Second Ship to be Delivered to Costa in Less than One Month
MIAMI (May 29, 2009) – The Costa Pacifica, the fourteenth ship in the Costa fleet, was delivered today at the Genova-Sestri Ponente ship yard by Fincantieri, the world’s leading cruise ship builder. The ship, which is the newest in the Costa fleet, was delivered in the presence of the Deputy Speaker of the Italian Republic Senate Rosa Angelo Mauro.
The sister ship of the Costa Concordia and Costa Serena, the Costa Pacifica is the “ship of music.” Weighing in at 114,500 tons with a double occupancy capacity of 3,000, the ship can accommodate a total of 3,704 total guests in 1,504 cabins. The ship is a true “Made in Italy” product, with design, technology, industrialization and construction that required the professional expertise of 3,000 workers from Fincantieri and roughly 500 linked industry companies, for a total investment of approximately €500 million.
The Costa Pacifica is the second of three new Costa ships to be delivered by Fincantieri to the Italian company in less than one year. The Costa Luminosa (92,600-tons; 2,260 dbl occ), the ship of light, was delivered on April 30. The Costa Deliziosa, sister ship of the Costa Luminosa, is also under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and will be delivered at the end of January 2010. Two other sister ships of the Costa Pacifica will be delivered in the spring of 2011 and 2012.
“The delivery of the Costa Pacifica is part of the world’s biggest expansion plan, with five new ships to be delivered by 2012, and all built in Italy by Fincantieri, for a total investment of €2.4 billion,” said Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group. “While this plan is tangible proof of the soundness of our company it is only a part of the economic benefits generated by Costa Cruises in the countries where it operates. Last year, we generated € 1.1 billion in linked industry revenues in Italy not only from the construction of new ships but also from general expenses, transport, and other linked activities involving airports and ports. Such benefits are distributed from North to South in all the main regions of the country, creating economic resources and employment, and making Costa Cruises a leading economic player.”
“Costa Pacifica further strengthens our collaboration with Costa Cruises; for years now this partnership has contributed to our taking a splendid image of Made in Italy over the seven seas of the world,” said Giuseppe Bono, Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri. “In the last nine years our two companies have been engaged in a fleet expansion program worth 3.5 billion Euros, the largest investment ever made by a European operator. From our perspective, each ship we deliver means not only a substantial contribution to the balance of payments, but also over five million hours of work for 3,000 people, either directly employed by Fincantieri or in the supply chain. We have a great impact on local economies in terms of both direct and indirect employment: every year we issue orders for work, services, materials and subcontracting for a total of approximately 2 billion Euros. Today, we – as many other Italian industries – are going through a particularly difficult period but we are doing our utmost to keep these virtuous circles which over the years have made us world leaders and helped our suppliers grow considerably both in quality and quantity.”
In light of the fleet’s major expansion plan, Costa Cruises commissioned MIP, School of Management, at the Polytechnic University of Milan, to conduct a study to evaluate the economic benefits generated by its operations in Italy. According to the results of the study, presented this morning during the delivery of the Costa Pacifica, it is estimated that in 2008 Costa Cruises generated an economic impact of at least €1.1 billion. This corresponds to around 2.4 times the amount allocated by the Italian government for the “Social card,” and can be compared to the total funds that the European Union will allot for small-medium enterprises between 2007 and 2013.
The study was developed through a quantitative analysis of what was generated by Costa Cruises activities in 2008, divided into the following categories: linked industry of ports, linked industry of airports, embarkation port transportation expenses, general expenditures (i.e. the share of the company costs linked to Italian suppliers), taxes and fees, and investment in new ships.
The area analysis with regard to the linked industry revenues generated by Costa Cruises concerns the nine main Italian ports where the company operates: Savona, Venice, Civitavecchia, Naples, Bari, Ancona, Palermo, Catania and Messina. More than 1.5 million guests on Costa ships embarked or transited in one of these ports in 2008. Of these, 32% went through Savona, where Costa manages the Palacrociere. The overall value of the linked industry revenues generated in these nine Italian ports is equal to €53 million, nearly 13 of which is in Savona, 11 in Venice and 4 in Civitavecchia.
The linked industry revenues generated with regard to airports involving movements of ship passengers amount to €13 million, while another €52 million came from embarkation port transportation activities. Considering these first three categories (linked industry relative to ports, airports and transportation) each guest embarking on Costa ships generated an average linked industry amount of €42, while for each transiting guest that figure is €37.
