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Costa ship shuffle strengthens Mediterranean presence

costa fortuna
Costa Fortuna will operate new 14-day cruises from Savona to ports in Turkey and Israel
Costa Cruises will return to Turkey and Israel starting in winter 2020/21. Meanwhile, Asia ship Costa Firenze will be going straight to China, without its planned Med introduction, and changes are in store for the line's Indian Ocean and Caribbean ships.

'More than ever, our home region'

As already announced, LNG-powered newbuilds Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, under construction at Meyer Turku, are destined for the Mediterranean. Starting in November this year, Costa Smeralda will offer weeklong cruises in the Western Med, with Costa Toscana to join that region in 2021.

Costa President Neil Palomba cited increased demand for the Mediterranean, 'making it more than ever our home region, with a range of itineraries suiting all needs.'

Costa Fortuna for Turkey/Israel

In winter 2020/21 Costa Fortuna will offer four departures of two new 14-day Turkey/Israel itineraries from Savona. One of those, sailing Dec. 6, 2020, and Feb. 7, 2021, visits Marseille, Barcelona, Heraklion (Crete), and Turkey's Izmir and Istanbul (overnight), Piraeus (for Athens) Palermo and Naples.

The second itinerary, with departures on Jan. 10 and March 7, 2021, will visit Marseille, Barcelona, Heraklion, Israel's Haifa (overnight), Kusadasi, Palermo and Naples. During the rest of the winter season, Costa Fortuna will sail weeklong Western Mediterranean cruises, also calling at Valencia.

Costa Firenze straight to China

Costa Firenze, under construction at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard, will head to Asia earlier than planned, joining sister ship Costa Venezia — both designed for the Chinese market. Immediately following Costa Firenze's delivery, set for Sept. 30, 2020, the ship will head straight to China without operating the Italy, France and Spain itineraries previously scheduled in October 2020.

Costa Mediterranea taking over Singapore service

As a result of these changes, in winter 2020/21 Costa Mediterranea will be leaving the Indian Ocean to replace Costa Fortuna on the same itineraries from Singapore to Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Costa Victoria, Luminosa changes

Costa is also planning changes to Costa Victoria’s India/Maldives program after Sept. 9, 2020, and to Costa Luminosa’s Caribbean program in winter 2020/21, which are no longer available for booking.

Travel agents and customers are being notified. Passengers booked on Costa Fortuna from Singapore in winter 2020/21 will be rebooked on Costa Mediterranea.

Those booked on Costa Victoria in India and the Maldives, Costa Mediterranea in the Indian Ocean, Costa Luminosa in the Caribbean and Costa Firenze in the Mediterranean or on its positioning cruise to Asia will get a 10% discount for rebooking on other cruises.