Costa Atlantica makes her maiden voyage to Dubai
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The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) celebrated the maiden call of Costa Atlantica to Dubai, endorsing the company’s commitment to the region for the seventh consecutive year.
The cruise line has deployed two ships, Costa Classica and Costa Atlantica in the region this season to operate weekly cruise itineraries in the Gulf with Dubai as the homeport increasing its capacity by 15% compared to season 2011/2012.
Khalid A Bin Sulayem, DTCM director general, said: “Expert marketing programmes in combination with infrastructure and facilities have encouraged many cruise companies to select Dubai. We are also negotiating with many cruise liners to start their programmes in Dubai.”
Costa Cruises is set to be present in the region with Costa Atlantica and Costa Classica catering to a capacity to carry 2,600 and 1,680 passengers respectively. The ship’s five and seven-day itineraries will start in Dubai with calls to Muscat, Khor Fakkan, Khasab, and Abu Dhabi.
The company has also reconfirmed their presence in the region for the 2013/2014 season with the Costa Fortuna with a capacity of 3,470 passengers will sail from Dubai offering a seven-day itinerary including overnight in Muscat.
Dario Rustico, Costa Cruises sales and marketing director for Central Europe, Africa, Middle East and India said: “Dubai and the Emirates will continue to be a firm point in our winter deployment. We are also looking at developing GCC and India as two important local source markets.”