Costa Group to deploy Costa neoRomantica to Asia

The Costa Group has announced that starting in April 2017 the Costa neoRomantica will be based in Asia year-round.

She will be the fifth Costa ship deployed regularly in Asia and operated by the Costa Asia brand, offering cruises marketed for local Guests.

“The deployment of a fifth Costa ship in Asia in 2017, in addition to the two new fleet members that will be built specially for Costa Asia, will allow us to continue to significantly grow the Asian cruise market in particular China, which is set to become the second largest in the world by the end of the decade,” said Costa Group chief executive Michael Thamm.

The Costa neoRomantica will arrive in Shanghai on April 10th, 2017, after a 23-day positioning cruise departing on March 18th, 2017 from Port Louis (Mauritius) and calling at Port Victoria (Seychelles), Malè (Maldives), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Phuket (Thailand), Singapore, Da Nang (Vietnam) and Hong Kong.

Then, Costa neoRomantica will be dry docked in Shanghai, to perform renewal works that will customize the ship for its new Asian guests and boasts its “Italy at Sea” appeal.

The first cruise dedicated to the local market is scheduled to sail from Shanghai on April 24th, 2017.

At present there are three Costa ships already cruising in Asia, while a fourth, the Costa Fortuna, will arrive in Shanghai April 22nd, 2016.

In addition, the Costa Group recently announced an order for two new ships for Costa Asia, to be built by Fincantieri in Italy, with delivery in 2019 and 2020.