Awe-Inspiring Ceremony Set for February 23 in Dubai – First Cruise Ship to be named in an Arabian City
MIAMI (February 17, 2010) – In less than one week, Costa will show off its signature style of hosting some of the most celebrated inaugurals with the naming of the Costa Deliziosa in Dubai on February 23. This unique and innovative ceremony will be held by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) together with Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line.
The Costa Deliziosa, which was built in Italy by Fincantieri and delivered in Venice on January 30 of this year, recently set sail from Savona on February 5 for her Grand Inaugural Cruise. The voyage includes stops in the Mediterranean, Suez Canal, Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. The ship will stopover in Dubai from February 23 through the 26.
This 15th member of the Costa fleet is the first cruise ship to be named in an Arabian city. The ceremony will further strengthen the links between Costa Cruises and the DTCM. Over 3,000 guests are expected to witness the event, including approximately 2,200 Costa guests traveling on the first sector of the maiden cruise.
En route to Dubai, the Costa Deliziosa – a floating ambassador of Italian-made excellence – will celebrate with two first calls. The first of these new calls is on February 20 in Muscat, the capital of Oman, where a new cruise terminal will be inaugurated as well. The second is on February 22 in Abu Dhabi. During both stopovers the ship will be met by government delegations and Italian state dignitaries who will pay a special tribute to the Italian Tricolor.
Tuesday, February 23 in Dubai marks the occasion for the grand inaugural event, involving not only the ship but also the new cruise terminal in Port Rashid. Part of the quay will feature a stage and grandstand with seating for 3,000 and will be set up specially to celebrate the Costa Deliziosa.
The inaugural show is set to be a memorable occasion and will highlight the links between Italian and Arab culture. The first part of the show will take guests on an artistic journey into the history and culture of Dubai and the Emirates with traditional dance and music. The second part will be dedicated to Italian culture, music and art. Khalid Ahmed Bin Sulayem, director general of the DTCM, and Pier Luigi Foschi, chairman and ceo of Costa Crociere S.p.A., will both make speeches. There will also be an exchange of greetings between local dignitaries and their counterparts from the Italian government. In keeping with tradition, the ceremony will climax with the arrival of the godmother, who will cut the ribbon that will send a bottle of Champagne to break against the bow of the ship. The event will end with a fireworks display and a gala dinner in traditional Arab style.
The naming ceremony of the Costa Deliziosa in Dubai will be broadcast live on www.costadeliziosa.com. Costa Cruises’ fans can share their thoughts on the event through the company’s various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Costa Blog).
The inaugural event for the Costa Deliziosa is taking place in Dubai under the patronage of the Italian Embassy to the United Arab Emirates, the Consulate General of Italy in Dubai and the ICE (Istituto Italiano per il Commercio Estero, or Italian Institute of Foreign Trade). It is being staged in partnership with Alpha Tours, Dnata, Emirates, Grand Hyatt, Gulf Venture, Jumeirah, Maserati and RHS (Raiss Hassan Saadi Group).
This event, which constitutes another milestone in the development of the cruise industry not only in Dubai but also in the region as a whole, is the result of an alliance between Costa Cruises, the first operator in the world to market regular cruises in Dubai beginning in 2006, and the Government of Dubai, through the DTCM. This solid partnership has contributed to the development of local tourism.
Following her Grand Inaugural Cruise, which will continue after the inaugural event to India and the Maldives, in March the Costa Deliziosa will be redeployed back in Dubai where, like her sister ship Costa Luminosa, she will offer 7-night Arabian Gulf cruises.
The itinerary includes two nights in Dubai and one-day stopovers in the ports of Muscat (Oman), Fujairah and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Bahrain. The Costa Deliziosa will sail from Dubai every Sunday from March 14 through May 9, 2010. The Costa Luminosa, her sister ship, departs from Dubai every Saturday through April 10, 2010.
In addition, this winter the Costa Europa will operate on 18-night cruises from Savona to Dubai and Dubai to Savona – on an exclusive route crossing the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. In winter 2010/2011, Costa Cruises will once again offer 7-night Gulf cruises on the Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa, the top of the range products for Costa.
