There’s no reason to expect logic in the forward-planning departments of cruise companies, I suppose. How else can you respond to Costa Cruises’ decision to base one of their ships in the UK for the first time, less than three months after the Italian company closed down the London office?
It’s not long since rival company NCL – despite figures showing substantial growth in the numbers of people sailing no-fly cruises from UK ports – decided to withdraw from Dover and base its Baltic cruises from the port of Copenhagen instead.
They argued that their passengers preferred to save the time spent crossing the North Sea, although the truth is that the company’s decision was partly to save fuel and partly to meet the demand for nine-night cruises instead of longer itineraries.
Costa are now taking a different view. On May 29 next year the 2,700-passenger Costa Magica (above) will sail from Harwich on an itinerary which takes in seven European capitals, if you make allowances for lengthy excursions by coach to some of them.
As well as London, the cities are Paris (from Le Havre), Amsterdam, Berlin (from Hamburg), Copenhagen, Oslo and Edinburgh.
Departures on June 8, 18 and 28; July 8, 18 and 28, and August 7 and 17 will be from Dover, and the final two cruises of the season, on August 27 and September 6, will be from Harwich.
The sailings departing on May 29, July 18 and August 7 will visit Invergordon, in the north-east of Scotland, instead of Edinburgh.
There’s also an interesting opportunity at the end of the season to sail from Harwich to Savona, calling at Amsterdam, Hamburg, Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz and Marseille.
I live in Dover and I’m pleased to hear the Costa Magica will be back next year!
If you click on the JOHN LATTER link you’ll see a photo of the Costa Magica taken at the entrance to Dover Harbour on Monday, 17th of May 2010.
This particular photo doesn’t show much of the harbour itself, but the second caption to the image contains links to the other 3 photos of the ship taken that day.
Once again, its great to hear the Costa Magica will be back!
John Latter / Jorolat
I guess they are hoping to get the same success that MSC cruises are enjoying with their Baltic sailings from Dover, however with no support or call centre in London, i cant imagine them doing too well.
Costa do seem to make offball decisions. They are using this to create a successful cruise business out of Dubai with a couple of ships each week . With a call into Muscat Oman they now are part of almost daily circular tours between Muscat – Dubai if one includes all the other cruise lines doing the same . As they were the first they now have twice the sailing compared to the competition. Perhaps Dover will be a new hub port and the acorn of a new business . An London office could be on its way sooner rather than later