Costa Serena deploying to India for the winter season

The voyages, lasting between two and five days, will include Mumbai, Cochin, Goa and, for the first time, the Lakshadweep islands – a tropical archipelago fringed by coral reef.

The announcement was made today in Mumbai, in the presence of: Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, shipping & waterways, Government of India; Roberto Alberti, SVP and chief commercial officer, Costa Cruises; Francesco Raffa, director Asia region & growth markets, Costa Cruises; Alessandro De Masi, Consul General of Italy in Mumbai, and other senior officials.

Alberti said, ‘We have a strong and lasting bond with this wonderful country: we have already sailed our ships in India in the past, and many of our onboard colleagues are from India. We select and recruit them through dedicated training schools based right in the country.’

He added, ‘We are strongly committed in offering our Indian guests a unique holiday experience onboard Costa Serena and we are truly looking forward to starting our operations in November.’

Costa Serena extends its deployment in Asia, after offering itineraries from Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan. Accomodating 3,780 passengers, it will be the largest Costa vessel to operate domestic itineraries in India. International-style experiences will be available onboard. 

Celebrating Diwali 

The cruises have been developed in collaboration with Costa’s general sales agent in India, Lotus Aero Enterprises, and will coincide with the Hindu festival of Diwali in mid-November. 

Sonowal remarked, ‘India’s waterways are a treasure trove waiting to be explored by tourists; our country is filled with scenic locales and beautiful destinations.’ He went on to say that the programme aligns with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s vision of Dekho Apna Desh, ‘an initiative launched as an appeal… to Indian people to prefer domestic tourism.’