In summer of this year and next, the Costa Deliziosa will be deployed on cruises to the Norwegian fjords and Baltic cities. On December 28, 2011, the ship will set sail from Savona on an incredible 100-day world cruise, which may also be broken down into three stand-alone segments: Savona-Los Angeles; Los Angeles-Singapore; Singapore-Dubai.
Costa Deliziosa
Together with her sister ship Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa (92,600 tons; 2,260 double occupancy) represents the most exclusive and innovative offerings in the Costa fleet. Am emblem of Italian-made elegance, the ship was built at Fincantieri’s Venice-Marghera yard in Italy with the labor of approximately 3,000 people, comprising both the shipyard’s own employees and those of nearly 500 contracted suppliers, most of which are Italian firms, with a total investment worth 450 million euros.
Along with her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa is the fleet’s “flagship,” offering the most exclusive and innovative elements in the fleet and designed for Costa’s most discerning clientele. These innovations include the ship’s avant-garde design and the use of premium materials, such as various type of marbles, granite, mother-of-pearl and Murano glass, and stucco applied by spatula using the technique known as “spatolato veneziano.” Other decorative interior finishes including “parchment scroll” lamé, refined Zebrano wood, Wenge timber and stylish polished and glazed steel were also used in her design. The stunning atrium features fine works of art, including “Sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro, and “Delizia fisica e Delizia intellettuale” (Physical Delight and Intellectual Delight), a piece by leading contemporary Italian painter Mario Donizetti. In addition, there are a variety of entertainment options onboard including a 4D cinema; roller skating track; the latest generation golf simulator with an outdoor putting green, a Grand Prix race car driving simulator with the same software and technology used by the F1 champion drivers in training; the exclusive “Samsara Spa,” “PlayStation World,” an area on board dedicated exclusively to PlayStation3, as well as the “PlayStation on demand” cabin service.
The ship is innovative in terms of environmental compliance as well, which has always been one of Costa Cruises’ distinguishing features. Like her sister ship Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa is the first vessel in Italy and one of the first in the world to be equipped for “cold ironing,” a system whereby the ship is plugged into shoreside electrical power, enabling generators to be shut down during stopovers in port. This is a way of further reducing the environmental impact of liners when they call at ports. Other energy- and fuel-saving measures have also been introduced on the Costa Deliziosa, with a reduction in CO2 emissions and the objective of cutting down on wastage in the use of electricity and water.
The DTCM is the principal authority for the development of tourism in Dubai. Established in 1997, it is the sole body responsible for the licensing of hotels, tour operators and other types of travel trade companies. Its supervisory role also covers heritage sites, cruise terminals and the Dubai Convention Bureau. The DTCM has 18 overseas offices, including three in China and two in Saudi Arabia. More information is available at www.dubaitourism.ae and www.definitelydubai.ae.
Costa Cruises, www.costacruises.com, is Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2009, 1.3 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 15 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Two more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
COSTA NORTH AMERICA UNVEILS NEW AND IMPROVED “COSTA CLICK” TRAVEL AGENT BOOKING PORTAL
MIAMI (January 6, 2010) – Costa North America has unveiled a new and improved version of its popular “Costa Click” travel agent booking portal. Travel agent partners may now navigate with additional ease and convenience when making new bookings or adjusting existing bookings for FIT and group clients at www.costaclick.com.
Special features of the new design include a new home page with easy-to-access login areas. Once logged in, travel agents will find a new design complete with clear and simple “new booking” and “existing booking” areas as well as navigation bars highlighting popular functions across the top of the page. All design elements allow travel agents to switch between areas with ease as needed. Functionalities allow travel agents to reserve their clients’ shore excursions in advance, access shore excursions and make payments, among other tools.
“It’s important to us that we continually bring things to the table that make the booking process easier and more fluid for our travel agent partners—the new version of Costa Click is a prime example of this,” said Scott Knutson, vice president of sales for Costa Cruise Lines—North America. “We used the feedback we heard from the field and directly applied it to this new version. All of our business development managers know the system inside and out and are available to assist our travel agent partners with any questions they have.”
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest
standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI
EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
Special features of the new design include a new home page with easy-to-access login areas. Once logged in, travel agents will find a new design complete with clear and simple “new booking” and “existing booking” areas as well as navigation bars highlighting popular functions across the top of the page. All design elements allow travel agents to switch between areas with ease as needed. Functionalities allow travel agents to reserve their clients’ shore excursions in advance, access shore excursions and make payments, among other tools.
