The Around-the-World cruise on Costa Atlantica is devoted to tourists in Hong Kong and Asia and provides them an innovative and customised international cruise holidays to suit their every needs.
HONG KONG – Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s number one cruise company, will launch its inaugural Asia Around-the-World cruise, customised for travellers in Greater China region, on March 1, 2015.
Costa Atlantica (86,000-ton with a capacity of 2,680 Guests), an exquisitely artistic cruise in Costa Cruises’ fleet bearing the title of “Venice at Sea”, will take Guests across three oceans and five continents, visiting 28 destinations in 18 countries and regions. In addition to offering the finest Italian hospitality and travel experience that Costa Cruises is renowned for, Costa Atlantica’s Around-the-World cruise will also provide an all-round tailored experience for Asian tourists, including Chinese speaking crew members on board and Asian cuisines, with a view to providing Guests an exceptionally comfortable home-like environment while travelling around the world.
Mr Buhdy Bok, Senior Vice President Pacific Asia & China, Costa Crociere S.p.A., said, “As a leader in the cruise industry, our aim is to further develop the Asia Pacific cruise market. Riding on the insight that the key is to understand all aspects of travel enthusiasts’ needs in different countries and tailor make services for them accordingly, the 86-day Around-the-World tour on Costa Atlantica was developed with the Greater China audience in mind. Costa Cruises has been committed to the Asian market throughout the years and our experience in serving the Hong Kong market has shown that Hong Kong people have a great love for the joie de vivre of travelling and exploring exotic locations. We are confident that the 86-day Around-the-World tour on Costa Atlantica will satisfy their infinite passion for travelling.”
Around-the-World in 86 days
On the Around-the-World cruise, Guests can choose to depart from Shanghai or Hong Kong for a 86-day and 83-day journey respectively*. The cruise will sail across Asia, Africa, Europe as well as Central and North America, offering Guests the opportunity to explore renowned heritage cities, resort paradises and Wonders of the World; to experience ancient civilisations, culture and customs, and be fascinated by the contemporary metropolises located in different parts of the world. For Guests departing from Shanghai, the first port of call will be Hong Kong while Guests who depart from Hong Kong will travel to the cities of Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau in Vietnam, where Guests can take in the striking contrast of the ruined splendour and modern-day vibrancy of these three cities. Guests will then be taken to the topical paradises of Phuket Island in Thailand, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Malé in Maldives before journeying northwards to the ancient heart of Salalah in Oman, Sokhna in Egypt then Heraklion, Santorini and Athens in Greece.
The tour of European cities will then continue westwards heading to Catania and Rome in Italy, Marseilles in France, Barcelona in Spain and Lisbon and Ponta Delgada in Portugal. In these countries Guests will be able to sample the best that Western Europe has to offer from fine wines to high-fashion in addition to learning more about these culture-soaked cities.
Once the Old World has been explored by Costa Atlantica’s Guests, she will sail from Europe to the New World stopping off first in what is arguably the most iconic city in the world, New York, before heading south to Miami and its long sandy beaches, Ocho Rios in Jamaica, transit in the Panama canal, Manzanillo in Mexico, then the contemporary metropolises of Los Angeles and San Francisco in the US.
After meeting the New World, Costa Atlantica will berth at Hilo, Kahului and Honolulu in Hawaii, travelling across the Pacific Ocean to Yokohama in Japan, then perfectly complete this 86-day once-in-a-lifetime trip by bringing its world explorers back home to Shanghai on May 26, 2015.
Exploring “Venice at Sea” on Costa Atlantica
Costa Atlantica has been awarded four stars from Berlitz, the world’s most trusted guide to cruising, for its accommodation, food and the ship itself, making it veritably “The Ideal City” at sea. A significant majority of the 1,057 cabins have balconies and is suitable for families. The entire ship interior design celebrates Italian cinema and the arts; resulting in a gorgeous indoor environment that matches the majesty of the ocean outside: Federico Fellini and his classic La Dolce Vita, Madame Butterfly, the historic Caffè Florian in Venice, Via della Spiga in Milan, the Tiziano Restaurant. Like a “floating museum of contemporary Italian art”, the ship exhibits more than 400 original works by renowned artists such as Sergio Benvenuti at every corner.
Costa Cruises is well versed in our Guests’ pursuit of gourmet perfection. Throughout the Around-the-World tour, our restaurants and bars will be serving 24 hours a day, ensuring every Guest can try our choices of international cuisine. All food and menus, from appetisers, main courses to desserts, are prepared meticulously by our onboard chefs with thousands of selected ingredients for our diverse dishes, including Italian gourmet, Asia delicacies, international cuisine and local dishes, satisfying guests’ tastes at all times of the day. For Guests who love crafted cuisine in true Italian style, they can visit the Caffè Florian, a Venice’s historic café opened in 1720 and the only café at sea for this brand, to enjoy live music while trying out the most traditional Italian coffee.
Costa Atlantica also provides a well-selected series of entertainment programmes on board. Other than traditional Italian performances, music from the East and the West, and comedies, regular themed parties, such as Night of Italy, Arabian Party, masquerade and carnivals, are organised to surprise our Guests and give them an unforgettable journey on the cruise.
The Around-the-World cruise on Costa Atlantica is devoted to tourists in Hong Kong and Asia and provides them an innovative and customised international cruise holidays to suit their every needs. We hope to realise the once-in-a-lifetime dream of Hong Kong and Asian tourists, allowing them to explore the vibrancy of the world on an elite cruise of true Italian style and creating their exclusive vacation at sea and life experience.
*The Around-the-World cruise will commence in Hong Kong at Hong Kong Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on March 4, 2015, which lasts for 83 days
Photo caption : Costa Atlantica
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