OREANDA-NEWS. October 02, 2015. Costa Cruises gears up its operations in the Indian Ocean by doubling the number of cruises for the winter 2016-17 season to visit the most beautiful islands of this fantastic vacation destination, an excusive of the Italian company since the end of 2006.

The first of a total of 11 cruises is scheduled to depart on 15th October 2016 and the last on 4th March 2017. The cruise, always for 14 days on board the Costa neoRomantica, will be even more exciting thanks to longer stopovers to allow guests to enjoy more extended visits of the islands.

The cruise will depart from Mauritius, quite easy to reach with flights from Europe, and then to the fabulous Seychelles Islands, where the ship will berth for two days and two nights. The cruise will continue with a focus on discovering the dream beaches and incredible scenic landscapes of Madagascar, with day calls to Nosy Be, Diego Suarez and Tamatave; the next stop, one day and one night, will be the island of Reunion, with its wild nature; then the return to Mauritius, with a final one day and one night call, for a close encounter with the culture and attractions of this fantastic island, before returning to Europe.

The increase in the number of cruises in the Indian Ocean is the end result of an agreement signed today in Paris, during the IFTM/Top Resa travel trade show, between Costa Cruises, the Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and the Vanilla Islands Organisation (the organisation that promotes tourism in the islands of the Indian Ocean).

“We are the only company proposing regular cruises to these unique islands of the Indian Ocean and offer our Guests an exceptionally beautiful cruise experience” declared Norbert Stiekema, Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing of Costa Cruises – “Thanks to the partnership agreement reached with local authorities, our tourism offer to these destinations will continue to grow, and during the 2016-17 winter season we plan on taking about 15,000 guests, and most of them European, on cruises to the islands”.

The agreement calls for cooperation and investments for promoting tourism, for improving port infrastructures and guest hospitality facilities, for flight connections and for the excursions offered to guests.  

On 12 December 2015, for the departure of the first Costa neoRomantica Indian Ocean cruise of the winter 2015-16 season, all the Ministers of each country member of the Vanilla Islands will be onboard with Norbert Stiekema for 2 days to work on the future development of the agreement.