Costa Cruises has begun operating today in Port de Tarragona as a home port and starting point for one of its Mediterranean itineraries aboard the Costa neoRiviera, a ship that will also offer the exclusive and innovative Fun & Beach concept.
The Costa neoRiviera, docked today in the port of Tarragona, was chosen by Costa Cruises and the Port of Tarragona to present the company's new route, which will both begin and end in the city's port. Between June 2nd and September 22nd, the ship (weighing 48,200 tons and with a capacity for 1,727 passengers) will offer an attractive itinerary in the Western Mediterranean, repeated up to 17 times, making it possible to see the Costa neoRiviera docked in the city's port every Friday.
This 8-day itinerary includes stops in Savona (near Genoa, Italy), Porto Torres (in northern Sardinia), Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, and Palma de Mallorca, before returning to Tarragona. To ensure the best possible travel experience, the Costa neoRiviera will remain in port for up to 17 hours – from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. the following morning. This allows passengers in transit to enjoy the city at their own pace and take advantage of the various excursions designed for them by the company, such as the ancient Roman city of Tarraco, the Poblet Monastery, the churches of Montblanc, and some of its spectacular beaches, among others. To complete this travel experience, Costa Cruises offers the opportunity to book an excursion to the PortAventura World theme parks: PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land, its newest and only theme park in Europe.
One of the most noteworthy new features of this itinerary, and the highlight of today's events in the Port of Tarragona, has been the innovative Fun & Beach, a new way to travel by cruise focused on fun and music. Travelers who choose this itinerary will enjoy longer stays in each destination, special access to idyllic beaches, music sessions with DJs on board, all in a relaxed atmosphere.
During the event, Costa Cruises' commitment to Tarragona and the positive economic impact that the arrival of its cruise ships will have on the region were also highlighted. In addition to the planned activity with the Costa neoRiviera, the Costa Favolosa will make other scheduled calls in September and October of this year. By the end of 2017, Costa ships will have visited the port of Tarragona 19 times, allowing up to 32,000 passengers to experience the city.
The event was attended by Mr. Josep Andreu, President of the Port of Tarragona; Mr. Rafael Fernández-Álava, Marketing and Communications Director of Costa Cruises in Spain and Portugal; Mr. Josep Fèlix Ballesteros, Mayor of Tarragona; Mr. Martí Carnicer, President of the Tarragona Provincial Council Tourism Board; and Mr. Mark Robinson, PortAventura World Chief Commercial Officer.
During the presentation of this itinerary, Josep Andreu, president of the Port of Tarragona, emphasized: “Today is a very important day for the Port of Tarragona and the region because, for the first time, we are a home port for a regular cruise line, and we couldn't have a better partner than a shipping company like Costa Cruises. Without a doubt, today we are consolidating our cruise project, and this represents a significant boost for our Tarragona Cruise Port Costa Dorada brand.”.
For his part, Rafael Fernández-Álava, the company's marketing and communications director for Spain and Portugal, highlighted the importance of this new route. “The cruise sector is booming in Spain. In fact, according to CLIA, a total of 486,000 Spanish travelers enjoyed a cruise in 2016, 4% more than the previous year. In this context, it is essential to continue innovating to always offer the best travel experience and the most attractive destinations. We are aware that Tarragona has a privileged location on the shores of the Mediterranean, excellent transport connections, and a first-rate range of complementary leisure activities. These factors, combined with the fundamental support from institutions and the key collaboration from travel agents, have been decisive in making Tarragona one of our home ports. We are very proud to have reached this point and know that today marks the beginning of a successful period for everyone, since next year we will not only continue our commitment to Tarragona, but we will also expand it with seven more port calls in 2018.”.
Mr. Josep Fèlix Ballesteros, Mayor of Tarragona: “The arrival of this cruise ship marks a major turning point because we have been working for 10 years to reach this moment.” Following this, Mr. Martí Carnicer, President of the Tarragona Provincial Council's Tourism Board, added: “That a world-renowned and leading company like Costa Cruises has chosen the Costa Dorada and Tarragona to schedule a cruise puts us in a unique position within the Mediterranean's cruise offerings.”.
Mr. Mark Robinson, PortAventura World Chief Commercial Officer, also wanted to express: “I am convinced that the travelers disembarking from this cruise will discover a first-class holiday destination for its history, culture, gastronomy, wonderful landscapes and where, in addition, they can enjoy PortAventura World, where they will live a world of unforgettable experiences and can get to know Ferrari Land firsthand, a new theme park unique in Europe.”.
