Costa Cruises is strengthening its presence in Dubai with the departure of the first cruise operated by the Costa Firenze following the official opening of the Dubai Cruise Terminal. The new ship, whose design is inspired by the Florentine Renaissance, entered service last July and will offer a one-week itinerary through the Arabian Gulf during the 2021-2022 winter season. The Costa Firenze's debut in Dubai was marked by a double event linked to the city's tourism development. The Italian company's ship inaugurated the Dubai Cruise Terminal, the region's first cruise port, in a spectacular ceremony that also included the AIDAbella, from the German company AIDA Cruises, part of the Costa Group. In addition, the Costa Firenze launched exclusive tours that take its Italian and international guests to discover Expo 2020 Dubai, in particular the Italian Pavilion, which is supported by Costa Cruises as a gold sponsor.
“The debut of Costa Firenze in Dubai marks another important step in the resumption of our operations, and we are excited to restart cruising in such an exciting destination with great potential, where we are pioneers in offering cruises,” commented Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises. “The opening of the new Cruise Terminal at the Port of Dubai and our commitment to supporting the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai demonstrate how Costa, and the Carnival Corporation group to which it belongs, continue to invest in the restart of tourism and the cruise ecosystem, from which Italy and Europe benefit enormously in terms of both the economy and employment.”
The project is part of a strategic partnership between Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, and Shamal Holding, which aims to transform Dubai into the region’s leading maritime tourism hub. As the first cruise port in the region with two terminals, the Dubai Port Cruise Terminal can accommodate two large cruise ships simultaneously. Located in the heart of modern Dubai, the world-class facilities span more than 120,000 square meters and include two purpose-built terminal buildings designed to provide passengers and crew with a safe, comfortable, and seamless embarkation and disembarkation experience.
In total, six Carnival Corporation brands—AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn—will visit the Dubai Cruise Terminal between now and 2023. It is expected that by then, the six brands will make a total of 90 port calls. The Costa Firenze will call at the Dubai Terminal weekly from December through March 2022.
The Costa Firenze's itinerary, which includes stays of up to two days in Dubai and one day in Abu Dhabi, allows passengers to make the most of the city's Expo 2020. In collaboration with the Italian pavilion, where Costa Cruises is a gold sponsor, the Italian company offers exclusive "grand tour" visits to discover the Italian excellence showcased at the Expo.
After a panoramic tour of the cities, guests of the Costa Firenze will enter the Expo without queuing, thanks to a privileged ticket, allowing them to explore the exhibition's 200 pavilions. Among them is the Italian pavilion, with guided tours available in several languages. Covering 3,500 square meters, the Italian pavilion is easily recognizable thanks to its three large "hulls" covered in remnants of food scraps, forming the world's largest Italian flag.
The theme of the pavilion is "Beauty connects people", recognizing beauty as an element capable of combining multidisciplinary knowledge and skills from the past, present and future.
Likewise, the pavilion offers visitors a journey to discover Italian excellence, with a "garden of stories" and a synthesis of different elements, which are not exclusively related to the world of art and culture, but represent a social narrative of the know-how of Italian companies.
Costa Cruises is one of the finest examples of Italian expertise showcased in the pavilion, standing out for its commitment to sustainability in transportation and tourism, an area in which Costa Cruises is a pioneer. At the end of the visit, guests enjoying the "grand tour" can indulge in a unique gastronomic experience courtesy of Bvlgari.
