Costa Cruises and Dubai join together for the inauguration of the Costa Deliziosa

The Costa Deliziosa to bethe first-ever cruise ship to be named in an Arabian city on 23 February 2010

Costa Cruises, Italy's largest tourism group and Europe's number one cruise company, and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) have announced a global first for the cruise industry.

Costa Deliziosa, the Italian company's new "top of the range" ship, will be named in Dubai on 23 February 2010 and will be the first ever cruise ship to be named in an Arabian city. 
The naming ceremony will take place during the ship's grand inaugural cruise, departing from Savona on 5 February 2010 and calling at Dubai between 23 to 26 February. Costa guests cruising on the first leg of the grand maiden cruise will be able to attend the christening ceremony.

The Costa Deliziosa (92,600 gross tonnage and 2,826 guest capacity) is currently being fitted out at Fincantieri's Marghera, Venice shipyard and will be delivered on 29 January 2010.
Fabrizia Greppi, Costa Crociere S.p.A. V.P. Corporate Marketing & Communication said; "Thanks to the partnership and four years of activities with the DTCM, we have boosted our presence, bringing ships to Dubai which are ambassadors of the best "made in Italy" in the world. The naming ceremony of our fifteenth ship, the Costa Deliziosa in Dubai will strengthen the partnership between Costa Cruises and DTCM. We are working together towards creating an unforgettable event rich with surprise and atmosphere, combining the charming tradition of an Arabian night with the unique Italian style by Costa Cruises".

In winter 2009/2010 Costa's ships are expected to bring 140,000 passenger movements to Dubai thanks to the presence of three ships - the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Europa.

The estimated economic impact will be about €14 million*, coming from Costa's guests' direct spending, shore excursions, transfers, cruise operation expenditures, general expenditures (food & beverage). Most of Costa's guests will come from Europe (Italy, Germany, UK and France). In addition to Costa Cruises ships also one AIDA Cruises ship, AIDAdiva (69,200 gross tonnage and 2,500 total Guests), will be calling 20 times at Dubai in winter 2009/10.
Costa's operations in the Dubai area started in winter 2006/2007 with only one ship, the Costa Classica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,680 Guests). The immediate success of the new cruise destination prompted Costa Cruises to increase its capacity in the area year after year. Costa Cruises' passengers in Dubai increased from 44,000 in Winter 2006/07 to 100,000 in Winter 2008/09. Costa Cruises' ships have generated substantial and growing business for the emirate of Dubai and the other ports of call on the itinerary.

Cruising in Dubai:
Dubai is sailing ahead to become the ultimate cruise destination of the Middle East. The cruise industry is rapidly growing with 260,817 cruise tourists predicted to visit the emirate during 2009; nearly a 25 per cent increase on last year. In 2010, Dubai is expected to host 99 calls with over 383,000 passengers and the cruise industry is set to grow further as the new Dubai Cruise Terminal becomes operational in January 2010.

In Winter 2009/10 both Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa will sail on a 7-day itinerary with two nights in Dubai and one day calls at the ports of Muscat (Oman), Fujairah (United Arab Emirates), Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Bahrain.