“It’s important to us that we continually bring things to the table that make the booking process easier and more fluid for our travel agent partners—the new version of Costa Click is a prime example of this,” said Scott Knutson, vice president of sales for Costa Cruise Lines—North America. “We used the feedback we heard from the field and directly applied it to this new version. All of our business development managers know the system inside and out and are available to assist our travel agent partners with any questions they have.”
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest
standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI
EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
COSTA GROUP INVESTS 66 MILLION EUROS IN FLEET SHIPS
Three Costa Ships and One Iberocruceros Ship Entered Dry Docks between November and December
MIAMI, FL - (December 22, 2009) – Costa, the largest Italian tourism group and Europe’s number one cruise company, entered four ships in dry docks for routine and extraordinary maintenance between December and November. The investment totaled approximately €66 million.
The most significant investment, worth approximately €55 million, is being carried out on Iberocruceros’Grand Holiday in the S. Giorgio shipyards in the port of Genoa from December 2009 through April 2010. These operations entail a radical restyling of the ship that previously operated for Carnival Cruise Lines as the “Holiday.” The ship will enter service with the Iberocruceros brand in May 2010. The objective is to adapt the ship to the quality standards of the Spanish clientele for which it will operate. In addition to completely restyling the cabins and public areas, four new suites with balconies as well as a new wellness center will be built. The hull will be painted with a special silicone-based ecological paint that reduces the formation of micro-organisms on the hull without releasing toxic substances into the sea. This increases the vessel’s hydrodynamic performance while reducing its environmental impact given reduced fuel consumption. At the end of the refurbishment, the Grand Holiday will be the fourth ship of the Iberocruceros fleet. The first cruise will depart from Barcelona on May 18, 2010, with destinations including Villefranche-sur-Mer, Leghorn, Civitavecchia and Porto Torres. For the entire summer season, the ship will sail seven-day cruises in the western Mediterranean. Departing from Barcelona on Sundays, the ship will call on Villefranche-sur-Mer, Leghorn, Civitavecchia, Naples and La Goulette.
In addition to the Grand Holiday, three ships belonging to the Costa Cruises brand recently completed dry docks: the Costa Magica (November 4-18) and the Costa Mediterranea (November 21-December 5) in Palermo and the Costa Marina (November 4-18) in Genoa.
The Costa Mediterranea, Costa Magica and Costa Marina underwent routine maintenance, operations that the Italian company carries out every two years to maintain its fleet’s high quality standards and to comply with Italian and international safety norms. The maintenance involved the hull and engine as well as the hotel section of the ships. In the hotel area, carpeting, curtains, fabrics and other objects and materials subject to wear and tear were replaced in the public areas and in cabins. For the hull and engine, the largest amount of maintenance entailed cleaning and painting the hull. Inverter devices that optimize conditioning system operation while reducing fuel consumption and subsequent CO2 emissions, were installed in the engine room of the Costa Magica. These were already successfully tested on two other ships.
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, Canada/New England, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
MIAMI, FL - (December 22, 2009) – Costa, the largest Italian tourism group and Europe’s number one cruise company, entered four ships in dry docks for routine and extraordinary maintenance between December and November. The investment totaled approximately €66 million.
The most significant investment, worth approximately €55 million, is being carried out on Iberocruceros’Grand Holiday in the S. Giorgio shipyards in the port of Genoa from December 2009 through April 2010. These operations entail a radical restyling of the ship that previously operated for Carnival Cruise Lines as the “Holiday.” The ship will enter service with the Iberocruceros brand in May 2010. The objective is to adapt the ship to the quality standards of the Spanish clientele for which it will operate. In addition to completely restyling the cabins and public areas, four new suites with balconies as well as a new wellness center will be built. The hull will be painted with a special silicone-based ecological paint that reduces the formation of micro-organisms on the hull without releasing toxic substances into the sea. This increases the vessel’s hydrodynamic performance while reducing its environmental impact given reduced fuel consumption. At the end of the refurbishment, the Grand Holiday will be the fourth ship of the Iberocruceros fleet. The first cruise will depart from Barcelona on May 18, 2010, with destinations including Villefranche-sur-Mer, Leghorn, Civitavecchia and Porto Torres. For the entire summer season, the ship will sail seven-day cruises in the western Mediterranean. Departing from Barcelona on Sundays, the ship will call on Villefranche-sur-Mer, Leghorn, Civitavecchia, Naples and La Goulette.
