10 May 2006
MUSCAT -- Costa Allegra will be calling for the first time in Salalah today. Costa Allegra is one of the 10 ships of the Italian company Costa Crociere, the number one cruise company in Europe and South America.
On April 30 the Costa Allegra (28,500 dwt and a maximum capacity of 1,000 guests) left the port of Savona from the Palacrociere in Savona for an exclusive 30-day positioning cruise to Hong Kong, during which she landed in Naples, crossed the Suez Canal, and made calls to Yemen, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam and finally Hong Kong.
She will be utilised mainly for the company's European clientele, as well as the two subsequent 15 and 16-day cruises, which will depart from Hong Kong and Mumbai. Basically, all these cruises have been sold out.
As of July 3, this year the Costa Allegra will begin its cruise programme from Shanghai, marketing them in China and in Asia. The five-day itinerary will include calls to Nagasaki (Japan) and Cheju (Korea). Twenty-four cruises have been scheduled at this time.
Costa Crociere's objective is to provide cruises for 55,000 Chinese guests per year who will embark in ports in their country. Costa Crociere is the world's first major international cruise company to receive a licence from the government of China to operate in the local market, departing from ports located in China.
In April 2006, before leaving Savona to reach Asia, Costa Allegra was completely renewed, with a total investment of about 12 million euro, to offer future Chinese guests a cruise experience tailor-made to satisfy their tastes, but with a European style. In particular, the new design of the ship's interiors was inspired by the Italian neo-classic period, so greatly appreciated by Chinese consumers.
In 2006 and 2007 also Costa Classica and Costa Marina will be calling at Salalah, during positioning cruise from Europe to Dubai (Costa Classica) and Singapore (Costa Marina).
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is the leading Italian cruise company in Europe and South America. Costa Crociere S.p.A. also includes the AIDA Cruises and Costa Crociere brands: a total of 14 ships in service and orders for six additional vessels. All ships fly the Italian flag and operate in the Mediterranean, North Europe, the Caribbean Central and South America, United Arab Emirates and the Far East. Costa Crociere is RINA certified with the BEST4, a highly structured system of certifications involving social responsibility (SA 8000, 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 1996), safety (OHSAS 18001, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). Costa Crociere also supports the WWF in the efforts to protect marine eco-regions in the Mediterranean Sea, the Great Antilles and Brazil. Costa Crociere SpA is a member of the Carnival Corporation & plc Group, the world's cruise industry leader. The agents of Costa Allegra are Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC.
"This marks the first Costa Crociere vessel calling Oman under our agency. The line has a larger master plan for Middle East region, which would be revealed to the public soon. The new plan will benefit Oman tourism industry to a greater extent as their plan is to place more vessel calls to Middle East," M. C. Jose, general manager, Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC said yesterday. Zahara Tours would be looking after the tour operations for Costa Allegra in Salalah, he added.
MUSCAT -- Costa Allegra will be calling for the first time in Salalah today. Costa Allegra is one of the 10 ships of the Italian company Costa Crociere, the number one cruise company in Europe and South America.
On April 30 the Costa Allegra (28,500 dwt and a maximum capacity of 1,000 guests) left the port of Savona from the Palacrociere in Savona for an exclusive 30-day positioning cruise to Hong Kong, during which she landed in Naples, crossed the Suez Canal, and made calls to Yemen, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam and finally Hong Kong.
She will be utilised mainly for the company's European clientele, as well as the two subsequent 15 and 16-day cruises, which will depart from Hong Kong and Mumbai. Basically, all these cruises have been sold out.
As of July 3, this year the Costa Allegra will begin its cruise programme from Shanghai, marketing them in China and in Asia. The five-day itinerary will include calls to Nagasaki (Japan) and Cheju (Korea). Twenty-four cruises have been scheduled at this time.
Costa Crociere's objective is to provide cruises for 55,000 Chinese guests per year who will embark in ports in their country. Costa Crociere is the world's first major international cruise company to receive a licence from the government of China to operate in the local market, departing from ports located in China.
In April 2006, before leaving Savona to reach Asia, Costa Allegra was completely renewed, with a total investment of about 12 million euro, to offer future Chinese guests a cruise experience tailor-made to satisfy their tastes, but with a European style. In particular, the new design of the ship's interiors was inspired by the Italian neo-classic period, so greatly appreciated by Chinese consumers.
In 2006 and 2007 also Costa Classica and Costa Marina will be calling at Salalah, during positioning cruise from Europe to Dubai (Costa Classica) and Singapore (Costa Marina).
Costa Crociere S.p.A. is the leading Italian cruise company in Europe and South America. Costa Crociere S.p.A. also includes the AIDA Cruises and Costa Crociere brands: a total of 14 ships in service and orders for six additional vessels. All ships fly the Italian flag and operate in the Mediterranean, North Europe, the Caribbean Central and South America, United Arab Emirates and the Far East. Costa Crociere is RINA certified with the BEST4, a highly structured system of certifications involving social responsibility (SA 8000, 2001), environment (UNI EN ISO 14001, 1996), safety (OHSAS 18001, 1999) and quality (UNI EN ISO 9001, 2000). Costa Crociere also supports the WWF in the efforts to protect marine eco-regions in the Mediterranean Sea, the Great Antilles and Brazil. Costa Crociere SpA is a member of the Carnival Corporation & plc Group, the world's cruise industry leader. The agents of Costa Allegra are Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC.
"This marks the first Costa Crociere vessel calling Oman under our agency. The line has a larger master plan for Middle East region, which would be revealed to the public soon. The new plan will benefit Oman tourism industry to a greater extent as their plan is to place more vessel calls to Middle East," M. C. Jose, general manager, Khimji Ramdas Shipping LLC said yesterday. Zahara Tours would be looking after the tour operations for Costa Allegra in Salalah, he added.
By Business Reporter
© Times of Oman 2006
