Costa Cruises' Costa Serena has resumed service in Asia. After two cruises between Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the Costa Serena set sail on May 29 from the port of Busan, South Korea, bound for Nagasaki and Yatsushiro, Japan. This makes it the first cruise ship to operate in South Korea since the lifting of restrictions on cruise travel.
“With the departure of the Costa Serena from Busan, we are celebrating a historic event for cruises in Asia. We are, in fact, the first company to resume outbound cruises dedicated to South Korea, and soon also to Taiwan, after the pause due to travel restrictions caused by the pandemic,” declared Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises.
From June to October 2023, the Costa Serena will operate a charter cruise program in Asia, in cooperation with local tourism partners. A total of thirty-three cruises will be offered. Six of these will be dedicated to the South Korean market in June 2023, and the remaining twenty-seven to the Taiwanese market from July to October 2023.
The itineraries, ranging from 4 to 7 days in length, include destinations in East Asia, particularly Japan, such as Otaru, Muroran, Hakodate, Aomori, Fukuoka, Sasebo, Nagasaki, Yatsushiro, Kagoshima, Naha, Ishigaki, and Miyakojima. Departures are scheduled from the ports of Busan, Sokcho, and Pohang in South Korea, as well as from Keelung and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
The Costa Serena is an Italian-flagged cruise ship built by Fincantieri and launched in 2007. It has a gross tonnage of 114,000 and can accommodate up to 3,780 guests. On board the Costa Serena, guests can enjoy a wide range of Italian-style dining and entertainment experiences, enhanced with a local touch, as well as visit the beautiful destinations included in the itineraries.