In addition to the Grand Holiday, three ships belonging to the Costa Cruises brand recently completed dry docks: the Costa Magica (November 4-18) and the Costa Mediterranea (November 21-December 5) in Palermo and the Costa Marina (November 4-18) in Genoa.
The Costa Mediterranea, Costa Magica and Costa Marina underwent routine maintenance, operations that the Italian company carries out every two years to maintain its fleet’s high quality standards and to comply with Italian and international safety norms. The maintenance involved the hull and engine as well as the hotel section of the ships. In the hotel area, carpeting, curtains, fabrics and other objects and materials subject to wear and tear were replaced in the public areas and in cabins. For the hull and engine, the largest amount of maintenance entailed cleaning and painting the hull. Inverter devices that optimize conditioning system operation while reducing fuel consumption and subsequent CO2 emissions, were installed in the engine room of the Costa Magica. These were already successfully tested on two other ships.
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, Canada/New England, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
COSTA KICKS OFF FOURTH CRUISE SEASON IN DUBAI
Biggest and Best Season Yet with Two New Ships and Costa Deliziosa Inaugural Set for February 23
MIAMI, FL - (December 10, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, is beginning its biggest and best season yet in Dubai with two of its newest ships positioned from the region for the 2009/10 season. The stunning Costa Luminosa, inaugurated this past June, will set sail on seven-night sailings from the international locale beginning this week. Her sister ship, the Costa Deliziosa, will sail similar routes after she is inaugurated in the international locale on February 23. Stylish and stunning, both ships (92,600 tons; 2,260 dbl occ) are designed to exude the ultimate in elegance and refinement.
The inaugural season of the Costa Luminosa from Dubai will feature Saturday departures complete with two overnights in Dubai and visits to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Her season will begin on December 12 and run through April 10. On February 23, the Costa Deliziosa will be named in Dubai during her “Grand Inaugural Cruise,” which departs from Savona on February 5. The ship will call on Dubai for her inaugural festivities from February 23-26. Guests sailing on the February 5th departure will be able to attend the naming ceremony. The ship’s regular route from Dubai will feature the same seven-night routes as her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, with departures on Sundays. Her season will begin on March 14 and extend through May 9.
Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa will also be joined by the Costa Europa (55,000 tons; 1,494 dbl occ). The ship will offer a brand new itinerary with a series of eight alternating cruises from Italy to Dubai, a unique route crossing the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
“Costa Cruises was the first and it’s still the major operator to believe in the value of this new cruise destination, confirming the pioneering spirit of our Italian company,” said Gianni Onorato, president of Costa Cruises.” The appreciation of the destination from the public is increasing. In the 2009/2010 winter season, bookings to date are in line with the increase of the offer, that was 40% over last winter, thanks to the positioning in the area of three ships. In particular, for the first time ever we are deploying in the same area the “top of the range” sister ships Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa. Moreover, the naming ceremony of the Costa Deliziosa in Dubai confirms our growth strategy, while strengthening the partnership between Costa Cruises and DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing). We are working together towards the same goal of creating an unforgettable event rich with surprise and atmosphere, combining the charming tradition of an Arabian night with the unique Italian style of Costa Cruises,” he added.
Costa Cruises, along with AIDA Cruises, the German brand that also belongs to the Costa Crociere group, was the first cruise company to market regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf. This presence helped turn Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributed to its growth as a tourism destination.
In winter 2009/10 Costa’s ships are expected to bring 140,000 passenger movements to Dubai given the presence of three ships - the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Europa - for a total of 32 calls. The estimated economic impact will be approximately €14 million,* coming from Costa guests’ direct spending, shore excursions, transfers, cruise operation expenditures, and general food and beverage expenditures. In addition to Costa Cruises’ ships, the AIDAdiva (69,200 tons; 2,500 total guests), will call 20 times in Dubai during the winter 2009/10 season.
