Costa Serena will provide a total of 23 voyages from 2 to 5 days from November 2023 to January 2024, visiting Mumbai, Cochin, Goa, and, for the first time ever, the stunning Lakshadweep islands. Indian visitors can experience an international vacation while receiving warm Italian hospitality; gastronomy and entertainment will be created specifically for them.
A brand-new cruise plan specifically for India will be available from Costa Cruises. The announcement was made in Mumbai, in the presence of Alessandro De Masi, the Italian Consul General in Mumbai, Roberto Alberti, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises, Francesco Raffa, Director Asia Region & Growth Markets, and other senior officials. Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways for the Government of India.
The ship selected by the Italian firm for India is the Costa Serena, which will continue to expand its deployment in Asia after itineraries from Taiwan, South Korea, and Thailand. From 4 November 2023 to 1 January 2024, there are a total of 23 new sailings in India that were created in association with Costa’s General Sales Agent in India, Lotus Aero Enterprises. They will only travel to local places, offering visitors from India the chance to see some of their nation’s most stunning landscapes from an original vantage point. The itineraries will stop at Mumbai, Cochin, Goa, and, for the first time ever, the Lakshadweep, a stunning tropical archipelago with white beaches and a fantastic coral reef. The itineraries will span between two and five days.
Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India said, “India’s waterways are a treasure trove waiting to be explored by tourists; our country is filled with scenic locales and beautiful destinations. I am happy to know about the new cruise programme exclusively dedicated to India by Costa Cruises. This programme also aligns with Shri Narendra Modi ji’s vision of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ – an initiative that was launched as an appeal by the honourable Prime Minister to Indians to prefer domestic tourism”.
Speaking at the occasion, Roberto Alberti, Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Costa Cruises, said, we have a strong and lasting bond with this wonderful Country: we have already sailed our ships in India in the past, and many of our onboard colleagues are from India. We select and recruit them through dedicated training schools based right in the Country. We are strongly committed in offering our Indian guests a unique holiday experience onboard Costa Serena and we are truly looking forward to starting our operations in November. Costa Serena will be the largest cruise ship to operate domestic itineraries in India”.
Nalini Gupta, Managing Director Lotus Aero Enterprises, GSA Costa Cruise India, said, “We are excited to launch this programme for Indian travelers. This will also help unlock our country’s true tourism potential and help travelers explore hidden gems and get to know our own country in a new light. We are particularly excited about taking travelers to Lakshadweep for the first time ever helping explore its magnificent coral reefs”.
