The Costa neoRomantica will be the fifth Costa ship based year-round in Asia, offering cruises marketed for local guests. She will reach Shanghai on April 10, 2017 after a 23-day positioning cruise departing from Mauritius.
The Costa Group today announced that starting in April 2017 the Costa neoRomantica (56,800 gross tonnage and 1800 total guests) will be based in Asia year-round.
She will be the fifth Costa ship deployed regularly in Asia and operated by the Costa Asia brand, offering cruises marketed for local Guests.
“The deployment of a fifth Costa ship in Asia in 2017, in addition to the two new fleet members that will be built specially for Costa Asia, will allow us to continue to significantly grow the Asian cruise market in particular China, which is set to become the second largest in the world by the end of the decade,” said Costa Group CEO Michael Thamm.
The Costa neoRomantica will arrive in Shanghai on April 10, 2017, after a 23-day positioning cruise departing on March 18, 2017 from Port Louis (Mauritius) and calling at Port Victoria (Seychelles), Malè (Maldives), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Phuket (Thailand), Singapore, Da Nang (Vietnam) and Hong Kong.
Then, Costa neoRomantica will be dry docked in Shanghai, to perform renewal works that will customize the ship for its new Asian guests and boasts its “Italy at Sea” appeal. The first cruise dedicated to the local market is scheduled to sail from Shanghai on 24 April, 2017.
At present there are 3 Costa ships already cruising in Asia, while a fourth, the Costa Fortuna, will arrive in Shanghai 22 April 22, 2016. In addition, the Costa Group recently announced an order for 2 new ships for Costa Asia, to be built by Fincantieri in Italy, with delivery in 2019 and 2020.
The Costa Group was the first cruise company to enter the Asia Pacific & Chinese market back in 2006. Costa’s cruises are marketed in Asia as “Italy at Sea”, offering an authentic Italian and European experience for Chinese guests, with inimitable Italian-style hospitality, cuisine and entertainment.
SOURCE: The Costa Group