The immediate success of Costa’s operations in the area began in winter 2006/07 with the Costa Classica (53,000 tons; 1,308 dbl occ). The new cruise destination prompted Costa Cruises to increase its capacity in the area year after year. Costa Cruises’ passenger movements in Dubai increased from 44,000 in winter 2006/07 to 100,000 in winter 2008/09. Costa Cruises’ ships have generated substantial and growing business for the emirate of Dubai and the other ports of call on the itinerary.
Per a WEFA report, one of the most respected economic information companies, tourism’s direct contribution to Dubai’s GDP stands at 19.89 percent, while the indirect contribution is 35 percent. Dubai is poised to become the ultimate cruise destination of the Middle East. The cruise industry is rapidly growing with 260,817 cruise tourists predicted to visit the emirate during 2009, nearly a 25 percent increase over last year. In 2010, Dubai is expected to host 99 calls with over 383,000 passengers. The burgeoning cruise industry is set to grow further as the new Dubai Cruise Terminal becomes operational in January 2010.
In a survey, 80 percent of cruise passengers in Dubai noted that they would extend their visit to the Emirate during their next visit and 95 percent said they would recommend others to visit Dubai to enjoy its all-appealing facilities, pristine beaches and unparalleled shopping options.
MIAMI, FL - (December 10, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, is beginning its biggest and best season yet in Dubai with two of its newest ships positioned from the region for the 2009/10 season. The stunning Costa Luminosa, inaugurated this past June, will set sail on seven-night sailings from the international locale beginning this week. Her sister ship, the Costa Deliziosa, will sail similar routes after she is inaugurated in the international locale on February 23. Stylish and stunning, both ships (92,600 tons; 2,260 dbl occ) are designed to exude the ultimate in elegance and refinement.
The inaugural season of the Costa Luminosa from Dubai will feature Saturday departures complete with two overnights in Dubai and visits to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Her season will begin on December 12 and run through April 10. On February 23, the Costa Deliziosa will be named in Dubai during her “Grand Inaugural Cruise,” which departs from Savona on February 5. The ship will call on Dubai for her inaugural festivities from February 23-26. Guests sailing on the February 5th departure will be able to attend the naming ceremony. The ship’s regular route from Dubai will feature the same seven-night routes as her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, with departures on Sundays. Her season will begin on March 14 and extend through May 9.
Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa will also be joined by the Costa Europa (55,000 tons; 1,494 dbl occ). The ship will offer a brand new itinerary with a series of eight alternating cruises from Italy to Dubai, a unique route crossing the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.
“Costa Cruises was the first and it’s still the major operator to believe in the value of this new cruise destination, confirming the pioneering spirit of our Italian company,” said Gianni Onorato, president of Costa Cruises.” The appreciation of the destination from the public is increasing. In the 2009/2010 winter season, bookings to date are in line with the increase of the offer, that was 40% over last winter, thanks to the positioning in the area of three ships. In particular, for the first time ever we are deploying in the same area the “top of the range” sister ships Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa. Moreover, the naming ceremony of the Costa Deliziosa in Dubai confirms our growth strategy, while strengthening the partnership between Costa Cruises and DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing). We are working together towards the same goal of creating an unforgettable event rich with surprise and atmosphere, combining the charming tradition of an Arabian night with the unique Italian style of Costa Cruises,” he added.
Costa Cruises, along with AIDA Cruises, the German brand that also belongs to the Costa Crociere group, was the first cruise company to market regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf. This presence helped turn Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributed to its growth as a tourism destination.
In winter 2009/10 Costa’s ships are expected to bring 140,000 passenger movements to Dubai given the presence of three ships - the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Europa - for a total of 32 calls. The estimated economic impact will be approximately €14 million,* coming from Costa guests’ direct spending, shore excursions, transfers, cruise operation expenditures, and general food and beverage expenditures. In addition to Costa Cruises’ ships, the AIDAdiva (69,200 tons; 2,500 total guests), will call 20 times in Dubai during the winter 2009/10 season.