€420 million can be attributed to the company’s general expenses, meaning the linked industry revenues generated by Costa Cruises involving Italian suppliers of goods and services for cruise company activities, and another €16 million from taxes and fees. Finally, a total of €590 million was spent on investments in new ships.
Among the regions that received the greatest economic benefits from linked industry revenues generated by Costa Cruises in 2008 (ports, airports, transportation and general expenses) Liguria is ranked 1st (37%), followed by Lombardy (19%), Lazio (13%), Sicily (9%), Veneto (8%) and Campania (3%). These figures were determined through an additional overall analysis conducted by region.
“Our analysis highlighted how Costa Cruises’ impact on Italy’s economic system is pervasive and involves quantitative factors as well as intangible assets,” said Giuliano Noci, member of the MIP Management Committee, Polytechnic University of Milan. “For many Italian suppliers Costa Cruises is the ambassador of Made in Italy around the world, a strongly contextualized marketing ‘medium’ that characterizes the experience of the Italian style.”
Costa Pacifica: The Ship of Music
The Costa Pacifica, designed by architect and interior designer Joseph Farcus, represents the “Greatest Hits” of Costa Cruises not only because she was built based on the best of the fleet’s vessels but, above all, because music is the inspirational theme.This marks the first time that passengers can enjoy a complete, unique and unrepeatable musical experience on a cruise ship. Music not only provides the inspiration for the interior design and artwork (308 originals and 5,929 reproductions) that enrich the new flagship, but can also be listened to, interpreted and “experienced” in each area of the ship through a brand new sound track, created exclusively for Costa Cruises, consisting of 29 songs by Maestro Mauro Pagani, including 22 of some of the most famous arrangements of all time and 7 original compositions.
Each area of the ship is distinguished by one of these songs that is also the inspiration for the name of the area. Costa’s new flagship will also be the world’s first vessel with a real recording studio fitted out with the most sophisticated equipment, where guests can sing their favorite tune from among a repertoire of 400 of the most famous Italian and international songs, recording it on a musical base to create a memento CD. The theatre is where the ship’s theme is developed to the highest level—the high fidelity of the auditorium is where guests can enjoy the absolute purity of sound in a truly unique atmosphere.
On board the Costa Pacifica, just like the Costa Luminosa, guests will be treated to the best of the Costa fleet’s latest innovations. These include the Samsara spa wellness area (extending over more than 6,000 m²), which includes a wellness center, cabins with convenient direct access to the area and a dedicated spa restaurant; a Grand Prix race car simulator; and a central swimming pool area, extending over two decks, with a retractable glass roof and a giant 18 m² screen. In addition, these ships offer a new “Playstation World,” feature, which is an area equipped exclusively with Playstation 3.
For the 2009 summer season, the ship will sail 7-night voyages in the Western Mediterranean with calls to the port of Rome (Civitavecchia), Savona, Marseille (France), Barcelona (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Tunis (Tunisia), Malta and Palermo. During the 2009-2010 winter season, the Costa Pacifica will depart from Rome (Civitavecchia) and Savona offering 10 and 11-night cruises to Egypt, Israel and Turkey. In the summer of 2010 she will again offer 7-night cruises in the Western Mediterranean with the following itinerary: Rome (Civitavecchia), Savona, Barcelona (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain), Tunis (Tunisia), Malta and Catania.
The Costa Pacifica’s 8-night maiden voyage in the Western Mediterranean will depart from Palacrociere in Savona on June 6, 2009, including a special 2-night stay in Palma de Mallorca.
June 5, 2009: A Record Christening
The Costa Pacifica will be christened together with the Costa Luminosa on June 5 in the Port of Genoa. This is the first time that two new ships, built by the same shipbuilder for the same shipowner, will be christened at the same time, and in the same place. It will be an extraordinary event, with the official Patronage of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the Republic of Italy, for which Costa Cruises has requested Guinness World Records to verify and that will include an incredible overture with the exhibition of the “Frecce Tricolori” national aerobatic team and the paratroopers of the Italian Army. The show created for this exceptional event, “Italian Portrait in Music and Light,” will pay tribute to the all-Italian ability for making dreams come true. Starting from the inspirational theme of the ships – music for the Costa Pacifica and light for the Costa Luminosa – the show will re-propose a journey through the best Italian talents and artists known around the world. This will include musical and artistic performances by some of the most important figures in the Italian and international scene, including maestro Mauro Pagani, a renowned musician with thirty years of experience who composed the sound track for the Costa Pacifica. The evening will end with a show involving the entire city with lights, music and fireworks.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
For reservations or more information regarding Costa Cruises, guests may contact a travel agent, call (800) GO-COSTA or visit www.costacruises.com.
