Costa Crociere inaugurates the 2024 summer season in Taranto

PORT OF TARANTO, 9 JUNE 2024 - First port of call for Costa Fascinosa, which will visit Taranto every Sunday until 22 September. The tour will lead to the discovery of Sicily, Greece and Malta, featuring the great novelty of the "Sea Destinations": new locations to be experienced on board, while sailing, such as the tasting of Sicilian wines in front of the panorama of Mount Etna, or the party of the abysses in the Aegean Sea.

After last year's success, with over 100,000 passengers handled,Costa Crocierehas officially inaugurated the 2024 summer season inTaranto.

This morning, with around 3,200 guests on board,Costa Fascinosa, the ship chosen by the Italian company to bring Costa cruises to Taranto for the second year running, docked in the port. This is the first of a series of 16 stopovers, during which the Costa Fascinosa will visit Taranto every Sunday, with a stopover of around 10 hours, as part of a week-long itinerary sailing to the splendid Greek islands of Santorini and Mykonos (Greece), to Valletta (Malta) and Catania.  

In addition to these fantastic 'ashore' destinations, the Costa Fascinosa's itinerary will propose a big surprise, available only with Costa: the 'Sea Destinations', new locations to be enjoyed on board, while sailing, to better experience iconic places included in the ship's route.  For example, immediately after departing from Catania, on board the ship, guests will be able to enjoy aWine Experiencededicated to the best wines of Sicily, served directly from the barriques, while enjoying the splendid panorama of ’Mount Etna. Others, as the ship crosses the deepest point of the Aegean Sea,a party dedicated to the sea abysseswill unfold, with nymphs, sirens and sea daemons coming on board for a celebration that loses itself in mythical depths, as the legends sing. Moored in front ofSantorini, as the sun slowly descends revealing incredible hues in the sky, guests will have the chance to capture all the beauty of the panorama in a photo, while sipping their favourite cocktail.

During their stay in the port of Taranto, passengers will enjoy visiting the city and its territory from a unique point of view, off the beaten track, thanks to the excursions organised by Costa. More specifically, Costa Fascinosa's offer will include a walking tour of the old city, with an inside visit to the Aragonese Castle and the San Cataldo cathedral. Alternatively, guests may always visit the city on their own

With 114,000 gross tonnes, the Costa Fascinosa is an Italian-flagged ship of the Costa Crociere fleet, which can accommodate up to 3800 guests. The ship underwent a major restyling in May 2022. Food excellence on board is represented by theArchipelagorestaurant, serving menus created by three great international chefs: Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León. The cruise ship's main restaurants, included in the price, offerDestination Dishes, unique recipes created by the three chefs, which interpret the tradition and flavours of the place you will visit the following day. Still on the subject of taste, the ship features the Pizzeria Pummid’oro restaurant, serving authentic Italian pizza, made to perfection; the Sushino at Costa, a sushi bistro by the sea designed for an authentic Japanese experience, for happy hour, lunch or dinner; and the Salty Beach, ideal for street food lovers. A total of 9 bars are available on board, including themed bars in partnership with world-famous brands, such as the Aperol Spritz Bar. Entertainment is guaranteed by the theatre on three decks, where you can enjoy spectacular and exciting shows; 4 swimming pools and 5 Jacuzzis; a multi-sports centre; a6,000 m2 wellness spaand a gym overlooking the sea, equipped with Technogym machines; younger guests can enjoy the Squok Club and the Teen Zone, with their own dedicated areas.

As Roberto Alberti, Senior Vice President & Chief Corporate Officer of Costa Crociere, stated: “" We are pleased to be back in Taranto and embark on a new chapter in our partnership with this beautiful city. 2023, the year of our debut, was a great success, which has contributed to consolidating Taranto as one of the leading cruise tourism destinations in the Mediterranean area. We want to bolster this success and this is why we have already confirmed the Costa Fascinosa's programme in Taranto for the summer of 2025 as well: this is a great opportunity to be seized all together, working in agreement with local institutions and operators, as we have done so far, to constantly improve the services offered to cruise passengers".

To quote the words of the Mayor of Taranto, Rinaldo Melucci: “The arrival of Costa Fascinosa in Taranto, to which the entire city extends its warm welcome, is not only a symbol of continuity with last year's success, but it also represents a significant economic opportunity for the area. With each stopover of this splendid ship, a flow of tourists visit our historical attractions, enjoy our hospitality and purchase handicraft products, contributing to the local economy. This comes as the result of teamwork and a shared vision between the city of Taranto, Costa Crociere and all local tourism operators. Our goal is to offer an unforgettable experience to visitors, showcasing the best of our culture, history and traditions. And I like to emphasise that this new cruise season not only strengthens the position of the Ionian capital as a leading tourist destination, but also stimulates employment and local commerce. It is a virtuous circle that benefits all citizens and proves the potential of our city as a Mediterranean tourist hub in what we believe to be a moment of rebirth and growth for Taranto.”.

Sergio Prete, President of the Ionian Sea Port System Authority - Taranto Port, added: “With great enthusiasm, the Ionian port community welcomes the return of Costa Crociere to the Port of Taranto, which will be calling at the Ionian port every Sunday until next 22 September with Costa Fascinosa. On the back of the positive numbers of the cruise season recorded last year, the Port of Taranto has reconfirmed its role as Costa Crociere's home port, and today had the honour of officially launching the 2024 summer season of the exclusive Mediterranean itinerary linking Italy, Greece and Malta. Today's maiden call is a reason for immense satisfaction in view of the fruitful coordination between the local community's public and private stakeholders. Indeed, the Port and the City intend to further strengthen this collaboration in a strategic key, aiming to further contribute to the generation of new cultural and socio-economic development opportunities for the territory. In view of the sustainability of port-city relations, with Costa Crociere we will maintain an ongoing dialogue with a view to identifying further ways to involve the local community and initiatives to promote sustainable maritime tourism that could further benefit the growth of Taranto as a cruise destination".