Costa Cruises will be significantly increasing its presence in South America this winter season, as the Mediterranea, which for the past three years sailed Caribbean cruises from Ft. Lauderdale, will be sailing from Santos (Brazil). The Magica will also be sailing out of Santos, and the Romantica, from Buenos Aires, for a total of 96,530 passengers – a 36 percent increase over last season, when the line sailed in South America with the Magica, Victoria and Classica, for a total of 71,230 passengers. "As Costa continues to sustain a leadership position in two core markets: Europe and South America, we decided to deploy the Mediterranea to South America for the 2008-2009 winter season," a spokesperson told Cruise Industry News.