The immediate success of Costa’s operations in the area began in winter 2006/07 with the Costa Classica (53,000 tons; 1,308 dbl occ). The new cruise destination prompted Costa Cruises to increase its capacity in the area year after year. Costa Cruises’ passenger movements in Dubai increased from 44,000 in winter 2006/07 to 100,000 in winter 2008/09. Costa Cruises’ ships have generated substantial and growing business for the emirate of Dubai and the other ports of call on the itinerary.
Per a WEFA report, one of the most respected economic information companies, tourism’s direct contribution to Dubai’s GDP stands at 19.89 percent, while the indirect contribution is 35 percent. Dubai is poised to become the ultimate cruise destination of the Middle East. The cruise industry is rapidly growing with 260,817 cruise tourists predicted to visit the emirate during 2009, nearly a 25 percent increase over last year. In 2010, Dubai is expected to host 99 calls with over 383,000 passengers. The burgeoning cruise industry is set to grow further as the new Dubai Cruise Terminal becomes operational in January 2010.
In a survey, 80 percent of cruise passengers in Dubai noted that they would extend their visit to the Emirate during their next visit and 95 percent said they would recommend others to visit Dubai to enjoy its all-appealing facilities, pristine beaches and unparalleled shopping options.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
COSTA CRUISES WINS “BEST MEDITERRANEAN, AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST ITINERARIES” IN 2009 PORTHOLE READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
MIAMI, FL - (December 8, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, was awarded “Best Mediterranean Itineraries” and “Best Africa/Middle East Itineraries” in the eleventh annual Porthole Cruise Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards. The awards are published in the December 2009 issue of the publication.
“We’re honored that the readers of Porthole have named Costa the best in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East once again,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. “As I always say, the Mediterranean is our back yard – we’ve been there for over 60 years and offer more ships and more sailings in the region than any other cruise line. Our innovative itineraries from Dubai and Mauritius are some of the most unique available, and offer a glimpse of this part of the world at a tremendous value. Grazie mille to the readers of Porthole for sharing our enthusiasm for the itineraries we offer in these regions.”
For over 60 years, Costa has sailed the Mediterranean and today offers the biggest and best selection of cruises from the region with more ships, more ports and more seven-night itineraries than any other cruise line. Costa sails the region year-round and always features its newest ships in the Mediterranean at any period of the year. In 2006, Costa became the first cruise line to home port from Dubai and has increased its capacity there ever since. 2010 features Costa’s best season yet with three ships sailing the region—the new Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa—as well as the Costa Europa. The new Costa Deliziosa will be named in Dubai on February 23, 2010. Costa is the only cruise line to home port from Mauritius, offering 14-night sailings aboard the Costa Romantica this season through March 2010.
“Costa Cruises is always a reader favorite when it comes to itineraries,” said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine. “With some of the most unique and exotic itineraries out there, it’s no wonder experienced cruisers have awarded the line with these distinctions.”
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
“We’re honored that the readers of Porthole have named Costa the best in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East once again,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. “As I always say, the Mediterranean is our back yard – we’ve been there for over 60 years and offer more ships and more sailings in the region than any other cruise line. Our innovative itineraries from Dubai and Mauritius are some of the most unique available, and offer a glimpse of this part of the world at a tremendous value. Grazie mille to the readers of Porthole for sharing our enthusiasm for the itineraries we offer in these regions.”
For over 60 years, Costa has sailed the Mediterranean and today offers the biggest and best selection of cruises from the region with more ships, more ports and more seven-night itineraries than any other cruise line. Costa sails the region year-round and always features its newest ships in the Mediterranean at any period of the year. In 2006, Costa became the first cruise line to home port from Dubai and has increased its capacity there ever since. 2010 features Costa’s best season yet with three ships sailing the region—the new Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa—as well as the Costa Europa. The new Costa Deliziosa will be named in Dubai on February 23, 2010. Costa is the only cruise line to home port from Mauritius, offering 14-night sailings aboard the Costa Romantica this season through March 2010.
“Costa Cruises is always a reader favorite when it comes to itineraries,” said Bill Panoff, publisher and editor-in-chief of Porthole Cruise Magazine. “With some of the most unique and exotic itineraries out there, it’s no wonder experienced cruisers have awarded the line with these distinctions.”
