Costa Cruises to straddle Middle East and Europe with Costa Venezia in Istanbul

Costa Cruises will be focusing on both the Middle East and Europe with its new itineraries aboard Costa Venezia out of Istanbul in Turkey.

Costa Venezia, one of the newest cruise ships in the Costa fleet, will be utilising Istanbul’s new cruise terminal at Galataport to sail three different itineraries visiting Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Israel and Cyprus.

Costa Venezia will begin sailing the new 8 to 15-day itineraries from May 1st and has partnered with Turkish Airlines to enhance its fly-cruise offering for the European and wider cruise market.

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“Our restart program ahead of summer is strengthened by a truly unique offer. The main new feature of Costa Venezia cruises is the possibility of visiting the best of Turkey in a single holiday, starting from Istanbul, one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises. “We believe Turkey has great potential for cruises, and we are trying to be the first to develop it.”

“Istanbul can be reached from the main European countries in just a few hours’ flight time, it has good air connections and modern ports, as well as a mild climate that makes it possible to operate all year round, and above all it offers an incredible variety of experiences and attractions,” he added.

Costa Venezia’s program in Turkey includes three different itineraries, all with embarkation and disembarkation in Istanbul, designed to include longer calls in the ports rich in history, archaeology and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

In spring, summer and autumn, from May 1st to November 13th, 2022, Costa Venezia will offer two one-week itineraries focusing on Turkey and Greece, interchanging with each other, which can be combined into a single 15-day “super tour”, with 8 calls in port longer than 10 hours.

The first itinerary includes a two-day, one-night call in Istanbul, the Turkish destinations of Izmir and Bodrum, the island of Mykonos in Greece, and the capital Athens.

The second itinerary calls in some of Greece’s out-of-the-ordinary locations and includes a two-day, one-night call in Istanbul and Kusadasi, Turkey, before heading off to explore Rhodes and Heraklion, Greece.

During the winter 2022/23 cruise season, Costa Venezia will introduce a third 12-day itinerary to Turkey, Egypt, Israel and Cyprus from Istanbul (with a two-day, one-night call). This itinerary will call in Bodrum, Limassol, Haifa (also with a two-day, one-night call), Alexandria and Kusadasi.

From spring 2023, the two Turkey and Greece itineraries will resume.

Costa Venezia excursions out of Istanbul

The range of excursions available has been redesigned to explore hidden and little-visited places, and to enjoy the most authentic traditions, flavours and colours.

These include a private concert in a Roman amphitheatre in Ephesus, an Istanbul night tour, a cruise on the Bosphorus between the two continents of Europe and Asia, or a sleepover in the typical houses dug out of the rock in the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia.

Guests can also relax in the natural pools of Pamukkale, snorkel among the sunken remains of the city of Mindo, together with an archaeologist, or take a walk through the vineyards of Kusadasi with a wine expert.

Or they can go horseback riding through the pine forests and sand of Pamucak beach, explore the coast of the Bodrum peninsula on a private caique, discover the secrets of the Acropolis in Athens, or relax in the sun on the beautiful beaches of Mykonos, Rhodes and Crete.

Costa Venzia

Costa Venezia was built at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone. The 135,000-gross ton ship carries more than 4,500 guests in 2,116 cabins.

She features 13 different restaurants and 8 bars, offering the widest array of dining experiences in the fleet, with dishes and menus specifically created for Costa by three world-renowned chefs: Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze and Ángel León.

There are a plethora of outdoor spaces to enjoy the Mediterranean climate, and families with children will find many activities on board, such as a water park and an adventure park, while couples will find a private spa, swimming pools and plenty of space for relaxation.