We traveled aboard the Costa Toscana for its launch in the Spanish market, in Barcelona and Valencia. We interviewed Roberto Alberti, Senior Vice President and Global Commercial Director of Costa Cruises. 
Costa Cruises has made a significant investment in strengthening its position in several European markets, including Spain. This includes a rebranding, a clear focus on destinations, excursions, and more. What is their main strategy for markets like Spain?
Yes, back in October we announced a new ship. We were aboard the Costa Esmeralda, where we gathered many of our partners so they could see and experience the ship. It's the third of three ships Costa has launched in the last two years, demonstrating the company's commitment to continued investment in its fleet and a major overhaul of our offerings and the experience we provide our customers, focusing on authentically exploring the destinations we visit. This includes onboard experiences like the culinary offerings of three fantastic Michelin-starred chefs, entertainment, and longer stays in the wonderful destinations we visit. There are many changes both onboard and ashore.
Today we find ourselves on the inaugural cruise of the incredible Costa Toscana, a ship that is proving popular for its innovative destinations and itineraries, its cutting-edge design, and magical places like the L'Archipiélago restaurant, which is another way we express our commitment to sustainability. It's decorated with driftwood collected from the seabed by the Costa Crociere Foundation, a way of supporting local communities.
Furthermore, this ship runs on liquefied natural gas, a technology in which we are pioneers. In short, many changes not only enhance the cruise experience for guests but also reinforce sustainability.
Unfortunately, business came to a standstill due to the pandemic, but we didn't stop. We worked hard thinking about how to evolve and renew our offerings, and as a result, our guests' satisfaction ratings this past month are even higher than in 2019. These satisfaction levels are one of the things that encourage us to continue on this path.
Costa has restarted its entire fleet, and bookings seem to be growing strongly, suggesting a promising season. What are your forecasts?
First, we achieved a significant milestone in 2021 with 1.5 million passengers. This provides a solid foundation for further growth. In 2022, with our entire fleet operating from June onwards and all programs implemented, we have very high expectations. We are seeing positive signs in demand, especially after Omicron. From the end of January until now, we have seen a positive trend with numbers closer to 2019 levels, and Spain is performing exceptionally well.
Costa is a global company with a presence in various markets, and Spain is one of them. In fact, it's one of our main markets where we're investing. One example is the TV campaign in which we're presenting "the new Costa" to attract new customers.
Tell us about the "all-inclusive" campaign that Costa has launched. What does it consist of?
The all-inclusive approach is one of our key features most appreciated by our guests, especially Spanish guests, so we wanted to highlight this unique sales option to guarantee our customers the opportunity to enjoy their own onboard experiences without worry. Many things are included in the price—some excursions, drinks, taxes—so that customers don't have to worry about potentially paying more than they'd like. Ultimately, transparency from the very beginning with this product is very well received.
The Costa Toscana is Costa's newest ship and represents a clear innovation in the industry. What are its main new features?
As I mentioned before, our company is very committed to investment. In two years, we've delivered three ships: the Costa Smeralda, the Costa Firenze this summer, and now the Costa Toscana. This is an amazing ship. There's a strong focus on sustainability with its LNG propulsion, and this, along with the Costa Smeralda, is a unique example in our Mediterranean.
We are very proud to be the first shipping company to commit to this, to reducing emissions. There is also advanced technology on board in terms of water production. All the water on board is produced by the sea, and in terms of recycling, everything on board is 100% recycled.
Sustainability is a key focus for the company, but so is local sourcing and guest experiences. It's a wonderful blend of technology, elegance, and a personal touch, not forgetting our fantastic crew who are an integral part of the overall experience.
We are in a very strong position to go out with all the expectations.
What are Costa Cruises' new itineraries? What new destinations are they offering?
For 2022, we present a wonderful itinerary in Turkey aboard our beautiful ship, the Costa Venezia, with incredible stops such as the option to stay for three days to visit Cappadocia. This cruise was primarily designed for Germans but is very popular with Italians and even more so with Spanish travelers.
The cruise includes the flight with Turkish Airlines and we are working to include it in the main markets.
The itinerary is 7 days, but it offers the option to combine cruises of up to 14 days with extended stays in Istanbul and excursions to Cappadocia. In winter, the ship will sail for 11 days around Turkey, Greece, Israel, and Egypt. It's a unique product on the market.
We also have a fantastic itinerary in 2023 with the Costa Luminosa, the “Grand Cruise.” It’s a long cruise with an incredible itinerary in South America, in the Amazon. We’ll also be visiting Greenland in 2023, a wonderful place to explore. 
Always paying special attention to port stays so that our guests can extend their overnight stays at the destinations.
And finally, another round-the-world trip is planned for 2023. Another iconic product from the company, right? Has demand picked up again?
Yes. There is high demand, which we had to cancel last year for safety reasons. This experience is the only way to visit all the continents in 127 days. Demand is strong among our most loyal guests, and the protocols on our cruises help to convey a sense of security, especially on shore excursions. By the way, we expect the "bubble" excursions to end in less than a month. From April 1st, passengers will be able to disembark on their own, and we will eliminate the pre-boarding test for passengers who present a COVID passport. Some requirements will remain, but there will be more flexibility, and we are confident that this will strengthen confidence in cruising in 2022.
