The Italian shipping company has historically focused on the beautiful cities of the United Arab Emirates and on Dubai, where it debuted in 2006, being the first shipping company to operate this route, and where, in 2010, it inaugurated its new ship, the Costa Deliziosa.
Costa Cruises and Emirates airline have joined forces with the Dubai Tourism Authority to offer Spanish cruise passengers the wonders of the exotic and contrasting land of the United Arab Emirates and its main port, Dubai. On Monday, the three entities presented a comprehensive experience in the land of a thousand and one nights, along with their offerings for the next two winter seasons. This package will provide Costa passengers with an exclusive fly-and-cruise experience, made possible by Emirates' daily connections between Madrid or Barcelona and Dubai. During an event held in Barcelona aboard the Costa Diadema, attended by representatives from leading travel agencies and the Dubai Department of Tourism, Commerce and Marketing (DTCM), Costa, Emirates, and the UAE Consulate in Barcelona unveiled their extensive joint offering for the next two seasons.
The United Arab Emirates is a favorite destination for Spanish travelers, and cruises offer a comprehensive way to explore these enclaves. The Dubai Tourism Authority estimates 450,000 cruise passenger arrivals by the end of 2016 and has set the ambitious goal of reaching one million cruise passengers by 2020. Costa Cruises currently boasts the best and most extensive fleet of ships sailing to these incredible destinations, with two vessels capable of carrying 5,070 passengers each, visiting some of the most beautiful cities along the coast of the land of a thousand and one nights.
“The United Arab Emirates is a very important destination for us, where we were the first in the sector to arrive with our ships when we positioned the Costa Classica (now Costa neoClassica) in this region in 2006,” explained Giorgio Costa, Trade Marketing Director for Costa Cruises in Spain. “Dubai was also the port chosen for the christening of the Costa Deliziosa in 2010, our new flagship at the time. Now, as in recent years, we want to continue strengthening our position and we believe that, together with Emirates and the Dubai Tourism Authority, we will be able to meet the expectations of our passengers, who will have access to an incredible and comprehensive vacation package, from their departure from Barcelona or Madrid with Emirates, to the route through the region on our ships, and the wonders of Dubai and the UAE that they can enjoy during the excursions,” he concluded.
Carlos López Bahillo, Costa's Sales Director in Spain, explained to those present at the event the different routes that the Costa Fortuna and Costa neoRiviera will operate over the next two seasons. He followed a presentation by Luciano Galli, Emirates' Sales Manager in Catalonia, who noted that “Dubai is a growing destination, with a third of the world's population just a 4-hour flight away and 80% within an 8-hour flight. That's why Emirates continues to strengthen its commitment with two daily flights from Madrid and Barcelona. The cruise segment is also expanding and is a strategic sector for the industry, one in which we want to be present.” Galli gave a presentation about the company, with whom Costa shares not only the destination, the United Arab Emirates, but also a philosophy centered on the multiculturalism of the crew, a very clear vision for the future, and the need to give passengers the best possible vacation experience from the moment they leave home. “At Emirates, we believe that if you're going to do something, you might as well do it well,” Galli concluded.
The Dubai Tourism Authority highlighted the wide range of offerings in the Emirati city, the fourth most visited in the world: a destination for all tastes and budgets, with eclectic cuisine, diverse leisure activities, art, numerous shopping options, beaches, monuments, and major events every week of the year. “Dubai is not a city to visit, but to experience; it boasts a very comprehensive product, representing not only luxury but also a family segment with very high-quality products for adults and children.” Cruises are a strategic sector; the Dubai port cruise terminal has the largest capacity in the entire Middle East and is the home port for most cruise lines, including Costa.
The event was closed by the Consul of the United Arab Emirates in Barcelona, the Honorable Salem Rajesh Alwois, who noted that the commitment of both companies is very important for the development of the region: “Dubai is a constantly changing city, where new projects are frequently conceived and implemented. We are always looking for new business opportunities, and the cruise sector is of great importance to the region.”
