By Donna Tunney

Costa Cruises said that its 1,680-passenger Costa Classica will resume Japan itineraries later this month.On Aug. 26, the ship will depart Shanghai for a four-day cruise calling at Fukuoka, Japan, and Cheju, South Korea, before returning to Shanghai.

Costa said the move demonstrates its “confidence in Japan’s tourism market and its support to the revitalization of the local tourism industry.”

Through mid-October, the Costa Classica, which is based in Shanghai, will operate 12 cruises to Japan and South Korea. Cheju will be the only port call in South Korea. Besides Fukouka, other calls in Japan will be to Nagasaki and Kagoshima.

In 2012, Costa plans to expand its operations in Asia and the Far East, with the deployment of the 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria, which will replace the Costa Classica.

The switch will increase Costa’s capacity in the region by about 40%.

The Costa Victoria next year will sail to several new destinations in Japan, including Hososhima/Miyazaki; Wakayama; Osaka; Yokohama; and Tokyo.