On the occasion of the visit in Argentina of Gianni Onorato Costa Crociere S.p.A. President, and in the context of the 60th anniversary celebrations, the cruise company flying the italian flag, leader in Italy and Europe and pioneer in South America, presented its 2008-2009 season in South America. There will be three ships operating in the region: Costa Mediterranea and Costa Romantica, from Buenos Aires port while Costa Magica will keep her position in Santos and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
This program triplicates the cabin offering from Buenos Aires port for 2008-2009 winter where two ships will be operating from December to March, thus consolidating the company major role in the market.
“Mi presence here today, together with you, is the most concrete demonstration of the close liaison Costa has established with South America during 60 years, and especially with Argentina when we established our own offices in Buenos Aires in 1948, This six-decade friendship has a present and a promissory future indeed. This can be seen by the fact that Argentina and Brazil have been important collaborators in the record that allowed us to reach a million guests this year.”
“We are again ahead and we present 2008-2009 season a year before” pointed out Carlos Carlos Núñez, General Director of Costa Crociere for Argentina. “Two ships dedicated to Buenos Aires port is something really unusual and represents an acknowledgement to the strong demand of our brand. It also means benefiting our guests with unique advantages because they can comfortably schedule their vacations and get benefits with our Tarifa Pronto Pago (Pronto Price) allowing a passenger to get up to 30% discount for advanced reservation.”
Costa Mediterranea, inaugural season in Argentina
It is considered one of the most advanced and innovative ships in the cruise industry, with 66% of the cabins that can offer the privacy of large balconies facing the sea, Costa Mediterranea arriving in Buenos Aires for the first time, impresses for her dimensions: 292 meters long, 60 meters high, 85,6 tons weight, 1057 cabins – 678 cabins with balcony and a capacity of 2,700 guests. It is a colourful and very bright ship that attracts as soon as the passenger gets in thanks to panoramic elevators and sculptures by prestigious artists. The ship is full of art pieces inspired by noble Italian from XII to XIX century palazzi: from Sicilian baroque to Medieval Siena; from 18th century Venetian to neoclassical.
For sports fans, the ship offers a bright gymnasium on three floors facing the sea, and a sports court on the highest bridge. There are also four swimming pools, one with retractable roof and another for children. Following the new trends of the spa culture, the ship has a large area named Wellness, which includes as many as 44 exclusive cabins devoted to the body care where it is possible to enjoy the most varied treatments wellness therapies.
Costa Mediterranea offer ten cruises to Brazil, mostly with beach itineraries, scheduled between December 2008 and March 2009.
Costa Romantica in Buenos Aires
For the third year this ship, the most authentic expression of the European style, comes back to Buenos Aires for a great variety of itineraries.
It has and 678 cabins to provide accommodation for more than 1,600 passengers. The total weight is 53,000 tons
Her sober style of remarkable elegance purely defines the “Italian style” so accepted among the Argentineans and South Americans.
A large number of artworks of art by recognized international artists can be found in her multiple internal public rooms. Costa Romantica is also remarkable for her large outdoor areas. Costa Romantica will have an extensive program specially scheduled for the Atlantic coast. 12 cruises will start from Buenos Aires including the favorite beaches for the Argentineans such as Angra dos Reis and the beautiful Buzios. Special Cruises for Christmas and New Year, a cruise to Tierra del Fuego and two minicruises when closing the season are part of the attractive schedule.
Costa Magica confirms her success in Brazil
For the second consecutive year, Costa Magica, one of the most innovative ships today (enered in service at the end of 2004) and one of the largest of Costa fleet, will serve Santos and Rio de Janeiro port in December to sail along the coasts of northeast Brazil up to the attractive San Salvador de BahÃa.
Eleven itineraries of different duration and themes will be offered by this ship of 102,600 tons, 1,358 cabins – 522 cabins with balcony and capacity for 3,470 passengers. Among the attractions there are four swimming pools – two in the central part, one with retractable roof in the bow and the other for children – a theater on three levels with a capacity for 1,350 persons, four restaurants – including a gourmet one, Club Vicenza –, water slides, spa and spaces for practicing sports. There is also a 1,300-m2 area facing the sea with a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and a beauty parlor for special treatments and massages. In accordance with the finest tradition common to the Costa fleet as a whole, art in all its forms plays a major role on the Costa Magica. The new flagship features some 5.652 works – 360 originals (paintings, sculptures, vases, etc) and 5.292 copies (silk-screen prints, lithographs and panels as well as digital reproductions supplied by the shipyard). Particularly worthy of note are the works by teachers and students from the Italian Brera Academy of Art.
This season will have both traditional and special Costa cruises, among them the ones for Christmas, New Year and Carnival. The company has been a pioneer in thematic cruises such as the successful Fitness cruise, on board of Costa Magica, in its 15th presentation and the well-recognized Dancing on board and Wellness.
