By Laura Seco Back
We attended the presentation organized by Costa Cruises on April 29th in Istanbul. New itineraries for the Costa Venezia departing from Istanbul and excursions to Turkey and Greece 
are available from May 1st throughout the summer and until mid-November. The presentation took place aboard the Costa Venezia, with remarks from Mario Zanetti, Roberto Alberti, and Giuseppe Carino representing Costa Cruises, and Harun Basturk representing Turkish Airlines.
Zanetti did not hesitate to state that Turkey has great potential for cruises, with good air connections from other countries, a variety of experiences and attractions, modern ports, as well as a very pleasant climate throughout the year; and Costa Cruises has set out to be among the first to develop it.
Costa Cruises offers three itineraries, combining flight and cruise, embarkation and disembarkation in Istanbul, and longer stays in some destinations. These itineraries are the result of a collaboration between Costa Cruises, Turkish Airlines, the 
Turkish National Tourism Organization, and the Galataport Istanbul port authority. This package includes direct flights with Turkish Airlines from several Spanish cities to Istanbul and allows passengers to board the Costa Venezia at the new Galataport cruise terminal. It also includes a two-day stop in Istanbul, a must-see city that will leave a lasting impression. With over 15 million inhabitants, Istanbul combines the cultural heritage of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires with a strategic location between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, and between two continents, Europe and Asia.
From May 1 to November 13, 2022, the Costa Venezia will offer two alternating one-week itineraries visiting destinations in Turkey and Greece, which can be 
combined into a single 15-day voyage with eight port calls of more than 10 hours each. The first itinerary explores the best of Greece and Turkey in a week, including a two-day, one-night stop in Istanbul, the Turkish destinations of Izmir and Bodrum, and the Greek island of Mykonos and Athens. The second itinerary takes you to lesser-known corners of Greece and Turkey, including two-day, one-night stops in Istanbul and Kusadasi (Turkey), before departing to explore Rhodes and Heraklion (Greece). Starting in the winter of 2022-23, the Costa Venezia will offer a third 12-day itinerary to Turkey, Egypt, Israel, and Cyprus, visiting Istanbul (with a two-day, one-night stopover), Bodrum, Limassol, Haifa (also with a two-day, one-night stopover), Alexandria, and Kusadasi. From spring 2023, the two itineraries to Türkiye and Greece will resume.
The available excursions have been designed to enjoy unique experiences such as attending a private concert in the Roman amphitheater of Ephesus, sleeping in typical houses carved into the rock in the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia, snorkeling with an archaeologist to see the sunken remains of the city of Mindo, discovering the secrets of the Acropolis of Athens, or relaxing in the sun on the beaches of Mykonos, among others.
The Costa Venezia, built at the Fincantieri shipyards in Monfalcone, joined the Costa Cruises fleet in 2019. This 135,000-ton ship has 2,116 cabins and can accommodate 5,260 passengers. It was initially built for the Chinese market. The decor is inspired by famous Venetian landmarks, squares, and symbols (onboard you'll find two gondolas crafted by Italian artisans, as well as 
an atrium inspired by St. Mark's Square, among other typical Venetian details), along with distinctive oriental touches, including the signage, which is quite striking. The ship boasts 13 different restaurants and 8 bars offering a wide variety of specialties, where you can sample menus created specifically for Costa by three world-renowned chefs: Italian Bruno Barbieri with 7 Michelin stars; French chef Hélène Darroze with 5 Michelin stars; and Ángel León, a Spanish chef with 4 Michelin stars, owner of the Aponiente restaurant in Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz) and known as “the chef of the sea”.
The Costa Venezia is ideal for a family holiday with children, who will enjoy onboard activities such as the water park and adventure park, as well as 
exclusive spaces for teenagers and dedicated areas for younger children. But if you're traveling as a couple and want to unwind, you can do so in the private spa, at the bars and terraces enjoying a drink, or sunbathing in a hammock while soaking up the sun and sea. This ship also reflects Costa Cruises' commitment to sustainability, recognized by RINA (an international certification body) with the Green Star 3 award. This award, in addition to recognizing compliance with a series of environmental sustainability standards, acknowledges the design solutions and operating procedures voluntarily implemented, both during construction and navigation, aimed at exceeding the environmental protection performance requirements of international regulations.
