Cruise line will make 40 ports of call at the Italian city in 2019 alone, boosting local tourism
By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Costa Cruises has returned to the Italian city of Genoa and has scheduled 40 ports of call in 2019, including 34 by Costa Fortuna and the remaining six by three other ships.
Costa Fortuna, which was built at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente-Genoa shipyard, commenced her homecoming to Genoa on 26 March 2019. The 103,000gt, 3,470-guest ship will depart from Genoa each Friday until 8 November 2019, offering one-week cruises in the western Mediterranean.
Costa Fortuna's first itinerary from Genoa is a three-day mini-cruise to Marseille, France and Barcelona, Spain. In spring and autumn, the ship will also visit Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia in Spain, and Civitavecchia/Rome and La Spezia in Italy. In summer, the programme will include calls in Marseille, Olbia in Italy and the Spanish ports of Tarragona, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.
During her stopovers in Genoa, Costa Fortuna will offer guests nine new excursions, including city walks to the fortresses of Genoa, the Righi adventure park, ‘Genoa by Segway’, the Genoa ghost tour, a walking tour of Genoa and ‘Super Genova,’ which is a full-day excursion from Boccadasse to the old town that includes lunch at the Imperial Palace.
“We are particularly glad and proud, after so many years, to celebrate the return of a Costa ship that will now call regularly at Genoa,” said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises. “This return completes our presence in the city, where we have operated through our head office for over 70 years and is a starting point for the future.”
Costa Cruises is planning to build a new cruise terminal in the city, adding to its presence in Savona and La Spezia.
Costa Cruises has confirmed its stops in the port for 2020, when Costa Fortuna will be replaced by her slightly larger sister ship Costa Pacifica. The 114,000gt ship will carry around 3,780 guests on her inaugural call to Genoa on 23 March 2020 and will return each Friday until 13 November 2020.
“The return of Costa Cruises to the port of Genoa is one of the signs that demonstrate the rebirth of our city,” said Marco Bucci, Mayor of Genoa. “Despite the problems we had to face recently, our development process does not stop and considers the cruise industry and tourism both essential to show all the capabilities and beauty of our city in the world. I am proud to witness such an important return to Genoa.”