Costa Cruises President Mario Zanetti, Mayor of Trieste Roberto Dipiazza, Councilor of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Pierpaolo Roberti; Capt. Trieste Coast Guard Vincenzo Vitale and CEO of Trieste Terminal Passeggeri Francesco Mariani met in Trieste for the restart.
‘We are finally bringing cruises back to the Adriatic Sea and Greece,’ said Zanetti, ‘We are particularly pleased to be resuming from Trieste...which will be the home port of Costa Luminosa not only this year, but also in 2022. We are working to make Trieste even more strategic for cruises, promoting a sustainable development and a quality guest experience.’
Dipiazza remarked, ‘In recent years we have developed a very important collaboration with the company that guaranteed a regular presence of Costa ships in our beautiful city… the return of Costa rewards us for the work we are doing, but above all it means that tourists are back.’
Pre-pandemic, Costa Cruises generated an annual economic impact of almost €13 bn in Europe, creating over 63,000 jobs, according to the line.
Four Costa vessels are scheduled to resume sailing this summer.
Itinerary
Protected shore excursions will be available as part of a renewed excursion program exclusively for Costa passengers.
‘Trieste, as all the art cities in Italy, has been strongly affected by the pandemic crisis,’ said Roberti, ‘Now reservations are resuming and there is a gradual return to normality.’
Health protocols
The Costa Safety Protocol includes: a reduction in the number of guests; swab tests for all guests before embarkation and after half of the cruise has been completed; swab tests for crew before embarkation and frequently while aboard; temperature checks daily, when guests disembark or re-enter the vessel and every time they enter the restaurants.
Social distancing on board and in terminals, enhanced sanitation and medical services, and the use of protective masks where necessary are further features. Onboard services will also be adjusted.
‘We have done our utmost to ensure the restart of the cruises from Trieste, together with all the authorities and operators,’ said Mariani.
Vitale commented, ‘We will contribute to implementing the Covid interdisciplinary protocol in 2021, as we did during the last year.
‘I guarantee the absolute commitment of the Trieste Coast Guard Office in contributing to port operations that are strictly respectful of the special rules set up to guarantee safe cruises.’
Forthcoming cruises
Costa Deliziosa is set to begin sailing June 26 with week-long cruises in Greece; July 4 will see the departure of new vessel Costa Firenze with one-week cruises in Italy.
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