Friday, May 29, 2009
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST VALENTINA VEZZALI AND SINGER NOA NAMED GODMOTHERS OF THE COSTA LUMINOSA AND COSTA PACIFICA
MIAMI (May 29, 2009) – Olympic fencing champion Valentina Vezzali and Israel’s leading international singer Noa will be the godmothers of the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica. The two new members of the Costa Cruises fleet will be christened together on Friday, June 5 in Genoa at an extraordinary Guinness record breaking event.
For the first time in the history of Italian shipping, two new cruise ships will be christened together at the same time in the same place. This is a unique occasion, not only for Costa Cruises, which has been synonymous with cruising in Italy for over 60 years, but for the country as a whole. Accordingly, the Genoa-based Company, whose ships all fly the Italian flag, is staging the day as a tribute to the nation. The special event has obtained the official Patronage of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the Republic of Italy, as well that of the Municipality and Provincial Administration of Genoa and the Ligurian Regional Government.
Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, has chosen two outstanding women to be godmothers of the ships. Both women epitomize international excellence in their respective fields.
The Costa Luminosa, the ship of light and the jewel of the fleet, will be named by Valentina Vezzali, the reigning champion in the women’s individual foil and a gold medalist at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. She has been ranked number one in the world for the past 11 years, is a celebrity in the sport and is a symbol of Italian success on the global stage thanks to her determination and laser-like focus.
The Costa Pacifica, the ship of music, will be christened by Noa, one of the world’s most popular concert and recording artists. Noa has strong ties with Italy and her name is synonymous with music that crosses cultural barriers. She believes in the power of communication and dialogue as a means of promoting peace and understanding. In 1994 Noa performed at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II and a live audience of 100,000. She is a FAO Goodwill Ambassador. Her musical career includes duets with artists including Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Johnny Clegg and Khaled.
In keeping with tradition, the two godmothers will cut the ribbons and thus let the two bottles of Aneri Prosecco wine break against the bows of the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica at the grand christening celebrations, which will involve the entire city of Genoa in a spectacle of light and music dedicated to Italian-made excellence.
A highlight of the celebrations will be an extraordinary display by the Frecce Tricolori national aerobatic team – another ambassador for the “Made in Italy” label – in the skies of Genoa, as well as a special tribute from Italian Paratroopers.
“An Italian Portrait in Music and Light” is the name of the show that will be staged as part of the christening celebrations, in a tribute to the all-Italian ability for making dreams come true. Starting from the inspirational themes for the ships – music for the Costa Pacifica and light for the Costa Luminosa – the production will be a journey through the finest Italian talent, acclaimed and appreciated worldwide. This will include musical and artistic performances by some of the most important figures on the Italian and international scene, accompanied by Maestro Mauro Pagani, a professional musician with a highly successful career spanning 30 years. Pagani, who is the founder of Premiata Forneria Marconi, composed the sound track for the Costa Pacifica, the first “ship of music.” The climax of the soirée will be a spectacle involving the entire city and featuring special lighting effects, music and a fireworks display.
The event will be broadcast live on the Internet from 10:00 p.m. (Italian time) at www.rai.tv/costacrociere and www.worldofcosta.com.
On Friday, June 5, the Costa Pacifica and Costa Luminosa will be moored in the Port of Genoa at Ponte Andrea Doria Dock, forming a highly original amphitheater complete with a large stage and grandstand with seating for 4,000. It is the first time an event of this kind will include cruise guests from both ships.
Costa Luminosa
The 92,600-ton Costa Luminosa will have a double occupancy of 2,260. She will be the fleet’s “flagship,” the most exclusive and innovative vessel designed for Costa. Innovations begin with the ship’s avant-garde design and the use of premium materials, such as marble, wood, mother-of-pearl and Murano glass. The ship also boasts prestigious works of art, including a sculpture by Fernando Botero, “Donna Sdraiata 2004” (Reclining Woman), which will be featured in the atrium. There are also numerous opportunities for hi-tech onboard fun, entertainment and relaxation including a 4D cinema, roller skating track, latest generation golf simulator with putting green, Grand Prix race car simulator, PlayStation World equipped with PlayStation 3 and the exclusive 3,500 m² “Samsara Spa” wellness center, complete with a Technogym Kinesis room.
