Dubai is readying itself for the 2023 cruise season with the arrival of the flagship Costa Toscana ship.
The Costa Cruises vessel arrived at Dubai Harbour on Friday.
Described as a “smart city” rather than a ship, the Costa Toscana has its own water park, 1,550 balcony cabins, 13 swimming poos and hot tubs, 11 restaurants and 19 entertainment lounges.
Dubai cruise season
Costa Cruises flagship entered service only last March.
Throughout the winter of 2022/23, Costa Toscana will offer itineraries of different duration – three, four or seven days – to discover the Arabian Gulf.
In total, there will be 13 cruises, from December17 to March 11, 2023.
To mark the arrival, Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal management along with public and private sector stakeholders exchanged plaques with the ship captain, a maritime tradition, to commemorate the ship’s arrival.
Throughout the season, more than 300,000 passengers are expected to arrive at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, which reaffirms the bounce back of the cruise business after the pandemic.
Abdulla Binhabtoor, Chief Portfolio Management Officer, Shamal Holding said: “We are delighted to welcome our second LNG powered cruise ship for the season with the arrival of Costa Toscana.
“Dubai is a city where cruise ships play a crucial role in boosting the overall tourism strategy. Cruises provide distinct choices to experience the city from a unique perspective.
“We believe these shorter itineraries from Costa will offer tourists and residents a chance to experience maritime lifestyle, set against our extraordinary backdrop designed to offer something for everyone and anyone who loves to be on, near, in or by the sea.”
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