For more than 60 years Costa Cruises’ ships have sailed worldwide, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine, while providing holidays focused on fun and relaxation. Now, Costa Cruises will launch a designer boutique concept in on board 2,394 passenger Costa Victoria sailing four- to seven-night cruises from the new Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal called “Italy at Sea” that will offer shipboard designer fashion boutiques selling top brands at duty-free prices.
“Costa Victoria adds a new twist to the Asian cruise market with on-board luxury boutique shopping,” said Buhdy Bok, vice president, Pacific Asia and China for Costa. “There is a large array of high-end fashion stores and boutiques, plus there will be a fashion show modeling on-board wares. We are thrilled to be able to bring the new program on Costa Victoria to Asia and we are excited at how this ‘fashion cruise’ experience will be received by our Asian guests.”
Costa Cruises was the first international cruise company to enter the China market, and the line has used that experience to create a customized product on Costa Victoria. The one-of-a-kind boutique area will appeal to discerning guests, “fashionistas” and bargain hunters alike. Selling duty-free Gucci accessories, Longines watches, name-brand cosmetics and fine leather goods, shipboard stores will offer some of the world’s most desired brands of cosmetics, watches, sunglasses and accessories as well as liquor and tobacco.
While taking the “Italy at Sea” idea to heart, Costa Victoria has incorporated many elements specifically designed to appeal to Asian guests. For instance, Costa Victoria offers a range of cuisines in four of its five restaurants. In the largest, Sinfornia, dinner is served in two sittings, the first with traditional Chinese or Italian dishes, and the latter with a greater selection of Japanese and South Korean food. The second largest of Victoria’s four restaurants, Fantasia, will appeal to Chinese diners looking for a taste of home, and Club Il Magnifico provides a sophisticated setting for a perfect romantic evening.
In the evenings, ICE, one of the world’s top Michael Jackson impersonators, will perform Asia-favorite MJ’s greatest hits in the Festival Showroom. In addition, a fashion show featuring name-brand products available on board offers guests a more refined form of entertainment in the two-deck theater. Live music, games and competitions complete the nightlife scene in Costa Victoria’s 10 bars and disco.
Costa Victoria will stop at several destinations in Japan including the tropical paradise of Hososhima/Miyazaki; Wakayama, which boasts the largest hot spring resort in Japan’s second-largest city, Osaka; popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area of Yokohama, and Tokyo, the capital city. South Korean destinations include the “Island of the Gods,” Jeju; the picturesque harbor town of Yeosu and South Korea’s second-largest city, Busan.
Beginning May 18 the 75,200-ton, 2,394–guest Costa Victoria will depart on with calls at ports in Japan and South Korea.
The line’s other ships visit 250 destinations throughout the Mediterranean, northern Europe, the Baltic, Caribbean, South America, United Arab Emirates, Far East and Indian Ocean. Two new ships are on order from Fincantieri — Costa Fascinosa is slated to enter service in May 2012 and a second vessel is to be delivered in 2014.
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