Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, the two new flagships under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. From November 2019, Costa Smeralda will offer one-week cruises in the Western Mediterranean. Costa Toscana will then join her sister ship when she enters service in 2021. The ships’ ability to run on LNG furthers Costa’s sustainability efforts.
Costa Firenze, which is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, will be deployed in Asia earlier than originally planned, heading straight to China upon delivery in September 2020.