Europe’s largest cruise line will station its newest vessel, Costa Deliziosa, in the United Arab Emirates, commonly referred to as the U.A.E. The ship will be home ported in the Emirate of Dubai as soon as she leaves the shipyard in Italy. This first ever christening of a cruise ship in an Arabian City is scheduled for February 23, 2010. That season, she will be joined by her fleetmates, Costa Luminosa and Costa Europa, to make over 30 calls in Dubai.
Costa joins Royal Caribbean in investing heavily in the Middle Eastern market. Although Dubai has gone through a rough patch in terms of finance, cruise lines still see promise for the Emirate.
Costa will sail the Deliziosa and Luminosa on the same itinerary, the Deliziosa will leave on Sundays and Luminosa on Saturdays, to includes port calls in Oman, Bahrain, and other ports in the U.A.E. The Europa will sail 18-Night Italy-to-Dubai and vice-versa for the winter season.