Costa Firenze departed for its inaugural sailing in Dubai, after the
official opening of Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, the region’s first
dedicated, purpose-built cruise port. The ship will be homeporting
weekly at the terminal through March 2022.
Costa Firenze entered service in July last year, and will embark on
exclusive tours to discover Expo 2020 Dubai. Designed after the
Florentine Renaissance period, the ship offers a one-week itinerary in
the Arabian Gulf through the 2021-2022 winter season.
In collaboration with the Italian Pavilion sponsored by Carnival
Corporation, Costa Firenze passengers will be able to enter the Expo via
a dedicated entrance to explore the 200 pavilions. Costa Cruises plays a
prominent role in the Italian Pavilion, in particular the
sustainability-themed forums in the transport and tourism sectors.
Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal serves as the region’s first dedicated,
twin-terminal cruise port capable of accommodating two large cruise
ships simultaneously. It is located in the heart of Dubai, spanning over
120,000 sqm and includes two terminal buildings that offer passengers
and crew a seamless embarkation and disembarkation experience.
The terminal is expected to be visited by Carnival Corporation’s AIDA
Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises
and Seabourn by 2023, with an expected collective count of 90 calls to
the new cruise port. It is part of a strategic partnership between
Carnival Corporation & plc and Shamal Holding, which aims to
transform Dubai into the region's leading maritime tourism hub.