Costa Continously Invest In China By Adding Serena In 2015 and Fortuna In 2016
Costa Serena will
begin her Year-Round Deployment from April 2015 with Shanghai as homeport,
joining Costa Atlantica & Costa Victoria.
Distinguished
guests from the local government, trade partners, media and Gao Yuanyuan,
Godmother of Costa Serena, attend the maiden call to send well wishes on Costa
Serena’s new voyage in China.
Today's
celebration follows Buhdy Bok’s official announcement on the addition of a new
cruise ship, Costa Fortuna, to the China fleet by April, 2016.
Genoa,
April 24, 2015 – The
long-awaited Costa Serena, elegant and exquisite “Ship of Gods” among the Costa
fleet celebrated its maiden call at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise
Terminal today. This eagerly anticipated ship known for her ancient Rome flavor
will join Costa Atlantica and Costa Victoria to homeport out of Shanghai
year-round. The launch event was attended by Buhdy Bok, President of Costa
Asia, Costa Cruises Pacific & China, and distinguished guests from the
local government, trade partners and media.
Costa
Serena’s arrival impeccably interprets “Italy at Sea” with its distinguished
ancient Roman essence and increases capacity in the region by 74%, satisfying
the rapidly growing demand and further remaining as a leader in Chinese market.
The cruise will set sail on April 24, when her passengers will be able to
sample its wide-range of onboard pleasures. This latest embodiment of Costa
Serena combines well with the local government’s plan to boost the shipping
industry and tourism in the region.
“The
addition of Costa Serena reinforces Costa Cruises’ leadership position in
China’s fast-growing cruise market. According to the current analysis by the
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), Costa Cruises occupies the
leading position in the cruise market with four out of ten reservations made
for Costa ships. After 9 years of successful operations and explicit support
and encouragement from the Chinese government, Costa Cruises will continue to
expand its offerings and satisfy the demands of the China market. ” said
Michael Thamm, CEO of Costa Crociere S.p.A.
The ethereal
Miss Gao Yuanyuan, a talented Chinese actress, was onsite to bless the Costa
Serena on her vessel debut. She was also named Costa Cruises brand ambassador
as she epitomizes the glamour and style of the Costa Serena. “It’s an honor
to be named the Godmother of Costa Serena and be a part of her debut in
Shanghai. My personal experience with Costa Serena last summer truly left me
with enduring memories of its exquisite and gorgeous culture with its bounds of
exciting activities, delicate Italian cuisine, and relaxation of a European
lifestyle. All my best wishes to this elegant ship and I trust she can present
the best of Italy to China.”
The
exclusive design of the Costa Serena is matched by the quality and breadth of
the facilities aboard, many of which have been customized to better suit
Chinese tastes. The interiors are inspired by mythology and ancient Rome, where
guests are able to experience a taste of Italy on-board. Its traditional and
imaginative magnificence will undoubtedly deliver a satisfying and remarkable
experience with its many authentic Italian restaurants that are within the most
elegant atmospheres accompanied with delicious food delights along with Chinese
cuisine with savory hotpot for the Chinese consumer to have a taste a little
closer to home.
Buhdy Bok,
President of Costa Asia, Costa Cruises Pacific & China, stated, “Costa
Serena brings a taste of Italy tailored to maximize the luxury for our Chinese
guests. Our success in China has come from expanding on the enjoyment of our
guests onboard. The support from our prominent partners and local authorities
here in Shanghai has been instrumental to our incomparable growth and we are
grateful for their invaluable assistance.”
Today's
celebration follows Buhdy Bok’s official announcement on the addition of a new
cruise ship to the China fleet by April, 2016. Costa Fortuna, spectacular in
every detail and successor to the luxurious Italian cruise line, will be the
4th ship of Costa’s investment plan in China, further increasing the capacity
by 38% in 2016. Together, the company's move highlights its strategy to
strengthen its leadership and position in China, as well as its commitment and
confidence to continuously develop China to be one of the leading cruise
markets in the world.
