Costa Cruises announces the return to service in Asia of Costa Serena. From June to September 2023, the Italian company's ship will be operating a program of "charter" cruises, in cooperation with local Asian partners.
The signing of the commercial agreements took place in Dubai, onboard Costa Toscana, the flagship of the fleet deployed in the Arabian Gulf throughout the winter of 2022/23. The ceremony was attended by Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises, Roberto Alberti, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises, and representatives of the ten local partners supporting Costa Serena's new program in Asia.
"The restart of Costa Serena, ahead of her original schedule, is further confirmation of the growing appreciation of Costa Cruises in all the global markets where we operate. In particular, the new cruises announced today are an important signal for the recovery of the industry in Asia. We achieved this significant result thanks to our historic presence in Asia and established relationship with local partners, as well as the recent reopening to cruising of some countries in the area" - said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises.
The total number of cruises Costa Serena will offer in Asia in 2023 is thirty. Six cruises, in June 2023, will be dedicated to the South Korean market; from July to September 2023 another twenty-four cruises are planned for the Taiwan market.
The itineraries, lasting from 4 to 7 days, include some of the most beautiful destinations in East Asia, particularly Japan, such as Sasebo, Kagoshima, Otaru, Hakodate, Naha, Miyakojima, and Ishigaki. Departures are scheduled from the ports of Busan, Sokcho, and Pohang in South Korea, and Keelung, Taiwan.
Costa Serena is an Italian-flagged ship built by Fincantieri and entered service in 2007. She has a gross tonnage of 114,000 tons and can accommodate up to 3,780 guests. Before the pause in operations, which began in late January 2020, the ship offered cruises In East Asia, with departures from China.
