By Virginia López Valiente, General Director of Cruises News Media Group
We interviewed Luigi Stefanelli on the occasion of the restart of Costa Cruises' operations in Spain
What will Costa Cruises' return to Spanish ports be like? How has the Costa experience changed?
We resumed operations in Italy on May 1st, and after receiving recent approval to restart international cruises in Spain, the Costa Smeralda, Costa Cruises' flagship and first LNG-powered ship, will arrive in Barcelona on July 5th. It will be our first ship to resume international operations in 2021, with stops in Italy, France, and Spain, visiting iconic cities such as Barcelona, Palma, Messina (Sicily), Rome, Savona, and Marseille (France).
We've worked closely with the authorities to make this restart possible and we're very excited about July 5th. Bookings are going very well, both for the Costa Smeralda and for the other two ships (Firenze and Diadema) that we'll be deploying in the Mediterranean, and the other two (Luminosa and Deliziosa) that we have in the Greek Islands, with flights from Spain.
What have been the main strategic changes the company has had to face this past year?
The past year has been a challenge for all companies, regardless of sector or size. In our case, this challenge has involved changes aimed at maintaining and improving our relationship with travel agents and customers, initially remotely and now in person. Furthermore, we have worked diligently to restart operations as soon as possible, developing Safety Protocols in conjunction with national and regional authorities and strengthening our ties with numerous national, regional, and local government bodies. We have also used the downtime to identify new ways to achieve even greater passenger satisfaction with memorable and enjoyable vacations, all while ensuring maximum safety.
What specific offer is available for Spaniards this summer 2021?
In total, we will be operating five ships in the Mediterranean this summer season in the Western Mediterranean. In addition to the aforementioned Costa Smeralda and its itinerary from Barcelona, we will have the Costa Firenze, the newest ship in our fleet, sailing to iconic Italian cities from July 4th and, from September 17th, a 7-night itinerary visiting Barcelona, Marseille, Savona, Rome, and Naples. Finally, the Costa Diadema will begin a 14-night itinerary to Istanbul and Izmir from Barcelona on September 26th, and then, on November 12th, will change its route and come closer to Spain with a itinerary that includes Barcelona, Savona, Marseille, Málaga, Cádiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, and Valencia.
The Costa Luminosa, an incredible tribute to light, has been offering a fantastic itinerary through the Greek Islands since May 16th, departing from Trieste and visiting the cities of Bari, Corfu, Athens, Mykonos and Katakolon, with flights from Spain.
The Costa Deliziosa, filled with works by young artists and great masters, will offer another tour of the Greek Islands from June 26, this time departing from Venice and visiting Mykonos, Katakolon, Corfu and Bari, also with a flight from our country.
How have you maintained your relationship with travel agents all this time?
Both our Sales Force and Company Management have been committed to maintaining close contact with Travel Agents since the first day of lockdown and throughout the pandemic. We've done this through webinars, video calls, phone calls, and, as soon as possible, in-person visits. In many cases, these visits were simply to listen to them, which has been very important for everyone during this time. We've also continued with training programs on the latest developments in our cruises, given that Travel Agents remain professional influencers and therefore our number one strategic partner.
And what about port authorities, destinations, and government agencies?
Our excellent and close relationship with the main Port Authorities has allowed us to exchange ideas from day one and closely monitor the evolving situation and regulatory procedures for the restart. Similarly, we have closely followed regulatory developments with national and regional government bodies (and local authorities at the destinations) and have made our Safety Protocols available to them from the outset. These protocols have been successfully implemented in Italy since September 6th. We have held many practical meetings focused on the common goal of restarting operations, thus strengthening crucial collaborative ties.
Costa Cruises was one of the first cruise lines to resume operations during the pandemic. Is it possible to balance safety with enjoying the onboard experience?
Absolutely. Our Safety Protocols were developed over a year ago in conjunction with national, regional, and local authorities and expert scientific committees. This allowed us to begin implementing them in Italy on September 6th, with proven success. We are very proud to be achieving such high passenger satisfaction rates, thanks to the fact that the rigor with which our Protocols ensure passenger safety does not compromise a first-class, fun, and memorable vacation experience.
Costa Cruises continues its commitment to sustainability. What are the highlights of the latest steps taken, and where is the company headed in this regard?
Costa Cruises has been implementing its Sustainability Agenda since 2015 with the aim of developing its business while generating a positive impact on the environment. To this end, the company established a roadmap based on three areas of action: safeguarding the environment, promoting food value, and supporting the communities in which it operates. All initiatives underway since 2015 within these three areas directly impact one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda.
Among the milestones of the Costa Group, its commitment to Liquefied Natural Gas stands out, thanks to the introduction into its fleet of the world's first ship powered by this energy, the Costa Smeralda, and it plans to incorporate its sister ship, the Costa Toscana, in December of this year 2021.
Similarly, we continue to raise awareness about the value of food. We have already achieved a 33% reduction in food waste, aiming for the 50% reduction target set by SDG 12.3 for 2030. And by working with Food Banks in seven Mediterranean ports, including Spain, we have given a second life to more than 180,000 gourmet meals in the communities where we operate.
What has the arrival of the Costa Smeralda meant for the fleet?
Our ambition to become a leading company in sustainability led us in 2015 to be the first to commission a ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, the cleanest fuel available, at a time when this technology was not yet fully developed for cruise ships. We worked extensively with the shipyard and other partners to push the boundaries of this technology, and seeing the Costa Smeralda sailing today is proof that it is possible, as well as a source of immense satisfaction for having paved the way for the cruise industry.
How has the Spanish market received the reopening of cruises in Spain? How are bookings performing?
Fortunately, since the approval we have noticed a great deal of interest from Spaniards, as well as international passengers, who are eager to embark to visit both our country and France and Italy, in addition to other Spaniards who have opted for our tours of the Greek Islands with flights from Spain.
Bookings in Spain indicate that consumers are very eager to travel again, and are choosing options that convey the greatest security and confidence.
This consumer profile has changed its habits, preferences, and priorities. Now it demands greater security, explained simply and clearly, and our cruises are an option that fits these new preferences thanks to the implementation of safety protocols and onboard controls.
Costa Cruises does not require vaccination to board, but its protocols have proven equally effective in recent months. Is this an advantage in attracting younger passengers and families?
At Costa Cruises, we offer a free, mandatory antigen test just before boarding, another one midway through the cruise, and mandatory temperature checks every day. Our crews have also undergone PCR tests and an extended period of preventative quarantine upon boarding. This is what is giving travel agencies and consumers the necessary confidence and resulting in a high level of satisfaction among our recent passengers.
Regarding the vaccine, we are continuously monitoring the rate of application in each country and have not yet made a decision on the matter.
Will 2022 be the year of full recovery?
No one has a crystal ball to confidently predict when a full recovery will occur. But we like to think that, at the rate we're seeing in bookings, 2022 could represent a significant recovery. I believe that the quality and rigor in the application of our protocols, while simultaneously maintaining a memorable holiday experience as much as possible, and the growing expertise of travel agencies in offering high-quality and safe holiday options, may have a lot to do with this potential recovery. The passenger satisfaction ratings we're achieving are also very encouraging in this regard.
