The Italian group Costa Crociere S.p.A. has commenced its third consecutive season operating from Dubai. Both Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises, the two Costa Crociere brands that in 2006 became the first lines in the world to offer regular 7-day cruises in the Arabian Gulf, are further increasing their capacity here this coming winter. Costa Cruises will expand locally by some 50% thanks to the arrival of the Costa Victoria and Costa Classica, while AIDA Cruises will be almost doubling its own offer with the deployment of the biggest ship of the fleet AIDAdiva.

The start of the new season also provided the opportunity to announce plans for winter 2009/2010. The Italian brand Costa Cruises will position in Dubai the Costa Luminosa, the most exclusive and elegant ship in the fleet, currently being fitted out at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera (Venice), which will enter service at the end of April 2009 and be christened in Genoa on June 5, 2009 together with the Costa Pacifica. The Costa Luminosa will be joined in Dubai by the Costa Europa, the latter offering a brand new itinerary for a series of 8 cruises from Savona to Dubai and vice versa. The German brand AIDA Cruises will once again be operating its ship AIDAdiva, that will also offer 2 special cruises from Dubai to India and vice versa at Christmas and New Year.

“We are truly delighted,” commented Costa Crociere S.p.A. Chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi, “to be starting our third consecutive season in the Arabian Gulf operating out of Dubai. We were the first and remain the sole operator to believe in the value of this new cruise destination. Thanks to the support and cooperation of the
DTCM (Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing), we have boosted the presence here – with increasingly large and modern ships – of both Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises. In view of the great response from our customers (not only Europeans but also Chinese and Asian cruisers), we have decided to deploy the Costa Luminosa in Dubai in winter 2009/2010: she will be the new jewel of the Costa fleet, combining the very best of our product in terms of innovation, facilities, choice of materials, design and works of art, and will help consolidate the worldwide success and popularity of Dubai and the other places on the itinerary.”

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (DTCM) Executive Director Business Tourism, Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, who is also managing the Dubai Cruise Terminal said, “The new temporary Cruise facility which is absolutely similar to what was available in the old terminal is the hallmark of Dubai’s commitment to this business. Of course when the final facility is in place, the standards as usual will be on par if not better than any similar facility for Cruise ships in the world”.

Both Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises have confirmed the now established 7-day itinerary for winter 2008/2009 with two nights in Dubai and one day calls at the ports of Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (United Arab Emirates - for Costa’s ships only), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Bahrain.