Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and one of Europe’s most popular cruise lines, has announced a new novelty on-board experience called “ViceVersa” for all its loyal “CostaClub” members.

Under this arrangement, CostaClub patrons will be able to take the place of the crew of four Costa cruise ships and become a part of the onboard staff. The replaced crew will in turn act as ship guests, said a statement from Costa Cruises.

To fully play their new role, CostaClub members will be supervised and trained by the ship’s cruise director.

They will wear real uniforms that will bear a special logo and work for one day as crew members in various positions such as guest service, tour escorts, cruise staff, musicians, singers, waiters and cooks.

“Our primary goal is to give our guests a memorable time. What better way to achieve this than to reverse roles and have our CostaClub members feel how it is like to be a crew member,' said Dario Rustico, vice president sales and marketing, Costa Cruises.

'I am sure that our Middle Eastern patrons will appreciate the thrill of playing active roles in the success of our world-class cruises and engaging in this once-in-a-lifetime adventure,' he noted.

The “ViceVersa” program will be implemented on Costa cruises that have recorded huge attendances from CostaClub members.

The first cruise on Costa Luminosa departed on January 10 from Dubai and will travel to India and the Maldives.

The second one is the inaugural trip of Costa Favolosa, the fleet’s new flagship, currently being fitted out at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera. The vessel’s 10-day cruise will begin from Venice on July 7 and will make calls to Greece, Turkey and Croatia.

The third cruise will see the Costa Deliziosa departing from Amsterdam on July 30 to Greenland, Iceland, the Norwegian fjords and the Farore Islands.

The last cruise is a round-the-world voyage with the Costa Deliziosa, said Rustico.

This 100-day cruise will commence in Savona on December 28 and will circumnavigate the globe, from Savona to Los Angeles through the Caribbean and the Panama Canal; from Los Angeles to Singapore with calls in Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia; and then from Singapore to Savona with visits to Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the UAE, Oman, Yemen, the Red Sea and Egypt.-TradeArabia News Service