COSTA CRUISES OFFERS “ITALY IN THE TROPICS” FROM JUST $399

7-Night Caribbean Sailings Also Include Free Upgrades from $549 and “Kids Sail Free” Specials Throughout the Season
MIAMI (September 23, 2009) — Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, is offering “Italy in the Tropics” at an upgrade during its winter Caribbean season from Ft. Lauderdale. Guests in North America may enjoy the “love, laughter, and la dolce vita” of Italy without crossing the pond, complete with some of the best deals Costa has offered in its 60 year history aboard both the Costa Atlantica and Costa Fortuna. Specials are also available during holiday sailings.

One of Costa’s richest Caribbean deals is a “Free Upgrade” promotion with veranda accommodations available at the price of an ocean view (fares from $699), ocean view at the price of an inside (fares from $549) and inside cabins available at specially reduced fares from $399. Additionally, throughout the season Costa is offering “Kids Sail Free” specials with parents sailing from only $499. During the holidays, kids sail for just $199 while staterooms for adults are from $599 with an up to four-category upgrade during this time. Deposits have been reduced to $150 on all Caribbean sailings for a limited time as well.

“I can’t think of a better way to take a winter vacation than on a veritable floating Italian villa in the tropics, which is what the Costa Caribbean experience is all about,” said Maurice Zarmati, president and ceo of Costa Cruise Lines—North America. “We’ve made the ‘sweet life’ even sweeter by offering amazing upgrades and value-packed fares on our cruises from Ft. Lauderdale, allowing travelers to experience Italy close to home.”

Costa’s unique and authentic onboard Italian flair provides guests with a feeling of “Italy in the tropics” on its Caribbean routes. For many, sailing Costa offers a “new” way of experiencing the Caribbean ports of call they know and love – bringing to mind the romance and warmth of Italy that is universally beloved. From homemade pastas and delectable desserts, to Italian greetings including “buongiorno” in the morning and “buonasera” in the evening, the “amore” of the old world stays with guests long after they disembark from their cruise. Festive onboard activities include everything from on-deck bocce ball games, tarantella dancing under the stars and Italian cooking lessons during “Festa Italiana,” to the famous “Roman Bacchanal” soirée, where guests don tasteful togas and celebrate as the Romans did centuries ago.

In November 2009, the 86,000-ton (2,114 double occupancy) Costa Atlantica will make her much anticipated return to Ft. Lauderdale, sailing seven-night voyages each Saturday through April 2010. The ship boasts 44 exclusive spa cabins that create a true “vacation within a vacation.” Guests who reserve these spa accommodations, appropriately located on Deck “8 ½” in honor of the famous Federico Fellini film of the same name (Fellini inspired design elements of the ship), will enjoy a variety of special privileges. These include a personalized wellness consultation, three complimentary treatments, two fitness or meditation classes and complimentary access to the Wellness Restaurant, offering a wide array of spa-friendly cuisine. Spa cabins, available in ocean view, veranda and suite categories, will feature aromatherapy diffusers, special shower and air filters, and a mini bar stocked with healthy food and beverage selections. In addition, guests with these accommodations will be offered priority spa reservation times.

The grand 110,000-ton (2,720 double occupancy) Costa Fortuna will once again return to the Caribbean from December 2009 through March 2010, departing every Sunday on seven-night voyages. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful Italian liners of yesteryear, the Costa Fortuna combines nostalgia and a refined atmosphere into a marvelous modern framework. Gorgeous scale models of historic ships are weaved into the style and design of the ship’s various restaurants and other public areas. For a step into the present, guests may enjoy modern amenities including a retractable magrodome over the ship’s main pool deck, a state-of-the-art spa and ocean-view fitness center, 11 bars and four restaurants and a theatre expanding over three decks. All elements blend together to  perfectly evoke the charm and refinement of yesteryear translated into modern day times.

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.