COSTA SETS SAIL FROM ISTANBUL WITH NEW TURKEY AND GREECE CRUISE PACKAGES
Costa has turned Istanbul into its newest port of call for cruises to Greece, Turkey as well as to Cyprus, Israel and Egypt this coming winter.
Costa Venezia’s new cruises to Turkey and Greece made their debut from Istanbul on May 1, as part of a brand new initiative between Costa Cruises, Turkish Airlines, the Turkish National Tourist Board and Galataport Istanbul.
The cruises form part of a “flight+cruise” package, available from all the main European countries, with scheduled Turkish Airlines flights, which will make it possible to reach Istanbul easily, and then embark on board its Costa Venezia ship from the new Galataport cruise terminal.
Speaking of the new packages Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises said: “Our restart program ahead of summer is strengthened by a truly unique offer. The main new feature of Costa Venezia cruises is the possibility of visiting the best of Turkey in a single holiday, starting from Istanbul. We believe Turkey has great potential for cruises, and we are trying to be the first to develop it. Istanbul can be reached from the main European countries in just a few hours’ flight, it has good air connections and modern ports, as well as a mild climate that makes it possible to operate all year round. And above all it offers an incredible variety of experiences and attractions.”
Three itineraries from Turkey
Costa Venezia’s program in Turkey includes three different itineraries, all with embarkation and disembarkation in Istanbul. Each one has been designed to include longer calls in the ports so that passengers have plenty of time to enjoy the each destination.
From 1 May to 13 November 2022, Costa Venezia will offer two one-week itineraries dedicated to Turkey and Greece, interchanging with each other, which can be combined into a single 15-day “super tour”, with eight calls in port longer than 10 hours.
The first itinerary includes a two-day, one-night call in Istanbul, Izmir and Bodrum, the island of Mykonos and Athens. The second itinerary allows passengers to explore Istanbul and Kusadasi in Turkey, before heading off to look around Rhodes and Heraklion, Greece. Costa plans to add a third itinerary linking Turkey to Egypt, Israel and Cyprus this winter.
