Costa Cruises switches Firenze with Toscana for 2022/23 Dubai season
Costa Cruises will homeport its new cruise ship Costa Toscana in Dubai for the 2022/23 cruise season, replacing Costa Firenze which was previously scheduled to cruise from the city. Costa Toscana will arrive in Dubai on December 17th, 2022, sailing roundtrip 7-night cruises in the Arabian Gulf to various ports in the UAE and Oman until March 11th, 2023.
The cruises can be purchased singly, or as part of a “flight+cruise” package with Costa, which provides the greatest convenience without having to worry about transfers to get to the ship or luggage once arriving at the airport. In addition to replacing its cruise ship in Dubai, Costa Cruises has also adjusted the itinerary slightly, with the number of ports available slimmed down to just Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat.
The cruise ship will now stay overnight in all three cities during each cruise. On the New Year’s Eve voyage, however, the ship will stay overnight in Dubai only. Costa is offering a wide range of excursions to discover the region from a unique perspective, with authentic experiences in the heart of each destination.
In Dubai, there’s a helicopter ride and jeep desert tour. In Muscat, guests can try a cruise along the coast of Oman aboard a traditional Dhow. In Abu Dhabi, guests can choose to visit one of the city’s three most famous theme parks: Ferrari World, Warner Brothers World, and Yas Waterworld. Alternatively, guests can relax on the exclusive beach at Al Maya Island.
There’s also a “cruise and golf” package for golf enthusiasts that combines the best of golf with the best of cruising, allowing guests to play golf at some of the most beautiful clubs in the UAE and Oman during the ship’s calls. Costa Toscana’s dining will also be tailored according to the destination. Chefs Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze, and Ángel León will introduce destinations through taste, with the Destination Dishes, available in the main restaurants.
The three Archipelago restaurant menus, one by each chef, are designed to explore the local waters with popular indigenous seafood such as Hammour. The on-board entertainment program will see the debut of a new show called called “Essence,” inspired by the Arabian Gulf’s ‘Arabian Nights’ atmosphere.
The new itinerary also includes a major update of health protocols, which will allow all guests, even those who have not been vaccinated, to book a vacation onboard Costa Toscana. Vaccinated guests will be able to embark without any pre-embarkation test, while guests without vaccination or with incomplete vaccination will only need a negative PCR test performed within 48 hours of embarkation. These rules only apply to passengers older than 5 years.
Costa Toscana offers 21 cafes, bars and restaurants, a kids water park, a spa, theatre, video games arcade, dozens of pools and Jacuzzis, several lounges, and a host of other features.