Costa Pacifica
The 114,500-ton Costa Pacifica will have a double occupancy of 3,000. She is the sister ship of the Costa Concordia and the Costa Serena and will be the “ship of music.” The best of music from all times is not only the inspiration for the interior design of the various public areas, but also provides a real “experience” to guide guests in a “musical” voyage to discover each area of the vessel. Each area will feature one of the 29 songs of the exclusive sound track by maestro Mauro Pagani, consisting of 22 arrangements of the most famous songs of all times and seven original compositions created especially for the ship. Costa’s new flagship will also be the world’s first vessel with a recording studio fitted out with sophisticated musical equipment, where guests can sing their favorite song with a musical base and record a CD as a vacation memento. On board the Costa Pacifica, just like the Costa Luminosa, guests will be treated to the best of the latest innovations of the Costa fleet: the Samsara spa wellness area (extending over more than 6,000 m²) and including cabins with convenient direct access to the spa, a Grand Prix race car simulator, a central swimming pool area, extending over two decks with a retractable glass roof and a giant 18 m² screen as well as a “Playstation World,” area equipped exclusively with PS3 games.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
For the first time in the history of Italian shipping, two new cruise ships will be christened together at the same time in the same place. This is a unique occasion, not only for Costa Cruises, which has been synonymous with cruising in Italy for over 60 years, but for the country as a whole. Accordingly, the Genoa-based Company, whose ships all fly the Italian flag, is staging the day as a tribute to the nation. The special event has obtained the official Patronage of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the Republic of Italy, as well that of the Municipality and Provincial Administration of Genoa and the Ligurian Regional Government.
Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, has chosen two outstanding women to be godmothers of the ships. Both women epitomize international excellence in their respective fields.
The Costa Luminosa, the ship of light and the jewel of the fleet, will be named by Valentina Vezzali, the reigning champion in the women’s individual foil and a gold medalist at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. She has been ranked number one in the world for the past 11 years, is a celebrity in the sport and is a symbol of Italian success on the global stage thanks to her determination and laser-like focus.
The Costa Pacifica, the ship of music, will be christened by Noa, one of the world’s most popular concert and recording artists. Noa has strong ties with Italy and her name is synonymous with music that crosses cultural barriers. She believes in the power of communication and dialogue as a means of promoting peace and understanding. In 1994 Noa performed at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II and a live audience of 100,000. She is a FAO Goodwill Ambassador. Her musical career includes duets with artists including Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, Joan Baez, Johnny Clegg and Khaled.
In keeping with tradition, the two godmothers will cut the ribbons and thus let the two bottles of Aneri Prosecco wine break against the bows of the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica at the grand christening celebrations, which will involve the entire city of Genoa in a spectacle of light and music dedicated to Italian-made excellence.
A highlight of the celebrations will be an extraordinary display by the Frecce Tricolori national aerobatic team – another ambassador for the “Made in Italy” label – in the skies of Genoa, as well as a special tribute from Italian Paratroopers.
“An Italian Portrait in Music and Light” is the name of the show that will be staged as part of the christening celebrations, in a tribute to the all-Italian ability for making dreams come true. Starting from the inspirational themes for the ships – music for the Costa Pacifica and light for the Costa Luminosa – the production will be a journey through the finest Italian talent, acclaimed and appreciated worldwide. This will include musical and artistic performances by some of the most important figures on the Italian and international scene, accompanied by Maestro Mauro Pagani, a professional musician with a highly successful career spanning 30 years. Pagani, who is the founder of Premiata Forneria Marconi, composed the sound track for the Costa Pacifica, the first “ship of music.” The climax of the soirée will be a spectacle involving the entire city and featuring special lighting effects, music and a fireworks display.
The event will be broadcast live on the Internet from 10:00 p.m. (Italian time) at www.rai.tv/costacrociere and www.worldofcosta.com.
On Friday, June 5, the Costa Pacifica and Costa Luminosa will be moored in the Port of Genoa at Ponte Andrea Doria Dock, forming a highly original amphitheater complete with a large stage and grandstand with seating for 4,000. It is the first time an event of this kind will include cruise guests from both ships.
