Costa Cruises has announced plans to position a second ship in Asia from May 2013.
The 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria sailed to Asia for the first time recently, and commenced its season of regional sailings this month. But from next year, the Costa Victoria will be joined in the region by the 2,680-passenger Costa Atlantica.
“Since 2006 when Costa Cruises started to market its cruise product in Asia, we have further strengthened and tailored our product to our local clients’ needs and wishes,” said Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere. “The successful results we have obtained until now are encouraging our Company to further expand in the region. Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria will bring a piece of ‘Italy at sea’ to Asia as Costa has successfully done in all other countries, throughout its 64 years of history.”
Costa Victoria and Costa Atlantica will offer a series of short and longer itineraries departing from Singapore, Shanghai, Tianjin and Hong Kong.
From May to June 2013, Costa Atlantica will depart from Singapore a series of three-, four- and six-night cruises to Malaysia and Thailand. Then from June to October 2013, the cruise ship will operate out of Shanghai on a range of short cruises to South Korea and Japan.
These itineraries are similar to those currently operated this year by the Costa Victoria, which is sailing a range of East Asian routes until October 2012, including calls in Vietnam. From November 2012 to January 2013 Costa Victoria will be based in Singapore to offer sailings to Malaysia and Thailand.
Since it commenced operations in Asia, Costa has carried more than 350,000 passengers in the region.