Thread: Costa Becomes First Cruise Company to Offer Regularly Scheduled Routes from Mauritius

Costa Becomes First Cruise Company to Offer Regularly Scheduled Routes from Mauritius

Costa Marina to Sail Indian Ocean Itineraries from Mauritius to Seychelles, Kenya, Madagascar and Reunion Beginning in December 2007

MIAMI, June 27, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Beginning in December 2007, Costa, Europe and South America's Number One Cruise Line, will become the first cruise operator worldwide to offer Indian Ocean cruises departing from Mauritius. The news was officially announced Monday in the beautiful island locale during a press conference co-hosted by Costa Crociere SpA Chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi and Xavier Luc Duval, Mauritius's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications.

"In 2008 we will confirm our role as leaders in innovation by offering our customers a truly unique holiday destination, never before marketed by a cruise operator," said Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman & CEO of Costa Crociere SpA. "Following the opening of new routes in Asia and Dubai last year, next winter we will also offer cruises from Mauritius, itineraries which are already proving to be popular judging from the advance bookings. I would like to thank the authorities of Mauritius for their cooperation and commitment, which have enabled us to be the first to offer cruise departures from this splendid island."

"We are proud to have such a prestigious partner bringing quality visitors to our island," said Xavier Luc Duval, Mauritius's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications. "Thanks to the high standard of the tourist facilities and the wide range of excursions, Mauritius is the ideal base for this operation, which will reveal to an international clientele not only our turquoise sea, but also the rich heritage of our culture and our traditions. We are sure this operation will have beneficial effects on our tourist industry and on other sectors of our economy."

In the course of the 2007/2008 winter season, the 25,600-ton Costa Marina, which features a total guest capacity of 1,000, will set sail from Mauritius every Saturday on six 14-day cruises in the Indian Ocean. The first departure is scheduled for December 22, 2007, with the last one on March 1, 2008. The itinerary includes two day stopovers in Mauritius and Mahe (Seychelles), and one-day calls at Mombasa (Kenya), Mayotte, Nosy Be (Madagascar), Toamasina (Madagascar) and Reunion.

In addition, there will be two exciting 27-day positioning cruises from Savona to Mauritius, the first leaving November 26, 2007 with stops in Egypt, Jordan, the Seychelles, Kenya, Mayotte and Madagascar, while the other will sail from Mauritius to Savona, with a departure on March 14, 2008 covering the same route in the opposite direction. The Costa Marina will bring a total of around 11,000 passengers to Mauritius. Prices for the 14-night cruises begin at $1,879 per person. Government taxes are additional and all fares are subject to change and based on availability

The cruises out of Mauritius on the Costa Marina will feature guided shore excursions in each port of call, with the chance to visit some of the local highlights. Of all highlights, the stunning beaches are most certainly the main one -- from Mauritius, Mahe in the Seychelles, and Mayotte, Reunion. However, there is also a wealth of sightseeing excursions, including the Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens, which first opened in 1735, Tsavo East National Park, safaris in Kenya (in one of the world's largest game sanctuaries), and daytrips to see the wildlife at Parc Ivoloina in Madagascar. In addition, guests may enjoy a tour of Mombasa Old Town with a spectacular "son et lumiere" presentation portraying the historical struggles between the Arabs and the Portuguese for control of the city, as well as dolphin-watching trips in Mayotte or the blue safari in Mauritius, exploring the superb barrier reef and coral gardens.

Costa, named "one of the top 10 cruise lines" by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, 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, Europe's Number One Cruise Line, range in size from 30,000-tons to 114,000-tons, and provide an ambience that is distinctly Italian -e from the progressive architecture and stylish design to the unforgettable cuisine and gracious hospitality. With twelve ships in service and three 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, Far East, Dubai; and at the end of 2007, the Indian Ocean.

Here's the write-up on this from Frommer's weekly newsletter for this week:

Mauritius is a 720-square-mile island located in the Indian Ocean, about 500 miles east of Madagascar and about 1,000 miles from the coast of continental Africa. Known for its natural beauty, turquoise waters, gorgeous beaches, and cultural diversity, it's a place where tourism has been playing an increasing role in the economy, and now cruising will figure more heavily into that mix too.

Beginning in December 2007, Costa Cruises (tel. 800/GO-COSTA; www.costacruises.com) will become the first cruise line to offer a regular season of departures from the island nation, aboard Costa Marina. The 25,600-ton, 1,000-passenger vessel will offer six 14-night cruises total, sailing each Saturday between December 22, 2007, and March 1, 2008, and visiting Mahe (Seychelles, for two days), Mombasa (Kenya), Nosy Be and Toamasina (Madagascar), and the French islands of Mayotte and Reunion. Prices for the 14-night cruises begin at $1,879 per person.

