Costa turns 75. And it offers 75 cruises at a special price

The last time that Vanity Fair was on board a Costa Cruises ship during the days of the Sanremo Festival, when Costa Smeralda – moored at anchor in the port of the Ligurian city – was the second stage of the Festival.

On the ship we attended performances by artists (Salmo, Fedez and Guè above all), participated in musical-themed workshops and tasted the starred cuisine of Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León, the three chefs who sign the menu of Archipelago, the gourmet restaurant on board.

A little over a month after the celebrations in Sanremo, Costa is getting ready these days to celebrate his 75th anniversarywhich according to the calendar will fall next on March 31, 2023. On that day – 75 years ago, it was 1948 – it departed from Genoa bound for Buenos Aires, with 768 passengers on board, Anna Costa. Launched in 1929 under the name of Southern Prince, then requisitioned by the British Royal Navy and renamed HMS Southern, under which name she participated in the Normandy landings, Anna Costa became the first passenger ship in the fleet.

For the occasion, Costa Cruises – today part of the American Carnival Corporation – offers its cruise passengers 75 cruises at a special priceavailable until 11 April, to set off during the year, from early spring to autumn, to discover two of the most loved destinations by Italians: the Mediterranean and the northern Europe.

Cruise experiences at a special price
Who prefers the Western Mediterraneancan enter the modernist atmospheres of Gaudi to Barcelonathen diving into the underground caves of Can Marcain Ibiza, and visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the only Gothic church in the world by the sea, in Palma de Mallorca. Or discover the myths, history and landscapes of Eastern Mediterraneanamong which they stand out Mykonos and its «Little Venice» to be reached on board a barcarole, the thermal springs of Palea Kameni in Santorini and the natural pool of the Blue Lagoon of Maltaideal place for snorkelling.

Those who prefer the landscapes of northern Europe can explore by bike Bergenthe second largest city in Norway, famous for the wooden houses built on the old pier, admire the emerald green and ultramarine blue reflections of the Hellesylt Fjord and taste the Nordic delicacies of Geiranger.

To enjoy these destinations, Costa has come up with a renewed range of excursions, with expert local guides who lead cruise passengers to discover the atmosphere and traditions. The entertainment on board, with live shows, music and theme parties, is also designed according to the itineraries, to always offer a local touch.

Ships and itineraries for the 75th anniversary
Costa Smeralda, Costa Toscana and Costa Diadema will offer week-long cruises in the western Mediterranean, to discover the most beautiful destinations in Italy, France and Spain. The itinerary of Tuscan coast includes Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona, ​​Cagliari, Naples and Civitavecchia/Rome. Costa Smeralda will visit Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, ​​Palma de Mallorca (Ibiza in summer), Palermo, Civitavecchia/Rome. Costa Diadem instead, it will offer Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome, Cagliari or Ajaccio (depending on departures), Palma de Mallorca, Valencia and Marseille.

In the eastern Mediterranean, Delicious coast will discover Marghera/Venice, Katakolon/Olimpia (Greece), Mykonos (Greece) Santorini (Greece) and Bari, while during the summer Pacific coast will visit the new entry Taranto, Catania, Malta, Mykonos and Santorini. Both itineraries last one week.

Always in the summer, Costa Fortuna will propose an original itinerary between the Greek islands – Crete (with a stopover in Iraklion), Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and Kefalonia (with a stopover in Argostoli) – and the Balearic Islands, with Italian stopovers in Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome and Messina.

Northern Europe cruises will also be available from May to September. Charming coast will propose 12-day itineraries towards the North Cape, or 9-day itineraries in the most beautiful cities of the Baltic; fabulous coast will visit Iceland, the Lofoten Islands, Greenland, new for this summer, or Great Britain and Ireland; Coast Florence will offer week-long cruises in the Norwegian fjords.

For those who have a few days available, in spring there are also the mini-cruises in France and Spain, from 3 to 5 days, with Costa Fascinosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Fortuna and Costa Favolosa.