Costa Fortuna today inaugurated in Piraeus its new Summer 2024 itinerary, dedicated exclusively to Greece and Turkey.

Until 13 September, Costa Fortuna will depart every Friday from the port of Piraeus to discover Istanbul and the Greek islands of Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes and Santorini. On some departures there will be a second call in Turkey, in Bodrum, or on the Greek island of Kos, instead of Rhodes.

"The proposed product is the ‘flight+cruise’ package, available from all major European countries. In this way, it will be possible to visit, with maximum comfort, these magnificent destinations, among cities rich in history, splendid archaeological sites, nature reserves, and crystal-clear sea," the company said in a statement.

The Costa Fortuna's itinerary will offer another great innovation, available only with Costa: the ‘Sea Destinations’. Alongside the experiences that will take guests to discover the cities and islands where the ship will call, the Costa Fortuna will propose new experiences to be enjoyed on board, while sailing, in order to appreciate at best the iconic places included in the ship's route. For example, during the crossing of the Dardanelles Strait, at sunset, guests will take a real journey back in time, seeing the gates of the Orient appear in the spiraling veils of the Dervishes, authentic ritual dancers who for centuries have practiced a mystical, whirling dance as a form of meditation. In Mykonos, all the energy of the night will come on board for a sea party by the pool. Amidst lights and colors reminiscent of the island's golden beaches and white houses, DJs with music from Mykonos' most glamorous clubs will keep guests dancing late into the night. On the other hand, in Santorini guests can admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, seen from the sea, capturing the splendid panorama in a photo while sipping their favorite aperitif.

Thanks to the excursions organized by Costa, the ‘land’ destinations included in the itinerary will be visited from a unique viewpoint, off the beaten track. In Athens, in addition to the city's most iconic sites, there will be the experience of sailing along the channel separating two seas, passing through rocky gorges and vertical walls, to the ancient city of Corinth. Istanbul will be explored from different perspectives, including by boat on the Bosphorus, while in Mykonos a local farming family will take Costa Fortuna guests on a discovery of rural traditions and recipes for local dishes, with a sunset barbecue. In Bodrum there is a tour in a “gulet”, a typical local boat, to capture all the nuances of the turquoise coastline, while in Santorini guests can live like an islander amidst the blue of the domes and the white of the houses, lunching with a traditional plate throwing.

The Costa Fortuna, built in 2003, is an Italian-flagged ship in the Costa Cruises fleet, accommodating up to 3470 guests in 1358 cabins.

Photo: Costa ship anchored off Mykonos, Greece