Costa Classica Debuts in Dubai

MIAMI, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Costa Classica made her debut in the Port of Dubai this past weekend, marking a historic first in the global cruise industry. Costa Crociere is the first international cruise company to homeport from Dubai, offering travelers uniquely rich itineraries throughout the Gulf region. The new cruises from Dubai will be offered throughout the 2006/2007 winter season, with additional capacity offered in the 2007-2008 season.

Seven-day itineraries aboard the 53,000-ton Costa Classica include two nights in Dubai and one-day stopovers in the ports of Muscat, Fujairah (United Arab Emirates), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) and Bahrain. The Costa Classica will depart from Dubai every Saturday. In all, the ship will make a total of 17 calls between December 22, 2006 and April 15, 2007. These sailings, marketed to Europeans and North Americans, will amount to 44,000 passengers.

"We're delighted to begin this new cruise program out of Dubai -- a global first which establishes our place as a truly international operator on the world stage," said Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman & CEO of Costa Crociere. "These new itineraries are already proving to be very popular with our guests -- and to this end we intend to significantly increase the number of cruises here next winter."

Costa plans to deploy two cruise ships in Dubai for the 2007/2008 winter season -- the 53,000-ton Costa Romantica and the 55,000-ton Costa Europa. These sailings will comprise a total of 25 calls (15 on the Costa Romantica and 10 on the Costa Europa) and 70,000 projected passengers (40,000 on the Costa Romantica and 30,000 on the Costa Europa).

The two ships will be deployed on the same itinerary currently offered by the Costa Classica in the region. The Costa Romantica will set sail on Saturdays from December 21, 2007 to March 30, 2008 and the Costa Europa will depart every Sunday from December 22, 2007 through February 25, 2008.

All Costa cruises departing from Dubai will include guided excursions in every port of call, giving guests the chance to visit some of the best local tourist attractions -- places of natural beauty or historical and cultural interest. The program features desert adventures, trips to some of the most exclusive beaches in the Gulf region, visits to the finest mosques, historical buildings and museums, tours of the cities and their typical markets, and dolphin-watching cruises.

With the arrival of Costa, cruise traffic in the Port of Dubai will enjoy substantial growth in terms of both calls and passengers handled. In 2005, the UAE port was used as a stopover on cruises 13 times, with 13,000 passengers utilizing the port. 20,000 passengers are forecast by the end of 2006 as Dubai will be used as a port of call on at least 50 cruises during the 2006/2007 winter season (October 2006-April 2007).

Costa offers an experience that is delightfully different in service and cuisine, in an atmosphere filled with love, laughter and la dolce vita. It's called "Cruising Italian Style" and true to its heritage, no detail has been overlooked in bringing the beauty and hospitality of Italy to the sea. Cruising Italian Style ... that's Amore!

The ships of Costa range in size from 30,000-tons to 112,000-tons, and provide an ambience that is distinctly Italian -- from the progressive architecture and stylish design to the unforgettable cuisine and gracious hospitality. With eleven ships in service and four on order, Costa offers cruises that span the globe on itineraries of three nights and longer throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America, Transatlantic, China, Far East and Dubai.

For reservations or more information, contact a travel agent, call (800) GO-COSTA or visit http://www.costacruises.com/.

Costa Cruises is a brand of Carnival Corporation and plc .

Costa Cruises is RINA certified with the BEST 4, 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 Cruises is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Windstar Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, our member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together we offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.