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

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.

COSTA CRUISES AND DUBAI TEAM UP FOR INAUGURAL CELEBRATION OF NEW COSTA DELIZIOSA

First Cruise Ship to be named in an Arabian City – Inaugural Set for February 23, 2010
LONDON (November 9, 2009) – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced today that the new Costa Deliziosa with be named in Dubai. Costa and DTCM will team up for the event, which marks the first time a cruise ship will be named in an Arabian city. The stunning new flagship of the Costa fleet will be inaugurated in the international locale on February 23, 2010. Today’s announcement was made at World Travel Market in London.

The naming ceremony will take place during the ship’s Grand Inaugural cruise, departing from Savona, Italy on February 5, 2010 and calling in Dubai from February 23-26. Costa guests sailing on the first leg of the grand maiden cruise will be able to attend the exclusive inaugural ceremony. The Costa Deliziosa (92,600-tons; 2,260 dbl occ) is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri’s Marghera (Venice) shipyard and will be delivered on January 29, 2010. Together with her sister ship, Costa Luminosa, christened on June 5 of this year, the Costa Deliziosa will be the most exclusive and innovative ship in the Costa fleet. Both ships will be deployed in Dubai during winter 2009/10, offering 7-night cruises from Dubai, complete with two overnights and visits to other UAE countries.

“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 Fabrizia Greppi, Costa Crociere S.p.A. Vice President of Corporate Marketing & Communication. “Thanks to the partnership and four years of activities with the DTCM, we have boosted our presence, bringing ships to Dubai which are ambassadors of the best of “made in Italy” in the world. For the coming winter season Costa will deploy in the area “top of the range” sister ships Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa. The naming ceremony of our fifteenth ship, Costa Deliziosa, in Dubai confirms our strategy while strengthening the partnership between Costa Cruises and DTCM. 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 by Costa Cruises.”

Mr. Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, director of overseas promotions and inward missions for the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said “the cruise industry plays a crucial role in the overall growth and development of the tourism industry in Dubai and the region. We realized its importance long ago and created the infrastructure and services that were needed to tap its potential.”  He added, “we welcome Costa’s decision and hope that it will be a boost for the regional cruise industry. We will continue to devote our efforts to further promote this most-promising sector of the tourism industry. Costa’s decision to name Costa Deliziosa in Dubai reconfirms the emirate’s potential as the regional cruise industry hub. We are delighted with their decision and guarantee our whole hearted cooperation and support to make the initiative successful. We are confident that this will help expand the cruise tourism industry in the region and stimulate other cruise operators to use the emirate as a cruise hub.”

The Costa Deliziosa naming ceremony further strengthens the ties linking Dubai and Costa Cruises. The Italian company, together with AIDA Cruises, a German brand also belonging to Costa Crociere’s group, was the first to market regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf, turning Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributing to its growth as a tourism destination.

In winter 2009/2010, Costa’s ships are expected to bring 140,000 passenger movements to Dubai thanks to 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 expenditures (food & beverage). In addition to Costa Cruises’ ships, one AIDA Cruises ship, AIDAdiva (69,200-tons  and 2,500 total guests), will call 20 times in Dubai during the winter 2009/10 season.

Costa’s operations in the area began in winter 2006/2007 with one ship, the Costa Classica (53,000-tons and 1,308 dbl occ). The immediate success of 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.

As 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 sailing ahead 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 revealed 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.

In winter 2009/10 both Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa will sail 7-night itineraries with two overnights in Dubai and one day calls at the ports of Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (United Arab Emirates), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Bahrain.  The Costa Deliziosa will depart from Dubai on Sundays from March 24, 2010 to  May 9, 2010 the Costa Luminosa will depart on Saturdays from December 12, 2009 to April 10, 2010. In addition to the two Costa flagships, the Costa Europa will offer a brand new itinerary: 18-night winter cruises from Savona to Dubai and from Dubai to Savona – a unique itinerary crossing the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

About Costa Deliziosa
The Costa Deliziosa is “the new jewel” of the Costa fleet –  the most exclusive and innovative ship intended for Costa’s “high-end” customers.  This is readily apparent in her cutting-edge design and use of premium materials such as various types of marble and granite, stucco applied by spatula using the technique known as “spatolato veneziano” and other decorative interior finishes including “parchment scroll” lamé, refined Zebrano wood and Wenge timber, Murano glass, and stylish polished and glazed steel.  Featured in the stunning atrium (a strong focal point on all Costa ships) are fine works of art, notably “Sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro and a piece by Mario Donizetti.

Whether it’s fun or relaxation, there are an incredibly large number of entertaining things to do on board, all involving the use of leading-edge technology. These include  4D cinema, a roller skating track, the latest generation golf simulator with a putting green, a Grand Prix race car driving simulator and  the exclusive 23,000 square-foot “Samsara Spa” complete with spa accommodations offering direct access to the wellness center. The ship also features “PlayStation World,” an area onboard dedicated exclusively to PlayStation3, as well as “PlayStation on demand” cabin service.

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.

*Partially based on equivalent expenses by cruise guests in EU ports as estimated by the European Cruise Council in 2008.

COSTA CRUISES UNVEILS NAMES OF NEWEST FLEET MEMBERS: COSTA FAVOLOSA & COSTA FASCINOSA

Names Chosen by Travel Agents and Guests from Around the World
MIAMI (November 3, 2009) – After more than 16,000 suggestions from more than 40,000 travel agents and fans around the world, the names of the 16th and 17th ships in the Costa fleet have been selected. The two sister ships, set to debut in 2011 and 2012, will be named the Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa. The selections were chosen as a result of Costa’s “Send Us a Sea of Names” project whereby travel agents and fans sent in name suggestions for the two ships. The final selections were chosen based on their definition of the all-encompassing magic, glamour, emotion and passion reflected on all of Costa’s ships.