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
COSTA CRUISES’ SAMSARA SPA NAMED “BEST SPA” IN CRUISE CRITIC EDITORS’ PICKS AWARDS
MIAMI, FL - (November 17, 2009) – Costa Cruises’ renowned Samsara Spa was named “best spa” in the 2009 Cruise Critic “Editors’ Picks” Awards. The awards honor the world’s top cruise lines and highlight the best of the best in cruising. The Samsara Spa is featured on all of Costa’s newest ships, including the Costa Luminosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Serena and Costa Concordia. The spa will also be featured on the Costa Deliziosa (January 2010), the Costa Favolosa (summer 2011) and Costa Fascinosa (spring 2012).
Costa’s award-winning Samsara Spa concept has garnered numerous industry awards, including a “best spa” accolade from Cruise Critic in 2008. The consumer cruise web site also named it “the most beautiful spa at sea.” Other accolades received include a nod as “one of the top five cruise ship spas” by MSNBC.com, “Best Spa Design” from the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, and “Best Spa Facilities,” from Porthole Magazine. Travel Age West Magazine awarded the spa “Editor’s Pick” Awards in the categories of “Best Health and Wellness Program,” and “Best Overall Spa Facilities on a Cruise Ship.”
Extending over two decks and boasting panoramic views of the ocean, the 23,000 square-foot Samsara Spa offers travelers the ultimate wellness experience at sea. Spa amenities include a Thalassotherapy bath, a rock sauna (a hotter version of classic saunas) and a Turkish bath (either traditional or scented with gently-fragrant rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender) a warm thermal bath called a Tepidarium, a solarium, and tea room. VIP treatment suites are also available. An expansive fitness center and wide variety of wellness classes complete the spa’s facilities.
For those who wish to fully immerse themselves in the Samsara Spa ambience, exclusive spa cabins and suites (average 100 per ship) provide a veritable extension of the experience at all times with direct access to the spa via elevator and stairs. Guests who reserve these accommodations will have access to exclusive privileges including flat screen televisions, a special set of Elemis bath accessories and a “Welcome Ritual,” all included in the cruise price. The “Welcome Ritual” features unlimited access to the spa and its many amenities, two complimentary fitness or meditation classes, a personalized wellness consultation with a spa expert, two treatments, two sessions in the solarium and an invitation to a special spa tea ceremony. In addition, guests who reserve exclusive Samsara Spa accommodations will have access to wellness cuisine in the Ristorante Samsara. This specialty restaurant features spa-friendly cuisine in private surroundings.
Cruise Critic is an online cruise guide offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruisers. The site features professional reviews and member reviews of over 350 ships, and hosts an active community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers.
Launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet. The Independent Traveler, Inc. is a subsidiary of TripAdvisor® LLC, which is an operating company of Expedia.
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company
Monday, November 16, 2009
COSTA CRUISES TOPS 2009 MEDIOBANCA SURVEY
Largest Italian Travel Company and Only Italian Cruise Line Ranked by Mediobanca
MIAMI (November 16, 2009)— Costa Cruises has made its mark in a popular survey of leading Italian companies carried out by Mediobanca’s Research Unit, comprising over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros last fiscal year. Costa Cruises came in 10th place in terms of profitability, with a net income of 402 million Euros and 65th in size with sales of 2.3 billion Euros in 2008.
Costa is the only cruise company included in the Mediobanca survey and ranks as the leading travel company. According to the findings of the survey, the Italian cruise company has further improved its business performance from last year, advancing from a ranking of 72 to 65 for size, and ranking 10th in terms of profitability, up from 12th in 2008.
In total, the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group has a total of 23 ships in service (14 for Costa Cruises, 6 for AIDACruises and 3 for Iberocruceros) with another sneve due to be delivered by 2012 (three for Costa Cruises, three for AIDACruises and one for Iberocruceros). All Costa Cruises and Aida ships fly the Italian flag.
Costa will introduce its newest ship, the Costa Deliziosa, at the end of January 2010. The ship is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. The arrival of 92,700-ton (2,260 dbl occ) ship enables Costa to double its top-of-the-line offerings. Along with sister ship Costa Luminosa (launched in June 2009), the Costa Deliziosa is the most exclusive and innovative member of the fleet.
