Europe's leading cruise operator and Italy’s largest travel group, Costa Cruises, has made Dubai its regional hub for the fifth consecutive year.

Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa are two cruise liners deployed by the company which will have regular cruises between regional harbours, taking Dubai as the starting point.

Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) recently launched the new cruise season aboard the 958-foot cruise ship Costa Deliziosa docked at the Port Rashid terminal in Dubai.

Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa offer 7-day cruises, which include two-night stay in Dubai, in addition to one night each in Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain, culminating in Dubai.

Costa’s cruise liners offer Arabic speaking staff to assist Arab passengers; variety of Arabic food; and a separate prayer room.

This year Costa Cruises will begin its season from DTCM’s new temporary cruise terminal in Port Rashid. This terminal can accommodate two ships simultaneously, which means that together with its other cruise terminal, DTCM can receive up to four cruise ships at the same time.

The Abu Dhabi leg of the cruise will offer a trip to Ferrari World, the largest indoor and first Ferrari theme park in the world, and also a visit to the Yas Marina Formula 1 race track.

Costa Cruises expects to bring in 150,000 passengers to Dubai this tourist season, marking a 7 per cent increase over last year.-TradeArabia News Service