On this hot summer day, Catania Cruise Port is pleased to welcome Costa Firenze, the new flagship of the Costa Cruises fleet.
The first call of Catania Cruise Port (CCP) was celebrated today with the traditional crest exchange ceremony, hosted on board by the Captain of the Costa Firenze and attended by the local authorities, including the CCP team.
“The start of the 2021 cruise season in Catania Cruise Port could not coincide with a more significant event than the Maiden Call of the beautiful Costa Firenze. The entry into service of this new ship once again demonstrates the cruise industry’s liveliness and its potential for further growth. With today's call Catania Cruise Port resumes its activity as well, whose terminal will soon be replaced by a new and modern structure. Through this investment Catania Cruise Port will be able to accommodate more and larger ships with its passengers who are eager to discover the wonders of Eastern Sicily”, said Antonio Di Monte, General Manager of Catania Cruise Port.
Delivered by Fincantieri on 22 December 2020 with a revolutionary live streaming ceremony, the Costa ship departed from Savona on Sunday 4 July 2021 for her first voyage at sea. Its well-thought-out ensemble of innovative technology, eco-sustainability and artistic beauty, all contained in 323 meters in length is ready to accommodate up to 5,200 passengers.
As always, safety, health and prevention are carefully guaranteed by the "Costa Safety Protocol", as well as by the additional measures adopted by Catania Cruise Port, which allowed the resumption of operations in 2020 and the addition of the "Safe Travels” stamp, a recognition granted by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the world's leading association in the tourism sector, which certifies the company's commitment to countering the expansion of the contagion from COVID-19.
The new protocols of the Etna port involve a substantial restructuring of the internal and external spaces of the cruise terminal, to make them perfectly aligned with the anti-contagion rules, while the close collaboration between Catania Cruise Port, the Port Network Authority of the Eastern Sicily Sea, the Border Police, the Port Authority and the USMAF played an essential role in the restart of activities in complete safety.
Catania Cruise Port has become part of the network of Global Ports Holding (GPH) in late 2016, the world's largest cruise port operator, with an established presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia-Pacific regions. Established in 2004 as an independent cruise port operator with a diversified portfolio of cruise and commercial ports, the group holds a unique position in the cruise port landscape, positioning itself as the world’s leading cruise port brand. With an integrated platform of cruise ports serving cruise liners, ferries, yachts and mega-yachts, GPH operates 19 cruise ports in 13 countries and continues to grow steadily. GPH provides services for 14 million passengers reaching a market share of 24% in the Mediterranean annually. The group also offers commercial port operations which specialize in container, bulk and general cargo handling.
