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China ship Costa Victoria's new Med service detailed as Costa neoClassica is sold

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Costa Victoria - will undergo a drydock refurbishment in Marseille prior to resuming Mediterranean service
Awaiting the arrival of new ships ordered for Costa Cruises and Costa Asia, Costa Cruises detailed the future Mediterranean itinerary for Costa Victoria—which is exiting China, as earlier reported—and announced the sale of Costa neoClassica.

Costa Victoria will offer an itinerary focused on Spain's Balearic Islands that had been planned for Costa neoRiviera, which will be repositioned to Bari, replacing Costa neoClassica.

Costa Victoria will return to regular Mediterranean service in late March next year after operating mainly in China since 2012. During summer 2018 the ship will operate a one-week itinerary dedicated to the beaches and entertainment of the Balearic Islands, with calls at Savona, Olbia, Minorca, Ibiza (overnight), Palma de Mallorca and Tarragona (overnight). The itinerary will enable passengers to visit (from Tarragona) PortAventura World, the largest destination resort in Europe with its new Ferrari Land theme park.

The Costa Victoria move will keep the Mediterranean capacity unchanged. Awaiting the arrival of four new ships starting in 2019, which will enable Costa to grow further in Europe and Asia—two ships are for Costa Cruises market and two for Costa Asia—the Italian company is accelerating its fleet renewal by selling Costa neoClassica, one of its older ships.

As of March 10, 2018, once its schedule of cruises between India and the Maldives is complete, Costa neoClassica will exit the fleet.

From June 2018, Costa neoRiviera will replace Costa neoClassica, offering one-week itineraries dedicated to the Greek islands, with Bari as the only homeport.

The company will protect customers booked on Costa neoRiviera and on Costa neoClassica, and is informing passengers and travel agencies over next weeks.

Before returning to Mediterranean service, Costa Victoria will undergo a drydock refurbishment at the Chantier Naval de Marseille.

See also 'Is Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line getting a new ship?'