By
Cherie Rowlands |
Costa Cruises is to introduce ‘slow cruising’ on its neoCollection ships as part of a new approach that will mean longer itineraries and more time in port.
Costa neoRomantica and Costa neoRiviera will extend stopovers to include overnight stays and part of the following day, allowing passengers longer time on shore. Shore excursions for groups of up to 25 guests have been specially designed to highlight each destination’s cultural and natural attractions in line with the neoCollection focus on immersive experiences.
The 624-cabin neoRiviera and the 789-cabin neoRomantica, are two of Costa’s smaller ships, which enables visits to ports that are inaccessible to larger vessels. Both ships offer a more intimate onboard experience that includes a focus on local food and wine. New menus featuring authentic regional cuisine, have been developed in collaboration with University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenza, Italy, for the more leisurely cruises.
The neoCollection series of slow-cruising itineraries gets underway with a 62-day voyage from Dubai on 9 February 2014. The ‘Grand Africa Tour’ will visit India’s coastline, Indian Ocean islands – Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius and Reunion – before heading to Madagascar and taking in South Africa, Namibia, St Helena, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Canary Islands and Morocco, ending at Savona, Italy.
More slow-cruise sailings including the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, will follow throughout the 2014 season.