Costa Luminosa
The 92,600-ton Costa Luminosa will have a double occupancy of 2,260. She will be the fleet’s “flagship,” the most exclusive and innovative vessel designed for Costa. Innovations begin with the ship’s avant-garde design and the use of premium materials, such as marble, wood, mother-of-pearl and Murano glass. The ship also boasts prestigious works of art, including a sculpture by Fernando Botero, “Donna Sdraiata 2004” (Reclining Woman), which will be featured in the atrium. There are also numerous opportunities for hi-tech onboard fun, entertainment and relaxation including a 4D cinema, roller skating track, latest generation golf simulator with putting green, Grand Prix race car simulator, PlayStation World equipped with PlayStation 3 and the exclusive 3,500 m² “Samsara Spa” wellness center, complete with a Technogym Kinesis room.
Costa Pacifica
The 114,500-ton Costa Pacifica will have a double occupancy of 3,000. She is the sister ship of the Costa Concordia and the Costa Serena and will be the “ship of music.” The best of music from all times is not only the inspiration for the interior design of the various public areas, but also provides a real “experience” to guide guests in a “musical” voyage to discover each area of the vessel. Each area will feature one of the 29 songs of the exclusive sound track by maestro Mauro Pagani, consisting of 22 arrangements of the most famous songs of all times and seven original compositions created especially for the ship. Costa’s new flagship will also be the world’s first vessel with a recording studio fitted out with sophisticated musical equipment, where guests can sing their favorite song with a musical base and record a CD as a vacation memento. On board the Costa Pacifica, just like the Costa Luminosa, guests will be treated to the best of the latest innovations of the Costa fleet: the Samsara spa wellness area (extending over more than 6,000 m²) and including cabins with convenient direct access to the spa, a Grand Prix race car simulator, a central swimming pool area, extending over two decks with a retractable glass roof and a giant 18 m² screen as well as a “Playstation World,” area equipped exclusively with PS3 games.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
COSTA OFFERS EUROPE CRUISE AND AIR PACKAGE WITH FARES BEGINNING AT JUST $169 PER PERSON EACH DAY
MIAMI (May 27, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, is offering a cruise and air package for 7- to 14-night Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries beginning at just $169 per person each day. The offer includes cruise and airfare on routes departing from Venice, Civitavecchia, Savona, Barcelona, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
Packages with seven-night cruises and roundtrip air begin at just $1,352 per person, which reflects up to $300 in airfare savings for guests. This fare is specifically available on departures from JFK to Rome on Eastern Mediterranean routes departing November 2 and November 16 aboard the Costa Romantica with stops in Italy, Greece and Turkey. This fare is also applicable to departures from JFK to Venice on Eastern Mediterranean routes departing November 21 aboard the Costa Victoria with stops in Italy, the Greek Isles and Croatia. Numerous additional gateways are available from the United States and Canada as well as additional European cruise routes.
“With such incredible fares for both air and cruise, which includes not only accommodations, but meals and entertainment, travelers can’t afford to stay home,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa North America. “We wanted to put together a package that would give our guests the best of both worlds in terms of pricing for their airfare and cruise in order to show them just how affordable it truly is to visit Europe in 2009.”
Costa brings more than 60 years of knowledge and insight into cruising Europe and knows the ports of call inside and out. Moreover, Costa offers a unique and cultural cruise experience where guests will enjoy later European-style dining hours, diverse entertainment and warm, Italian hospitality. International guests from around the world create a cosmopolitan ambience where travelers are just as likely to make new friends from Paris, Texas as they are from Paris, France.
This special Europe Cruise and Air Package is available through June 16, 2009. For complete details, including important information regarding terms and conditions related to this package, guests may contact a travel agent, visit www.costacruises.com or call (800) GO-COSTA.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
Packages with seven-night cruises and roundtrip air begin at just $1,352 per person, which reflects up to $300 in airfare savings for guests. This fare is specifically available on departures from JFK to Rome on Eastern Mediterranean routes departing November 2 and November 16 aboard the Costa Romantica with stops in Italy, Greece and Turkey. This fare is also applicable to departures from JFK to Venice on Eastern Mediterranean routes departing November 21 aboard the Costa Victoria with stops in Italy, the Greek Isles and Croatia. Numerous additional gateways are available from the United States and Canada as well as additional European cruise routes.
