For the 2015/2016 Southern Hemisphere cruise season Costa Cruceros will significantly increase its capacity for its itineraries departing from Argentina and Uruguay. Alan Lam reports.

The line will replace the current 2003-built Costa Mediterránea with the much newer and bigger unit, the 2012-built Costa Fascinosa, thus increasing the capacity by about 46%, according to Carlos Núñez, Managing Director of Costa Cruceros. 

Between December 2015 and February 2016 the 114,147 gross ton Costa Fascinosa will join the 114,288 gross ton Costa Pacifica in 8- and 9-night voyages from Buenos Aires and Montevideo to Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Ilhabela and Buzios. The ship will also offer the classical 3-night mini itinerary and the special Christmas and New Year cruises with firework spectaculars at Copacabana.Known as the ship of music, Costa Pacífica will be based in Brazil, offering 3- to 7-night itineraries from Santos to Rio de Janeiro, Salvador de Bahía, Ilehus, Ilhabela and back to Santos.

With this change, it means that Costa will have two ships of over 100 thousand gross ton each deployed in this market.