Costa Cruises

Costa Crociere S.p.A., which comprises the Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises brands, is headquartered in Genoa (Italy) and has the largest fleet in Europe: 26 ships currently in service, plus another two new vessels due for delivery by 2016. In 2000 Costa Crociere S.p.A. launched a fleet expansion program, which is ongoing with total expenditure to date of approximately 11 billion euros. Costa Crociere S.p.A. is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise operator.

COSTA CRUISES

For 66 years the ships of the historic Costa Cruises brand have plied the seas of the world, offering the best in Italian style, hospitality and cuisine and providing dream holidays with the utmost in terms of fun and relaxation.

The Costa Cruises fleet has a total of 16 ships in service, all flying the Italian flag. Since 2000, Costa Cruises has invested around 6 billion euros in fleet expansion.

Each year Costa’s ships offer the chance to visit some 250 separate destinations with approximately 100 itineraries and 69 ports of embarkation. They operate in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the United Arab Emirates, the Indian Ocean, the Far East and Africa, as well as Around-the-World Cruises and Grand Cruises calling at destinations in different continents on the one vacation. There are about 2200 excursions to choose from.

The Company can count on a young, multinational staff: 80% of its more than 19,000 employees (over 18,000 shipboard personnel and 1000 in the shore side offices) are under 40 and they come from 70 different countries.

Costa Crociere currently has nine training schools located all over the world: at its Genoa headquarters, at the Center for Simulator Maritime Training of Officers in Almere (Netherlands), in Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Peru, Indonesia and China. They are run directly or as joint ventures with leading local universities. The Company also has its own network of “Mobile Instructors”, ready to provide Costa training in Chile, Argentina, Guatemala, South Korea and Thailand as well as in dedicated educational centers on board each ship.
98% of Costa Cruises’ Guests were satisfied or very satisfied with their cruise vacation in 2014. Costa Cruises works with over 80,000 travel agencies worldwide.

AIDA CRUISES

AIDA Cruises is the number one cruise company for the German market. There are ten AIDA ships operating at present. Another two new vessels will enter service in 2015 and 2016. AIDA markets its cruises in German-speaking countries, its hallmarks being a youthful style and informal service.