“With such incredible fares for both air and cruise, which includes not only accommodations, but meals and entertainment, travelers can’t afford to stay home,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa North America. “We wanted to put together a package that would give our guests the best of both worlds in terms of pricing for their airfare and cruise in order to show them just how affordable it truly is to visit Europe in 2009.”
Costa brings more than 60 years of knowledge and insight into cruising Europe and knows the ports of call inside and out. Moreover, Costa offers a unique and cultural cruise experience where guests will enjoy later European-style dining hours, diverse entertainment and warm, Italian hospitality. International guests from around the world create a cosmopolitan ambience where travelers are just as likely to make new friends from Paris, Texas as they are from Paris, France.
This special Europe Cruise and Air Package is available through June 16, 2009. For complete details, including important information regarding terms and conditions related to this package, guests may contact a travel agent, visit www.costacruises.com or call (800) GO-COSTA.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
EUROPEAN CRUISE COUNCIL ISSUES NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTING SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN EUROPEAN CRUISE MARKET
Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line Experienced Record Growth in 2008; Forecasts Continued Increased Growth
MIAMI (May 21, 2009) – With a fleet of 14 ships, three new ships due for delivery by 2012, a record 1.2 million total guests in 2008 and 1.5 million forecasted for 2010, Costa Cruises has confirmed its position as Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. According to the latest European Cruise Council (ECC) figures, the expansion of the cruise industry is exceeding expectations in terms of its impact on jobs, wealth creation and inbound tourism in Italy and across the continent.
The fourth edition of the “European Cruise Contribution” report of the ECC, presented in Rome this week, shows direct expenditure by cruise companies, shipyards and passengers of 14.2 billion euros in 2008 (a 10 percent increase from the previous year), with 4.3 billion euros from Italy (+9 percent compared to 2007). Italy derives the greatest economic benefits from the cruise industry in Europe (30 percent of total spending in 2008).
A key factor behind this growth is the increasing number of passengers embarking on cruises from European ports, up 10 percent to 4.7 million in 2008. Italian ports are the busiest in Europe with 1.7 million departing passengers. There is a similar pattern for the continent’s transit passengers, who numbered 21.7 million in 2008 (+14 percent). Italy remains Europe’s favorite cruise destination with 23 percent of transit passenger movements, followed by Greece (20 percent), Spain (17 percent) and France (8 percent).
Europe’s position as the world’s leader in cruise ship design and construction is also helping to drive this growth. The ECC report estimates that during 2008 the global cruise industry spent around 5.2 billion euros on cruise ship construction and maintenance in Europe. Italy is the country with the biggest slice of the 5.2 billion euro pie, with 1.5 billion spent.
Another rise for 2008 was seen in the number of Europeans taking holiday cruises, up 10 percent to 4.4 million. In addition, there was an increase in the number of people employed in the cruise industry in Europe, with approximately 311,000 jobs in 2008, 15 percent more than the previous year.
In this context of rapid expansion, Costa Cruises has consolidated its position as the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. In 2008 the Italian Company carried a total of 1.2 million cruise guests (75 percent Europeans), setting a historic record for Europe. In addition, Costa Cruises has its sights set on achieving 1.5 million total guests in 2010. In 2008 the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group (comprising the brands Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Iberocruceros) recorded total sales of 2.35 billion euros (+17 percent compared to 2007).
The Costa fleet is Europe’s largest and most advanced with 14 cruise ships (including the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica), all flying the Italian flag with a total guest capacity of approximately 36,000. The Italian company has the largest order book of any cruise line in the world, with five new builds scheduled between 2009 and 2012, all commissioned from Fincantieri and under construction in Italy, with an overall investment worth nearly 2.4 billion euros. Three of the new ships are due to join the fleet in less than 12 months. The Costa Luminosa (92,600 tons and 2,826 total guests), delivered on April 30, 2009, will be followed on May 29, 2009 by the Costa Pacifica (114,500 tons and 3,780 total guests) and at the end of January 2010 by the Costa Deliziosa, a sister ship of the Costa Luminosa. Two sister ships of the Costa Pacifica will join the fleet in spring 2011 and 2012. AIDA Cruises, the German affiliate of the Costa Group, also contributes to the development of the European shipbuilding industry. The AIDAluna (68,500 gross tonnage and 2,500 total guests) entered service in March of this year. Another three vessels, each able to accommodate 2,500 guests, are on order from Meyer Werft and are due to join the fleet in spring 2010, 2011 and 2012, with a total investment of over one billion euros.
