Buon Viaggo With Costa Cruises

Costa Cruises marks 10th anniversary in Asia

Costa Asia recently celebrated a major milestone in Asia. It was the first international cruise company to deploy year-round homeport cruises in Asia in 2016 and in July this year, celebrated its 10-year anniversary in Asia.

Over the decade, Costa Asia has brought innovation and excellence to voyagers onboard their ships with their creative cruise experiences. Each Costa Cruise offers an authentic European cruising experience with their “Italy at Sea” concept. This concept sees travellers immersing themselves in Italian culture, cuisine and entertainment all onboard any of the Costa Cruises ships. One of its most popular ships is the Costa Victoria, where travellers can experience a spectacular Carnival of Venice at Sea!

One of the world’s most significant carnivals in Italy, the Carnival of Venice is an annual festival that originated after the victory of Venice in a war in 1162. The Venetian carnival was a celebration from then on that saw locals reunite with friends and family at St Mark’s Square to dance. Today, tourists flock to join in the age-old tradition that is filled with musicians, acrobats, clowns, magicians, puppeteers, elaborate masks, costumes and parades.

On Costa Victoria, the Carnival of Venice begins even before passengers get on board. Be greeted by festivities and celebrations in the spirit of the carnival with photo-taking opportunities with intricately designed Venetian costumes. Then at the Atrium of the ship, ‘live’ music formally welcomes guests to the Carnival of Venice. During this magical cruise, guests will be able to spot Venetian masks and people dressed in distinct Venetian costumes all set against a backdrop of Venetian decor and carnivalesque elements – the impressive Concorde Plaza will remind guests of the Mediterranean Sea with its marine oasis theme, and the soothing Spa pool the splendour of Pompeii, while the Capriccio Bar is adorned with mosaics designed by Italian artist Emilio Tadini.

Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a variety of Carnival of Venice activities for a full Italian experience on Costa Victoria. Each day, find a copy of the pink ‘Today – the Daily Programme’ newsletter in your room that covers important cruise information, as well as a line up of the day’s activities. Each day features something new, such as Cocktails with the Captain, culinary demonstrations and a multitude of classes. Learn basic Italian phrases, how to make Costa Cruises’ world-famous tiramisu dessert and ballroom dances like the Cha Cha and Salsa. There are also seminars to attend on makeup, weight loss and skin care. For those who lead a more active lifestyle, there are ball game tournaments and lots of exercise classes led by crewmembers. Come evenings, be enthralled by performers in a ‘Viva l’Italia’ variety show, which sees singers and dancers performing Italian opera, do acrobatic circus tricks, hip hop dances and even impersonation acts from Las Vegas!

No Italian experience is complete if food has been left out of course. Taste the rich flavours of Italian cuisine at the five restaurants on board Costa Victoria. For a casual dining experience at your own leisure, Ristorante Buffet Bolero is your best bet for a selection of international cuisines served for breakfast and lunch. For bistro dining, La Tavernetta Pizzeria serves freshly made whole pizzas for snacking on from mid-afternoon till late evening. During the evening dinner service, dress up and head to either Fantasia Restaurant or Sinfonia Restaurant, the formal dining restaurant that serves authentic Italian dishes a la carte style. Watch out for the waiters’ extra special performances! Song and dance are always on the table for the crewmembers for a little extra entertainment for diners. For extra special occasions, book a reservation with Club Restaurant Magnifico for a romantic evening.

For its 10th anniversary in Asia, Costa Asia has also added an authentic Asian style Hot Pot dining experience for guests at an extra cost. Fresh ingredients, including freshly prepared noodles, choices from 21 different condiments, and Asian beers and wines just add to the genuine experience for guests who enjoy the comfort foods of home. Costa Asia is also working towards obtaining Halal certification for its kitchens for the cruising period of October 2016 to January 2017. Extra precautions have been taken to ensure a thoroughly cleaned kitchen, and only Halal-certified ingredients being used so Muslim guests can enjoy a peace of mind on board Costa Victoria.

As Costa Cruises makes various stops at different pons during its journey, don’t forget to check out the land excursions each time the ship docks! In Phuket, guests have the opportunity to explore the tropical beach paradise by visiting top tourist attractions, such as to a fruit firm and elephant show or factory outlets for the best discounts. Over in Penang, guests can do a quick overview of the island, or visit key areas, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed George Town to explore its suburbs. There’s also a heritage tour that brings guests to historical landmarks before ending off with a shopping spree on local produce.

Should guests choose not to disembark during a stopover, there are still lots to do on board. Other than the list of daily activities to participate in, guests can check out the various facilities within the ship. Take a dip in any of the two outdoor pools, or head to the indoor pool during less than stellar weather. lake the time to relax in the four Jacuzzis or head to the Venus Beauty Salon or Pompeii Spa and Fitness Centre for head-to-toe beauty and wellness treatments and free use of gym equipment. There’s also a Wimbledon tennis and volley court, and outdoors jogging track for a little sporty fun in the sun. For a little leisure, head to the PlayStation room, or the casino for rounds of roulette and slots, otherwise rack up your own game of poker at the card room. Quiet time can easily be had at the library that is well stocked with books of various genres. Teenagers and children can also enjoy leisure time on board. Drop kids off at Squok Club or Teens Club where age appropriate activities will ensure they’ll never be bored. There’s even a Rock Star Disco where young ones can shake loose and make friends with other passengers.

In great cruising tradition, the last night of the cruise is reserved for the grand Gala. Dress to the nines for the last dinner at Fantasia Restaurant or Sinfonia Restaurant to have your picture taken with the rest of your travelling party. The Gala ends with an over-the-top Carnival of Venice Party. Masquerade masks are handed out to all guests to don for the occasion. Then dance the night away as the DJ spins the hottest tunes on deck!