The Group's growth in 2008 was driven by the performance of the Costa Cruises brand, which ended the year with 1.2 million total guests, confirming its position as Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. The economic growth recorded in 2008 was accompanied by a continued commitment to social and environmental responsibility, particularly carried by the Costa Cruises brand.
Costa Cruises was the first cruise company in the world to draft and issue a Sustainability Report. The voluntary report aims to build trust based on transparent dissemination of main results in the fields of social accountability and environmental compliance. Relevant initiatives include Costa’s three-year partnership with WWF involving active support for a project to set up a network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean.
In November, Costa Cruises will publish the fourth edition of its Sustainability Report, corresponding to 2008. The highlights include a 5% reduction in fuel consumption per mile sailed, a 5% reduction in consumption of potable water per person, 30% (273,458 kg) of special waste recycled; 2,126 m3 of glass and aluminum recycled, and an 8.5% reduction in garbage.
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
MIAMI (November 16, 2009)— Costa Cruises has made its mark in a popular survey of leading Italian companies carried out by Mediobanca’s Research Unit, comprising over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros last fiscal year. Costa Cruises came in 10th place in terms of profitability, with a net income of 402 million Euros and 65th in size with sales of 2.3 billion Euros in 2008.
Costa is the only cruise company included in the Mediobanca survey and ranks as the leading travel company. According to the findings of the survey, the Italian cruise company has further improved its business performance from last year, advancing from a ranking of 72 to 65 for size, and ranking 10th in terms of profitability, up from 12th in 2008.
In total, the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group has a total of 23 ships in service (14 for Costa Cruises, 6 for AIDACruises and 3 for Iberocruceros) with another sneve due to be delivered by 2012 (three for Costa Cruises, three for AIDACruises and one for Iberocruceros). All Costa Cruises and Aida ships fly the Italian flag.
Costa will introduce its newest ship, the Costa Deliziosa, at the end of January 2010. The ship is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. The arrival of 92,700-ton (2,260 dbl occ) ship enables Costa to double its top-of-the-line offerings. Along with sister ship Costa Luminosa (launched in June 2009), the Costa Deliziosa is the most exclusive and innovative member of the fleet.
The Group's growth in 2008 was driven by the performance of the Costa Cruises brand, which ended the year with 1.2 million total guests, confirming its position as Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. The economic growth recorded in 2008 was accompanied by a continued commitment to social and environmental responsibility, particularly carried by the Costa Cruises brand.
Costa Cruises was the first cruise company in the world to draft and issue a Sustainability Report. The voluntary report aims to build trust based on transparent dissemination of main results in the fields of social accountability and environmental compliance. Relevant initiatives include Costa’s three-year partnership with WWF involving active support for a project to set up a network of Marine Protected Areas in the Mediterranean.
In November, Costa Cruises will publish the fourth edition of its Sustainability Report, corresponding to 2008. The highlights include a 5% reduction in fuel consumption per mile sailed, a 5% reduction in consumption of potable water per person, 30% (273,458 kg) of special waste recycled; 2,126 m3 of glass and aluminum recycled, and an 8.5% reduction in garbage.
Costa Cruises is Italy’s largest tourism group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For more than 60 years its ships have sailed the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations filled with fun and relaxation. In 2008, 1.2 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 14 fleet members, each with her own distinctive characteristics and unique style, all fly the Italian flag and sail each year to 250 destinations in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Far East and the Indian Ocean. Three more new ships are due to enter service by 2012.
Costa Cruises has been certified by RINA (Italian Shipping Register) with the BEST4, an integrated system of voluntary certification of corporate compliance with the highest standards governing social accountability (SA 8000, issued in 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 2004), safety (OHSAS 18001, 2007) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2008). All the ships in the Costa fleet have been assigned RINA’s Green Star notation certifying that they are operated in compliance with the highest environmental protection standards. Costa Cruises is an official partner of WWF Italy for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea. In Mediobanca’s 2009 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least 50 million Euros the previous fiscal year, Costa Crociere S.p.A. ranks 10th in terms of profitability and 65th in terms of sales. In the “Global Reputation Pulse 2009” international study, Costa Cruises ranked first among Italian “service industry” companies. Pulse scores are a measure of corporate reputation of the 600 largest enterprises located in 32 countries worldwide.
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a member of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company.
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