Two 27-night repositioning cruises to and from Mauritius will depart on November 27, 2007 and March 14, 2008, both with stops in Egypt, Jordan, the Seychelles, Kenya, Mayotte, and Madagascar.

Here's a link to Discover Mauritius, a website about Mauritius:

Mauritius Welcomes You - The Official Site for Mauritius


Mauritius will enchant you, will uplift your soul, making you feel that you belong to the chosen few. Every visitor enjoys personal attention. Every encounter is an opportunity to discover a friendly face. Behind each smile lies the promise of a unique holiday. The contrast of a multitude of colours and tastes, the island, set in its turquoise sea, is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. Mauritius, a melting pot where past and present are smoothly blended together, offers an essential beauty that will compel to return to its shores time and time again. May your stay with us remain engraved in your memory forever.

And here's a link to a CLF thread about the Seychelles, one of the stops on the itinerary detailed in one of the above posts:

http://www.cruiselinefans.com/other/...eychelles.html

And, because it may be unfamiliar to some of us, I've started a thread in Cruise Places about Mauritius in our Cruise Places forum.

LINK: http://www.cruiselinefans.com/other/...mauritius.html


I easily found a little basic information on the net, but would sure appreciate it if anyone who can would add to the thread... especially if you have been there, or otherwise have some interesting knowledge about the place.

Madagascar is one of the other places on this itinerary. So, now I've started a Madagascar thread in our Cruise Places forum.
I put in a little general information that I found, but if anyone has anything to add, please do!

Here's the link:
http://www.cruiselinefans.com/other/...adagascar.html

Some links with info on Madagasca:

Madagascar: Table of Contents

Madagascar (06/07)

Madagascar: History, Geography, Government, and Culture — Infoplease.com

Madagascar Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide

With Caribbean bookings reportedly weak, Costa adding these African sailings may be a sign of things to come... more may follow to the coast of Africa and its Islands.

Many cruisers know little about African destinations, compared to the Caribbean. They's surely be wanting to learn more, and CLF is ready!
We've added a sub-furom called Africa to our Cruise Places forum.

http://www.cruiselinefans.com/africa/

Originally Posted by canarymoon

With Caribbean bookings reportedly weak, Costa adding these African sailings may be a sign of things to come... more may follow to the coast of Africa and its Islands.

Many cruisers know little about African destinations, compared to the Caribbean. They's surely be wanting to learn more, and CLF is ready!
We've added a sub-furom called Africa to our Cruise Places forum.

http://www.cruiselinefans.com/africa/

Sheila, African ports of call are, Kenya, Mayotte, and Reunion.
I'll post links to each of these destinations in the Africa sub-forum that was added also.

Reunion, Africa:
Reunion is a tiny French-speaking island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. An overseas department of France, its population reflects a rich ethnic mix of African, French, Malay, Indian (Hindu and Muslim) and Chinese, giving the country a vibrant and unique cultural heritage.

If you're looking for rugged terrain suitable for trekking, Reunion offers some of the most dramatic mountain scenery anywhere. But if you prefer a more genteel landscape, there are gorgeous gardens, fragrant spice farms and beautiful Creole houses to explore. The only possible flaw in this paradise has to do with water: Reunion's lagoons are small and shallow, and the island has little protection from the pounding surf, so its beautiful beaches and clear waters are more suitable for basking than for swimming and diving. Nevertheless, Reunion calls out to explorers seeking exceptional encounters and experiences -- jagged peaks, sheer cliffs, waterfalls and an active volcano to boot. It is a sensational place to unwind.

Weather Overview

Because of the high mountains, the island's climate varies greatly. In general, however, it experiences two distinct seasons: the hot, rainy summer from December to April and the cool, dry winter from late April to October. The windward east coast is considerably wetter than the dry, brown west coast, but wettest of all are the mountains above the east coast - around Takamaka, Plaine-des-Palmistes and the northern and eastern slopes of the volcano. As with Mauritius, the cyclone season is roughly December to March.

Temperatures on the coast average 22°C (72°F) during winter and 27°C (81°F) in summer. In the mountains, they drop to 11°C (52°F) and 18°C (64°F) respectively. The southeast trade winds blow year-round and can make hiking at high altitude uncomfortably cold in winter.


La Reunion - Travel Guide

La Réunion vous attend...

Reunion Travel Guide | Reunion Travel Information Guide
(click links on right side of page)

Links for Kenya, Africa:
Kenya, Africa - Travel Guide and Tourist Information

History of Kenya:
Kenya History Timeline - historic overview of Kenya, Africa

Kenya (06/07)
Kenya