The first Costa Cruises Andus Aesgolf Circuit 2022 set sail at the Olivar de la Hinojosa club in Madrid, where this joint venture was presented to the specialized golf press. It unites the three protagonists: Costa Cruises, Andus Events, and AESGOLF, leaders in their sector, to create a unique and innovative product: Cruises and Golf.
Costa Cruises, official sponsor of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, under the slogan "The best of golf and the best of cruising", has launched this new and exclusive formula for golf fans who will be able to enjoy some of the best courses of this sport in France, Italy and Spain on an eight-day voyage with the Costa Smeralda, with departures from Palma and Barcelona.
“The pandemic presented us all with an unexpected situation, and Costa took advantage of this time to reinvent itself and redesign its offerings by listening to its cruise passengers. In this way, we are introducing a new way to travel on a cruise based on three fundamental pillars: an improved culinary offering, longer shore excursions with new destination options, and a strong commitment to sustainable development,” explained Jorge Serrano, Commercial Director of Costa Cruises.
The golf cruises will have a maximum duration of eight days and will offer two options: the birdie which includes playing on three courses, and the eagle which includes playing on four of the 23 courses selected in the Mediterranean. They will be available for purchase from now until the end of 2023.
Rafael Fernández-Álava, Director of Communications for Spain and Portugal at Costa Cruises, commented: “The new cruise & golf offering will be available on board the Costa Smeralda, one of our recently built LNG-powered ships. We are delighted to be part of this partnership and are confident that golf enthusiasts will choose our cruise to enjoy some of the best European courses, such as the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, host of the 2023 Ryder Cup.”.
Gorka Belartieta, commercial director of Andus Events, a company specializing in event and travel management, particularly for the senior market, praised this agreement and presented the inaugural Costa Cruises Andus Aesgolf Circuit 2022 , which consists of six events. The first will be held at Golf de Valdeluz (Guadalajara) on July 7th; the tour will continue at CG Larrabea (Álava) on July 21st; RCG Castiello (Gijón) on August 11th; El Encín Golf Hotel (Madrid) on September 21st; CG Vallromanes (Barcelona) on October 25th; and finally, on November 17th at CG El Saler in Valencia.
The event was closed by the president of AESGOLF, Filiberto Cano, who thanked the numerous members of the press who came to Olivar de la Hinojosa and congratulated the sponsors for this new commitment to golf, sustainability, and the senior golf community. “This community appreciates all the support that both Andus Events and Costa Cruises provide to improve the golfer's experience and ensure they have their bag ready at the door,” he explained. “Without a doubt, this is a forward-looking initiative for a group that enjoys travel, cruises, golf, and fine dining, and it's open to all golf cruisers,” added Cano, who encouraged everyone to take advantage of this unique opportunity: playing on one of the most talked-about courses in the coming months, the Rome-based Marco Simone course, host of the 2023 Ryder Cup.