Costa Cruises has commissioned MIP, the Milan Polytechnic School of Management, to conduct a study assessing the economic benefits derived from its activity in Italy. According to the initial results of the survey, the Costa Cruises brand alone produced total business output in Italy worth at least 1.1 billion euros, generated by the port calls of Costa’s ships, cruise passenger movements to and from airports, general expenditure, transport, fees and taxes and investment in new ships. Initial estimates suggest that the regions that benefited most from the activity of allied industries last year were Liguria, Lombardy, Latium and Sicily.
Costa Cruises’ leadership is also confirmed by statistics from the main Mediterranean ports. According to the ECC report, the top six EU cruise ports in 2008 were Barcelona (2 million passengers), Civitavecchia (1.8 million passengers), Naples (1.2 million passengers), Venice (1.2 million passengers), Palma de Mallorca (1.1 million passengers) and Savona (772,000 passengers).
Costa Cruises’ ships accounted for about 30 percent of the passengers in these leading six Mediterranean ports, with 2.1 million cruisers (embarking, disembarking or in transit) last year.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
MIAMI (May 21, 2009) – With a fleet of 14 ships, three new ships due for delivery by 2012, a record 1.2 million total guests in 2008 and 1.5 million forecasted for 2010, Costa Cruises has confirmed its position as Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. According to the latest European Cruise Council (ECC) figures, the expansion of the cruise industry is exceeding expectations in terms of its impact on jobs, wealth creation and inbound tourism in Italy and across the continent.
The fourth edition of the “European Cruise Contribution” report of the ECC, presented in Rome this week, shows direct expenditure by cruise companies, shipyards and passengers of 14.2 billion euros in 2008 (a 10 percent increase from the previous year), with 4.3 billion euros from Italy (+9 percent compared to 2007). Italy derives the greatest economic benefits from the cruise industry in Europe (30 percent of total spending in 2008).
A key factor behind this growth is the increasing number of passengers embarking on cruises from European ports, up 10 percent to 4.7 million in 2008. Italian ports are the busiest in Europe with 1.7 million departing passengers. There is a similar pattern for the continent’s transit passengers, who numbered 21.7 million in 2008 (+14 percent). Italy remains Europe’s favorite cruise destination with 23 percent of transit passenger movements, followed by Greece (20 percent), Spain (17 percent) and France (8 percent).
Europe’s position as the world’s leader in cruise ship design and construction is also helping to drive this growth. The ECC report estimates that during 2008 the global cruise industry spent around 5.2 billion euros on cruise ship construction and maintenance in Europe. Italy is the country with the biggest slice of the 5.2 billion euro pie, with 1.5 billion spent.
Another rise for 2008 was seen in the number of Europeans taking holiday cruises, up 10 percent to 4.4 million. In addition, there was an increase in the number of people employed in the cruise industry in Europe, with approximately 311,000 jobs in 2008, 15 percent more than the previous year.
In this context of rapid expansion, Costa Cruises has consolidated its position as the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. In 2008 the Italian Company carried a total of 1.2 million cruise guests (75 percent Europeans), setting a historic record for Europe. In addition, Costa Cruises has its sights set on achieving 1.5 million total guests in 2010. In 2008 the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group (comprising the brands Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Iberocruceros) recorded total sales of 2.35 billion euros (+17 percent compared to 2007).
The Costa fleet is Europe’s largest and most advanced with 14 cruise ships (including the Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica), all flying the Italian flag with a total guest capacity of approximately 36,000. The Italian company has the largest order book of any cruise line in the world, with five new builds scheduled between 2009 and 2012, all commissioned from Fincantieri and under construction in Italy, with an overall investment worth nearly 2.4 billion euros. Three of the new ships are due to join the fleet in less than 12 months. The Costa Luminosa (92,600 tons and 2,826 total guests), delivered on April 30, 2009, will be followed on May 29, 2009 by the Costa Pacifica (114,500 tons and 3,780 total guests) and at the end of January 2010 by the Costa Deliziosa, a sister ship of the Costa Luminosa. Two sister ships of the Costa Pacifica will join the fleet in spring 2011 and 2012. AIDA Cruises, the German affiliate of the Costa Group, also contributes to the development of the European shipbuilding industry. The AIDAluna (68,500 gross tonnage and 2,500 total guests) entered service in March of this year. Another three vessels, each able to accommodate 2,500 guests, are on order from Meyer Werft and are due to join the fleet in spring 2010, 2011 and 2012, with a total investment of over one billion euros.
