Iberocruceros News

Britain's Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has taken delivery of new flagship Magellan ahead of its maiden voyage in March. The former 1,250-passenger ship Grand Holiday, operated by Costa brand Iberocruceros, was built in 1985 and revamped in 2010. The new flagship will now reposition to Greece for a drydock period before sailing to the U.K. for  various launch events and it maiden Solar Eclipse and Northern Lights cruise departing on March 15 from Tilbury. According to CMV's commercial director Chris Coates said the ship has already been popular with guests. The addition of Magellan to our fleet brings a new dimension in cruising to CMV, he noted.

The Costa Cruises fleet has been enhanced with a new ship coming  from the Group’s Spanish brand Iberocruceros. The first cruise will depart from Savona on 20 November 2011. Costa Voyager will be operating week-long cruises in the Red Sea, calling at Egypt, Israel and Jordan, throughout 2012. Before coming into service for Costa, it will be undergoing renovation work costing around 2.5 million euros at the San Giorgio shipyard in the Port of Genoa. Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s no.1 cruise company, has announced the arrival in the Costa fleet of a new ship:  the Costa Voyager (24,400 gross tonnage and 927 total Guests). It’s a new generation ship, entered service in 2000, coming  from Iberocruceros, the Costa Group’s Spanish company.

According to figures issued today in Brussels by the European Cruise Council, at the official presentation of the sixth edition of the annual report of the European Cruise Contribution, for the year 2010, the European cruise industry continues to provide a major contribution to Europe’s economy as a whole. The cruise industry is the only area of the tourism sector that is enjoying substantial growth:  last year there were some 5.5 million European cruisers (a 10% increase compared to 2009), which works out to approximately 30% of cruise passengers worldwide (18.8 million cruisers). The EU countries with the most cruisers are the UK (1.6 million), Germany (1.2 million), Italy (around 890,000) and Spain (645,000).

In 2010, Costa Crociere S.p.A. generated an impact of over $3.2 billion on the Italian economy. This is one of the findings of a study carried out by MIP, the Milan Polytechnic Business School. Costa Crociere S.p.A. is an Italian company headquartered in Genoa, which comprises 3 brands (the Costa Cruises brand, Aida Cruises for the German market, and Iberocruceros, which operates mainly for the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets). It is one of Italy’s top 10 most profitable companies and ranks 49th in terms of turnover in Mediobanca’s 2010 survey of over 3,700 Italian enterprises that recorded revenue of at least $73 million the previous fiscal year.

Work is continuing in Fincantieri’s Marghera yard on the construction of the Costa Favolosa, the 15th member of the Costa fleet. Her funnel was recently installed: the same distinctive yellow funnel with the blue “C” that for over 60 years has graced every vessel in the fleet of Costa Cruises. Since the establishment of the brand in the 1940s, some 35 ships have sported the iconic Costa funnel. Like the other 14 members of the fleet currently in service, the Costa Favolosa will fly the Italian flag.

The Spanish Antitrust Authority has granted official approval to the acquisition of sole control by Costa Crociere S.p.A. of Iberocruceros, a brand operating in the Spanish market. The operation was first announced on May 29 this year following the signing of an agreement between Costa Crociere S.p.A. and the leading Spanish tour operator Orizonia. Now, following the go-ahead from the antitrust authority, the deal is to be completed during July 2009. Iberocruceros was established in 2007 as a joint venture between the Costa Crociere Group, which owned 75% of the company, and Orizonia, which had a 25% stake. Through its acquisition of the remaining 25% of the capital, Costa Crociere S.p.A. now is the only shareholder of Iberocruceros.

Iberocruceros was created in September 2007 as a joint venture between Costa Cruises (which owns 75% of the company) and the leading Spanish tour operator Orizonia Corporación (with a 25% stake). Mr. Martini will be reporting to the Iberocruceros Board of Directors, chaired by Costa Crociere S.p.A. Chairman & CEO Pier Luigi Foschi. Iberocruceros’ General Manager Alfredo Serrano, Sales & Marketing Director Carlo Schiavon and Finance Manager Roberto Alberti will all be reporting to Mario Martini. Mr. Martini will also continue to represent the Costa Group in industry associations. 62-year-old Martini, who was born in Camogli (Genoa - Italy)…

multi-ship cruise brand serving the Spanish market. percent. and is expected to be accretive to results in 2008. Carnival group. Cruise Lines' fleet, will be transferred to the new Iberocruceros company. service in late spring 2008. headquartered in Madrid. CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc's Costa Cruises unit. include Orizonia CEO Gabriel Subias. The three Iberocruceros ships will fly the Italian flag. for these vessels will be announced shortly.