The Costa Group today announced that starting in April 2017 Costa neoRomantica (56,800 gross tonnage and 1,800 total guests) will be based in Asia year-round.
She will be the fifth Costa ship deployed regularly in Asia and operated by the Costa Asia brand, offering cruises marketed for local Guests.
"The deployment of a fifth Costa ship in Asia in 2017, in addition to the two new fleet members that will be built specially for Costa Asia, will allow us to continue to significantly grow the Asian cruise market in particular China, which is set to become the second largest in the world by the end of the decade," said Costa Group CEO Michael Thamm.
Costa neoRomantica will arrive in Shanghai on April 10, 2017, after a 23-day positioning cruise departing on March 18, 2017, from Port Louis, Mauritius; and calling at Port Victoria, Seychelles; Malè, Maldives; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Singapore; Da Nang, Vietnam; and Hong Kong, China.
Then, Costa neoRomantica will be dry docked in Shanghai, to perform renewal works that will customize the ship for its new Asian guests and boosts its "Italy at Sea" appeal. The first cruise dedicated to the local market is scheduled to sail from Shanghai April 24.
At present there are three Costa ships already cruising in Asia, while a fourth, Costa Fortuna, will arrive in Shanghai April 22, 2016. In addition, the Costa Group recently announced an order for two new ships for Costa Asia, to be built by Fincantieri in Italy, with delivery in 2019 and 2020.
The Costa Group was the first cruise company to enter the Chinese market back in 2006. Costa's cruises are marketed in China as "Italy at Sea," offering an authentic Italian and European experience for Chinese guests, with inimitable Italian-style hospitality, cuisine and entertainment.