The Costa Favolosa and Costa Fascinosa, (114,500 gross tons with a double occupancy of 3,000 each) will be delivered in summer 2011 and spring 2012 respectively. The two new sister ships, built by Fincantieri at its Marghera shipyard, are part of a major fleet expansion plan for Costa with five new ships due for delivery between 2009 and 2012. This plan includes the launch of the Costa Luminosa the Costa Pacifica (June 2009) and the Costa Deliziosa (set to debut in January 2010) for a total investment worth 2.4 billion Euros. The Costa Favolosa will be the first of the two new vessels to enter service. The laying of the first “building block” is set to take place on Thursday, November 5 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard.

The choice of names was guided by 40,000 travel agents in over 40 countries who submitted more than 16,000 pairs of names as part of the “Send Us a Sea of Names” project. The initiative encouraged travel agents, customers and web users all over the world to take part in the search for the names for the two new Costa flagships. The submissions were summarized in a list of 25 pairs of names posted on www.worldofcosta.com. All web site visitors were invited to choose their favorite pairing. More than 42,000 votes were received.

Magic, glamour, emotion and passion are elements that have always inspired Costa Cruises in the design of its ships and the creation of a unique and unforgettable cruise experience. The Costa Favolosa is intended to be the epitome of ship interior design, interpreting the excitement and emotion of people who see cruises as a magical voyage in a “contemporary enchanted castle.” The Costa Fascinosa is designed to express the special glamour of a cruise ship and her capacity to ignite strong emotion and passion.

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.

COSTA CRUISES OFFERS 240 ECO-EXCURSIONS ON SAILINGS AROUND THE WORLD

All Programs Minimize Impact on Ecosystems and Create Economic Opportunities for Local Communities
MIAMI (November 2, 2009) – Travelers sailing with Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, may select from 240 special eco-excursions, created to minimize their impact on ecosystems and generate economic opportunities for local communities. Excursions are available on all Costa sailings, throughout the regions Costa sails including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, Dubai, Indian Ocean and Far East.

“Costa’s commitment to social accountability is deep-rooted and these excursions are a reflection of the efforts we’re making on many levels, all of which are highlighted in our voluntary and public sustainability report,” said Maurice Zarmati, president & ceo of Costa Cruises North America. “We love bringing our guests to some of the most intriguing destinations in the world while being able to leave an eco-friendly footprint behind in these special places.”

One of Costa’s most popular eco-excursions is “Lanzarote: Yesterday and Today” in Arrecife, Canary Islands. This excursion takes travelers through the scenic hidden side of Lanzarote and introduces guests to the island’s art, traditions and customs. Travelers will first be taken to the César Manrique Museum-Foundation, located on the site of Manrique’s former house and studio. Manrique, famous for his paintings, architecture and sculptures was also a renowned ecologist. The museum is built on an outcrop of lava on top of five large natural volcanic bubbles. Visitors of the museum will learn how he furnished and designed the spaces by taking advantage of all environments. Later, excursionists will cross Lanzarote’s lunar landscape and arrive at the Cactus Garden, containing over 1,000 different species of cacti. At the end of the excursion, travelers will visit “El Patio Agricultural Museum,” where they will be able to visit a farmer’s house dated from 1840 with all of its typical furniture and utensils set in the oldest and largest agriculture cultivation of the island. El Patio still grows fruit trees, tomatoes and other vegetation and breeds animals including camels, goats and chickens in an agricultural landscape showing the best example of human integration to nature. Guests will also be able to taste traditional food from the island accompanied by a glass of local wine.

In Singapore, guests may enjoy the “Night Safari Tour,” which is the world’s first wildlife park built to be viewed at night. The park covers an area of 40 acres where animals are allowed to roam freely in huge landscaped enclosures. The different areas of the park are divided into eight geographical zones, including everything from the exotic Himalayan foothills to the Nepalese River Valley, the Savanna grasslands of Equatorial Africa and the dense jungles of Indo-Malaya. A subtle lighting technique throughout the park enables excursionists to view over 1,000 nocturnal animals of over 100 species in their most active time. The featured animals on the safari include the greater one horned rhino, cape giraffes and buffalo, Malayan tigers, African bongo, blue sheep and Asian elephants.

For guests seeking an action-packed eco-excursion, the “Volcano Hiking” tour in Santorini, Greece is not to be missed. After a boat trip in a traditional “caique,” an uphill walk will take excursionists to the crater of an active volcano. While walking up the ascending path, guests will have the opportunity to observe lava fragments and volcanic rock formations. Once they have reached the crater, they will have time to relax and enjoy the view of Santorini. Guests will also see the amazing cliff of Caldera, a depression created as a result of a volcanic eruption.

Spa and wellness enthusiasts will have the opportunity to enjoy an incredibly unique spa experience when cruising with Costa in Northern Europe. Located in Lake Myvatn, the “Myvatn Nature Baths” is Iceland's newest health-spa and part of Costa’s eco-excursion offerings. Opened in June 2004, the complex offers bathers a completely natural spa experience with a relaxing dip in clouds of steam rising up from a fissure deep in the Earth's surface. Containing a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms, the warm, soothing waters of Myvatn Nature Baths benefit both skin and spirit alike, creating a sense of well-being which lingers on as a lasting memory of a visit to this area at Europe's outer limits.

These eco-excursions are part of over 1,100 different excursions Costa offers. All shore excursions may be conveniently reserved in advance online after guests purchase their cruise at www.costacruises.com.

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.