Costa Cruises is consolidating its presence in Dubai with the arrival of Costa Toscana. The Italian company’s latest flagship, which entered service last March, called today for the first time at Dubai Harbour, an extraordinary seafront district designed for a maritime lifestyle, set against the district’s unique backdrop, iconic vista and accessible location. On the occasion of this first call, an event was held on board the ship, attended by local and Italian authorities. Throughout the winter of 2022/23, Costa Toscana will offer itineraries of different duration – 3, 4 or 7 days – to discover the Arabian Gulf. In total, there will be 13 cruises, from 17 December 2022 to 11 March 2023, also available with the ‘flight+cruise’ package, which guarantees maximum comfort, without having to worry about transfers to the ship or luggage at the arrival at the airport. To mark the arrival, Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal Management along with public and private sector stakeholders will exchange plaques with the Ship Captain, a maritime tradition, to commemorate the ship’s arrival. Throughout the season, more than 300,000 passengers are expected to arrive at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, which reaffirms the bounce back of the cruise business after the pandemic. Abdulla Binhabtoor, Chief Portfolio Management Officer, Shamal Holding said: “We are delighted to welcome our second LNG powered cruise ship for the season with the arrival of Costa Toscana. Dubai is a city where cruise ships play a crucial role in boosting the overall tourism strategy. Cruises provide distinct choices to experience the city from a unique perspective. We believe these shorter itineraries from Costa will offer tourists and residents a chance to experience maritime lifestyle, set against our …
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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has said that mega projects being implemented in the UAE are reinforcing the country’s profile globally as a model for sustainable growth driven by diversification, innovation and productive partnerships with the private sector. He also said the tourism sector is key to the development of the UAE’s economy, due to the value it adds through key projects and its ability to attract millions of visitors every year. “We welcome visitors from across the world and provide them with an exceptional tourism experiences. We want them to leave with lasting memories that they can share in their countries and communities. The continuous development of infrastructure has enabled our country to be a destination of choice in the region. Supported by the talent and creativity of our people, I am confident that we will be able to establish global leadership in several sectors. The UAE will continue to be a symbol of progress and prosperity,” Sheikh Mohammed added. His remarks came as he approved the ‘Dubai Cruise Terminal’ as the main hub for cruise tourism in Dubai. His Highness also attended the signing ceremony of a strategic partnership agreement between Meraas and Carnival Corporation & plc that aims to transform Dubai into a major regional maritime tourism hub.
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