| Costa targets 33% growth in Med

This year Costa Cruises will
see 9 million passenger
movements in the
Mediterranean.
EUROPE’S LEADING CRUISE COMPANY CONTINUES TO
dominate the Mediterranean, claiming its
ships will make approximately 2,800 calls in
92 destinations in 2011, or almost 9 million
passenger movements – a 33% increase
compared to 2010.
Italian ports will benefit most from the
cruise traffic generated by Costa, with almost
4 million passenger movements – 50% more
than last year, and one-third of the country’s
expected total – followed by Spain and
Greece (more than 1 million passenger
movements) and France (about 500,000).
Costa’s expansion in the Med will be
supported by the new flagship, the 3780-pax
Costa Favolosa, which departs on a preview
cruise from Venice on 04 Jul.
Sister ship Costa Fascinosa is due for
delivery in mid-2012, bringing the fleet to 16.
The line forecasts around 9.5 million
passenger movements for next year.
Costa’s 2012 program was presented last
month, almost a year ahead of the cruise
departure dates, covering more than 250
destinations and 130 different itineraries,
typically with seven shoreside excursions in
each port of call.
With revenues of approximately 2.85 billion
euros and 2.15 million total pax in 2010,
Costa Crociere is Italy’s largest travel group
and in its top 10 most profitable companies.