Costa Cruises Boosts Operations In The Indian Ocean: Double The Cruises To Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar And Réunion
Thanks to an agreement with local
authorities, the Italian company will be the only cruise operator offering a
14-day cruise, starting October 2016, with extended stopovers at the most
beautiful islands in the Indian Ocean.
Genoa,
30th September 2015 – Costa Cruises gears up its operations in the Indian Ocean
by doubling the number of cruises for the winter 2016-17 season to visit the
most beautiful islands of this fantastic vacation destination, an excusive of
the Italian company since the end of 2006.
The first of
a total of 11 cruises is scheduled to depart on 15th October 2016 and the last
on 4th March 2017. The cruise, always for 14 days on board the Costa
neoRomantica, will be even more exciting thanks to longer stopovers to allow
guests to enjoy more extended visits of the islands.
The cruise
will depart from Mauritius, quite easy to reach with flights from Europe, and
then to the fabulous Seychelles Islands, where the ship will berth for two days
and two nights. The cruise will continue with a focus on discovering the dream
beaches and incredible scenic landscapes of Madagascar, with day calls to Nosy
Be, Diego Suarez and Tamatave; the next stop, one day and one night, will be
the island of Réunion, with its wild nature; then the return to Mauritius, with
a final one day and one night call, for a close encounter with the culture and
attractions of this fantastic island, before returning to Europe.
The increase
in the number of cruises in the Indian Ocean is the end result of an agreement
signed today in Paris, during the IFTM/Top Resa travel trade show, between
Costa Cruises, the Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and the Vanilla Islands
Organisation (the organisation that promotes tourism in the islands of the
Indian Ocean).
“We are
the only company proposing regular cruises to these unique islands of the
Indian Ocean and offer our Guests an exceptionally beautiful cruise experience”
declared
Norbert Stiekema, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing of Costa
Cruises – “Thanks to the partnership agreement reached with local
authorities, our tourism offer to these destinations will continue to grow, and
during the 2016-17 winter season we plan on taking about 15,000 guests, and
most of them European, on cruises to the islands”.
The
agreement calls for cooperation and investments for promoting tourism, for
improving port infrastructures and guest hospitality facilities, for flight
connections and for the excursions offered to guests.
On 12
December 2015, for the departure of the first Costa neoRomantica Indian Ocean
cruise of the winter 2015-16 season, all the Ministers of each country member
of the Vanilla Islands will be onboard with Norbert Stiekema for 2 days to work
on the future development of the agreement.