Costa Cruises has commissioned MIP, the Milan Polytechnic School of Management, to conduct a study assessing the economic benefits derived from its activity in Italy. According to the initial results of the survey, the Costa Cruises brand alone produced total business output in Italy worth at least 1.1 billion euros, generated by the port calls of Costa’s ships, cruise passenger movements to and from airports, general expenditure, transport, fees and taxes and investment in new ships. Initial estimates suggest that the regions that benefited most from the activity of allied industries last year were Liguria, Lombardy, Latium and Sicily.
Costa Cruises’ leadership is also confirmed by statistics from the main Mediterranean ports. According to the ECC report, the top six EU cruise ports in 2008 were Barcelona (2 million passengers), Civitavecchia (1.8 million passengers), Naples (1.2 million passengers), Venice (1.2 million passengers), Palma de Mallorca (1.1 million passengers) and Savona (772,000 passengers).
Costa Cruises’ ships accounted for about 30 percent of the passengers in these leading six Mediterranean ports, with 2.1 million cruisers (embarking, disembarking or in transit) last year.
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s Number One Cruise Line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in 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 additional ships are on order through 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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
COSTA NORTH AMERICA INTRODUCES NEW “ONE STOP SHOP” TRAVEL AGENT PORTAL: SELLCOSTA.COM
Combines Costa Click, Costa Loves Groups, Travel Agent Academy In One Place
MIAMI (May 5, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, has launched a new travel agent portal, sellcosta.com, a one-stop shop for agents to access everything they need to best sell “Cruising Italian Style.” The recently-created web site features easy-to-use tools for navigating information on groups, webinars, current bookings and more.
Rather than visiting Costa’s consumer web site, booking engine and group site, agents may now access them all at sellcosta.com. The site also features Costa’s new e-brochures, current news, promotions, photo libraries, webinar schedules and access to Costa’s online training academy, C.O.S.T.A.
“We wanted to make it as easy and efficient for our travel agent partners to do business with us online, which is why we created this one-stop shop on the web,” said Linda Parrotta, vice president of marketing for Costa North America. “The site has everything agents need at their fingertips including information on our most current promotions, marketing materials, booking functions and training.”
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s number one cruise line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in fun and relaxation. In 2007 over 1.1 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 12 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 the Costa Luminosa, which was recently delivered in Italy and the Costa Pacifica, due for delivery at the end of May, will be christened together in Genoa, Italy on June 5 this year. Three additional ships are on order.
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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
For complete details regarding reservations or more information, travel agents may call (800) 327-2537, email costasales@us.costa.it or visit www.sellcosta.com
MIAMI (May 5, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, has launched a new travel agent portal, sellcosta.com, a one-stop shop for agents to access everything they need to best sell “Cruising Italian Style.” The recently-created web site features easy-to-use tools for navigating information on groups, webinars, current bookings and more.
Rather than visiting Costa’s consumer web site, booking engine and group site, agents may now access them all at sellcosta.com. The site also features Costa’s new e-brochures, current news, promotions, photo libraries, webinar schedules and access to Costa’s online training academy, C.O.S.T.A.
“We wanted to make it as easy and efficient for our travel agent partners to do business with us online, which is why we created this one-stop shop on the web,” said Linda Parrotta, vice president of marketing for Costa North America. “The site has everything agents need at their fingertips including information on our most current promotions, marketing materials, booking functions and training.”
Costa Cruises is Italy and Europe’s number one cruise line. For the past 60 years its ships have sailed the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream vacations with the best in fun and relaxation. In 2007 over 1.1 million guests chose to cruise with Costa, a record for the European cruise industry. The company’s 12 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 the Costa Luminosa, which was recently delivered in Italy and the Costa Pacifica, due for delivery at the end of May, will be christened together in Genoa, Italy on June 5 this year. Three additional ships are on order.
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, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). All 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 the WWF for the protection of the marine ecoregions of the Mediterranean, the Greater Antilles and Brazil. In Mediobanca’s 2008 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 72nd in terms of sales and in 12th place in regards to profitability.
For complete details regarding reservations or more information, travel agents may call (800) 327-2537, email costasales@us.costa.it or visit www.sellcosta.com
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