The Costa Group has introduced that beginning in April 2017 its 56,000 ton Costa neoRomantica will probably be based mostly in Asia year-round.

Costa neoRomantica would be the fifth Costa ship deployed commonly in Asia and operated by the Costa Asia model.

“The deployment of a fifth Costa ship in Asia in 2017, in addition to the two new fleet members that will be built specially for Costa Asia, will allow us to continue to significantly grow the Asian cruise market in particular China, which is set to become the second largest in the world by the end of the decade,” stated Costa Group CEO Michael Thamm.

The Costa neoRomantica is ready to reach in Shanghai on April 10, 2017 after a 23-day positioning cruise departing in March from Port Louis, Mauritius and calling at Port Victoria (Seychelles), Malè (Maldives), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Phuket (Thailand), Singapore, Da Nang (Vietnam) and Hong Kong.

Once in Shanghai, Costa neoRomantica will probably be dry docked to bear renewal works that may customise the ship for its new Asian company. The first cruise devoted to the native market is scheduled to sail from Shanghai on 24 April, 2017.

Currently there are three Costa ships already cruising in Asia, whereas a fourth, the Costa Fortuna, will arrive in Shanghai in April 2016. Costa Group additionally just lately introduced an order for 2 new ships for Costa Asia, to be constructed by Fincantieri in Italy, with supply in 2019 and 2020.

The Costa Group, a part of Carnival Corporation, was the primary cruise firm to enter the Chinese market again in 2006.