Tag Archives: Costa cruise

Costa Cruises Named Official Cruise Line of the Ryder Cup 2023

Posted on by
Reply

Costa Cruises announced that it was named the Official Cruise Line of the 2023 Ryder Cup 2023 competition which kicks off on September 28.

Costa Cruises will be attending the event with its own dedicated space inside the Ryder Cup Village, where it’s proposing a real putting challenge, during which visitors will be able to challenge themselves.

Guests onboard the Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda will also get to experience the excitement of the Ryder Cup and attend the final days of the competition, which ends on October 1.

During the Ryder Cup, the cruise line is also offering its Cruise and Golf package, allowing guests to join a cruise aboard the Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda during the two ships’ calls, to play at some of the most prestigious golf clubs in the Mediterranean and the United Arab Emirates.

Guests can choose up to four of the 24 best itineraries in Italy, France and Spain, such as the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, the Circolo del Golf Roma Acquasanta, the Golf Club Garlenda in Savona, the Golf Club Genova Sant’Anna, the Real Club de Golf El Prat in Barcelona, the Son Gual Golf in Palma de Mallorca and the Golf Bastide de la Salette in Marseille. 

With the Costa Toscana, guests sailing during the upcoming winter will be able to discover up to four of the 15 most famous golf clubs in the Arab Emirates, Oman and Doha, such as the Emirates Golf Club or ‘The Els Club’ in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi, the Almouj Golf Club and the Ghala Golf Club in Muscat, and the Doha Golf Club.

Additionally, there is a special offer for golfers to enjoy a range of restaurants available on the Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, such as the Archipelago restaurant and try some of the treatments and services in the “Solemio” spa and beauty salon onboard.

Mediterranea Returns to Asia Ahead of Adora Cruises Debut

Posted on by
Reply

After spending several months out of service in Europe, the former Costa Mediterranea returned to Asia earlier this month.

Set to debut for Adora Cruises in the fourth quarter, the 2003-built vessel is currently undergoing a refit in Singapore. Being prepared to serve the Chinese market starting this fall, the cruise ship entered the drydock of the Tuas Shipyard on August 15.

In addition to regular maintenance and class surveys, the Mediterranea is expected to be upgraded for Adora, receiving new features and also a new livery.

According to the company, the new ship’s new colour scheme was created to blend the Mediterranean’s iconic blue, green, and white tones, recreating the “elegant and artistic temperament” of the European inner sea.

In addition to the unique livery, the 2,100-guest vessel will also offer a new onboard experience tailored to the Chinese market, Adora Cruises added.

Renamed Mediterranea, the cruise ship is scheduled to offer a series of short international cruises from Tianjin later this year.

Originally built for Costa Cruises, the 86,000-ton vessel first entered service in 2003. After nearly 20 years of serving the Italian brand, the vessel was sold to CSSC Carnival – which later became Adora Cruises – in 2021.

Sharing the design of Carnival Cruise Line’s Spirit Class, the vessel features themed interiors that pay homage to Italy’s palaces and castles.

Designed by the hospitality architect Joe Farcus, the public areas include three pool decks, a multi-story atrium, a selection of dining venues and several bars and lounges.

Following the Mediterranea, the Adora Magic City is also scheduled to start service for Adora Cruises later this year. In the final stages of construction, the China-built vessel will offer short cruises from Shanghai.

A joint venture between Carnival Corporation and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, Adora Cruises also operated the Costa Atlantica. Currently laid-up in Italy, the 2000-built vessel is a sister to the former Costa Mediterranea.

Weinstein: More Carnival Cruise Line Capacity Generating Outsized Returns

Posted on by
Reply

Moving two former Costa Cruises ships originally built for sailing Asia to the Carnival Cruise Line brand in North America has been an instant success, said John Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, speaking on the company’s second-quarter earnings call.

Weinstein said that Carnival Cruise Line will amount to about a third of Carnival Corporation capacity in 2023 and 2024, compared to approximately 25 per cent pre-pandemic.

The Venezia debuted in New York earlier in June and is the first of two ships that will operate under the ‘Fun Italian Style’ branding, with the Firenze set to join the fleet next year, sailing from Long Beach.

“These transfers are part of our portfolio management strategy, which is contributing to Carnival Cruise Lines’s capacity, growing 22 per cent more than pre-pause expectations. And Costa’s capacity is reduced by 36 per cent, compared to pre-pause expectations,” Weinstein explained.

“The added capacity to Carnival Cruise Line will not only generate outsized returns for the company but rightsizing the Costa brand is also having these desired effects of supporting its revenue profile confirmed by recent booking and pricing trends,” he said.

“We remain committed to our strategy of owning a portfolio of world-class brands, many of which are truly dedicated to specific markets and it’s clear the strength of this portfolio is now shifting into high gear.”

Photo: Antonio Silva