Costa Cruises has announced the  resumption of its Japan itineraries. On August 26th, 2011 Costa Classica will be leaving Shanghai for a 4-day cruise calling at Fukuoka (Japan), Cheju (South Korea) before returning to Shanghai.

This decision demonstrates Costa’s confidence in Japan’s tourism market and its support to the revitalization of the local tourism industry. Costa Classica cruises to Japan are very much appreciated especially by Costa Chinese Guests. As the first international cruise company to enter the Chinese market, Costa Cruises has been operating cruise itineraries from China to Japan for more  than five years.

From August to October this year Costa Classica, home-ported in Shanghai, will operate a total of 12 cruises to Japan and South Korea. The wide selection of itineraries includes 3 very appealing Japanese destinations:  Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kagoshima: 4-day cruises to Fukuoka and Cheju (South Korea); a 6-day cruise to Pusan (South Korea), Fukuoka, Kagoshima; a 5-day cruise to Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Cheju (South Korea).  Also on these Japan itineraries Costa Cruises will continue to offer its Guests its extraordinary Italian style cruise experience.

In 2012, Costa is further expanding its operations in Asia and the Far East, with the deployment for the first time of the Costa Victoria (75,200 gross tonnage and 2,394 total Guests), which will replace the Costa Classica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,680 total Guests).  For the first time on these cruises the Costa Victoria will offer Guests the chance to book 246 veranda cabins and enjoy the splendid scenery of the Far East, including Japan, from the privacy of their own cabins. Thanks to the Costa Victoria positioning, Costa Cruises will increase its offer in the area by about 40%. 

In 2012 Costa Victoria will sail to an array of new destinations in Japan, including: the tropical paradise Hososhima/Miyazaki; Wakayama, which boasts the largest hot spring resort; Osaka, Japan’s second largest city; the popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area, Yokohama and Tokyo, the capital city.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (www.jnto.go.jp), a joint statement from the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization has reaffirmed that operations can continue normally into and out of Japan’s major airports and sea ports.