Up till now, most people could only gaze in longing at the giant cruise ships that call into Port Victoria during the months of November through April and dream of maybe one day winning the lottery to go on a once-in-a-lifetime luxury cruise.
Costa Cruises, in association with their regional representative ATOM Travel of Mauritius and Ocean Charters of Seychelles, have now brought luxury cruise holidays within the reach of most holiday makers.
This was announced during a reception aboard the Costa Romantica, a 600-cabin luxury cruise liner in Port Victoria on its way to the Mediterranean for the summer season.
Caroline Chen of ATOM Travel and Gerard Lafortune of Ocean Charters explained that from the start of the 2011 cruising season in November this year, they will be able to offer 14-day cruises starting and ending in Port Victoria and taking in Mauritius, Reunion, Diego Suarez, and Nossi Be in Madagascar.
Starting prices for such cruises will be around US$1,575 (£960.00 GBP) per person inclusive of all meals and all entertainment on board. The Costa Romantica like other Costa liners are modern cruise ships equipped with entertainment such as discotheques, casinos, cinemas, theatre, health center gym, and many more activities, let alone other attractions in the ports of call.
Worldwide, there has been a significant growth in cruise tourism over the last few years as prices have become more affordable, and every year, thousands of people experience cruising for the first time.
Cruises on large ocean liners have never before been offered from Seychelles at such affordable prices. This new product on the Seychelles tourism market will not only be attractive to Seychellois but also to the many expatriates who live and work in the islands, as well as residents of developments such as Eden Island.
Through this new representation of Costa Cruises in Seychelles, other customers will also be able to book and obtain the special deals on cruises in other parts of the world such as the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
The function aboard the Costa Romantica was also attended by Seychelles Vice President Danny Faure and representatives of the Seychelles Tourism Board tour operators.
