Costa Cruises is selling the Costa neoClassica, one of the cruise line’s longest-serving ships. The ship will depart Costa’s fleet as of March 10, 2018, once its schedule of cruises between India and the Maldives is complete.
The change has prompted the cruise line to make several updates to its 2018 itineraries. Starting March 30, 2018, Costa Victoria will return to cruises in the Mediterranean, which Costa said will allow it to maintain its cruise offerings in the region. The Costa Victoria had been sailing in China since 2012, focused on the local market. During the summer of 2018 the Costa Victoria will offer a one-week itinerary in the Balearic Islands that had originally been planned for the Costa neoRiviera, with calls at Savona, Olbia, Minorca, Ibiza (overnight), Palma de Mallorca and Tarragona (overnight). The itinerary will also offer a chance to visit the PortAventura World destination resort, which is home to the Ferrari Land theme park.
The Costa neoRiviera will replace Costa neoClassica on its one-week itineraries in the Greek Islands, homeporting in Bari, starting in June 2018.
Costa Crusies said that it will protect guests who are already booked on the Costa neoRiviera and Costa neoClassica, and that it has taken steps to inform guests and travel agencies over the coming weeks.
Before returning to the Mediterranean, Costa Victoria will undergo a scheduled refurbishment at the Chantier Naval de Marseille.
Costa Cruises said the moves come as the line is awaiting the addition of four new cruise ships starting in 2019, two of which will be for its Costa Asia brand. The two cruise ships for Costa Cruises are part of an agreement between its parent company Carnival Corporation and Meyer Werft, and will incorporate next-generation technology, including engines powered by clean-burning liquefied natural gas (LNG). Deliveries are expected in 2019 and 2020.
A representative of Costa Cruises tells Travel Agent that it is not announcing a buyer for the Costa neoClassica at this time.
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