Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Costa Firenze resumes cruising from Genoa, no need for 'bubble' tours

CRUISE_Costa_Firenze_Genoa.jpg
Costa Firenze will call at Genoa every Thursday until the end of November
Costa Firenze today made its debut in Genoa, inaugurating the restart of Costa’s cruises from the city, with passengers allowed to move freely in all the western Mediterranean ports of call.

During 2022 Costa, which resumed cruising in July last year, will call at Genoa every Thursday until the end of November on an itinerary that includes Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari, Palermo and Civitavecchia (Rome).

Costa Luminosa joins in November

Plus, starting Nov. 13 until year's end, Costa Luminosa call Genoa every Sunday, also for weeklong western Mediterranean cruises.

Costa's 2022 Genoa calls will total 45, after only a few visits in 2021 and 2020 due to the COVID emergency. In 2023 Costa expects to further grow its Genoa presence with the LNG-powered Costa Toscana sailing Fridays, from April to November.

Independent tours allowed

Costa Firenze passengers may now tour independently or via the company's excursions thanks to a new regulation starting April 1 that will apply to all its destinations.

'After a two-year pause, we are finally returning regularly with our cruises to Genoa. We are doing so with a new-generation ship, Costa Firenze, and an even richer product that will allow [passengers] to explore our destinations in the best possible way,' Costa President Mario Zanetti said, adding that use of shore power will be another advance.

Liguria Region President Giovanni Toti welcomed Costa's return with 'this marvelous cruise ship,' adding that passenger counts were projected to increase more than 110% from 2021.

Sustainable tourism manifesto

In an event aboard Costa Firenze, various city institutions signed a manifesto for value-driven, sustainable and inclusive tourism, summarizing Costa's commitment to grow together with the territories visited, considering the destinations not as a set of tourist attractions, but as communities to build together with a tourism model that generates greater economic and social value.

Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci added that cruises have always been a strategic sector, driving tourism and jobs. He said everything must be sustainable, though, adding his support to the manifesto signed Thursday.