In an industry first, Costa Crociere will offer cruises that
depart from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) beginning in December.
Costa Crociere operates the AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruise Lines
brands. The new Dubai-based cruises will be offered during the
2006-2007 winter season on the Costa Classica and AIDAcara.
“The local authorities in Dubai have been involved in an important
development program aimed at making the United Arab Emirates and
the Gulf a major travel destination for international tourists,”
said Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi. “I believe
the arrival of an international operator like Costa Crociere in
Dubai can make a significant contribution towards achieving this
objective.”
Costa Crociere is the first leading cruise operator to schedule
itineraries from Dubai intended for an international clientele. The
seven-day cruises will include two nights in Dubai and one-day
stopovers in the ports of Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (United Arab
Emirates), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Bahrain. Costa
Classica will depart on Saturdays, and the AIDAcara will leave on
Fridays. In total, the two ships will offer 25 cruises, 17 on the
Costa Classica (from Dec. 23 to April 14, 2007) and eight on the
AIDAcara (from Dec. 22 to Feb. 9 2007).
The two ships will arrive in the Gulf via two cruises on the Suez
Canal and the Red Sea. Costa Classica departs Savona on Dec. 5 and
will reach Dubai on Dec. 22 with stopovers in Naples, Alexandria
(Egypt), Port Said (Egypt), Sharm el Sheik (Egypt), Aqaba (Jordan)
Safaga (Egypt), Hodeidah (Yemen), Mukalla (Yemen), Salalah (Oman)
and Muscat (Oman). The AIDAcara will reach Dubai in two separate
cruises: The first departs from Palma de Majorca on Dec. 1 and
arrives at Sharm el Sheik on Dec. 9; the second departs from Sharm
el Sheik on Dec. 9 and arrives in Dubai on Dec. 21.
800-462-6782
www.costacruises.com
