Costa Cruises enhances its cruise holidays in the Emirates with the abvent of the Costa neoRiviera .

HONG KONG - This winter 2013/2014, Costa Cruises is enhancing its range of cruises thanks to the arrival in the fleet of the Costa neoRiviera (48,200 gross tonnage and 624 cabins).

Starting November 24, 2013, the Costa neoRiviera will be offering a brand new one-week itinerary called “The Emirates in style”, with longer stopovers at each port of call, thus allowing Guests to enjoy a relaxing stay while exploring each destination en route. The itinerary starts every Sunday from Dubai and includes calls at Muscat, the capital of Oman, Abu Dhabiin the United Arab Emirates and then back  again in Dubai. At each port the ship stops overnight and the next day, effectively introducing a new type of cruise experience.

“The Emirates in style” is a cruise with a unique ambience, marked by a leisurely pace that lets you linger longer, find out more about places and traditions, and revel in the magical “Thousand and One Nights” atmosphere in this exotic part of the world. Guests on the Costa neoRiviera will be able to go in small groups on exclusive excursions specially devised for this cruise. The range of alternatives is diverse and extremely alluring: a day at the beach at the private Al Maya Island Resort, the perfect getaway spot located offshore of Abu Dhabi; the unforgettable experience of a night under the desert sky, with an incredible dawn spectacle and breakfast at an Arabian village; a tour of Oman proper with a visit to Nizwa Fort, dune bashing in Wahiba Sands and an overnight stay in a Bedouin tented camp; in Dubai the opportunity to admire the royal stables and a traditional Arabian horse show.

“The Emirates in style” – itinerary and excursions

Guests on the Costa neoRiviera will be able to see the best of the Emirates and Oman on fabulous, unhurried tours in groups of no more than twenty-five. In Dubai, in addition to checking out the city that claims to be the shopping center of the world, you can also visit the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, see the billowing sail design of the 7-star Hotel Burj Al Arab and wonder at the Palma Jumeirah, the world’s largest manmade island shaped in the form of a palm tree. Plus exclusive excursions such as the visit to Sharjah, its Archeological Museum and the royal stables where you can see a traditional Arabian horse show. Another attraction on offer is “the ship of the desert” with a visit to the camel museum and a camel dairy fare equipped with cutting-edge technology. Also on the tour is the camel racing track; camel racing has been around for thousands of years and is deeply rooted in the Emirati soul, though nowadays they use “robot jockeys”.

In more traditional Oman, cruise Guests can discover the local culture, admire the architecture in the capital Muscat, visit the famous Muttarah souk, where ancient crafts sit side-by-side with state-of-the-art technological gadgetry, tour Mirani Fort and head for the Wahiba Sands desert. The scenic drive by jeep stops at Nizwa, with its 17th century fort and lively souk, en route to the village of Al Hamra, famous for its date plantations and the traditional Omani dwelling at Bait Al Safah, a 500-year-old classic style-mud house with twenty rooms that has been turned into the local museum showing visitors traditional techniques and clothing.

In the afternoon, after crossing the dunes at Wahiba Sands, you come to the camp where you spend the night. The following morning on the way back to Muscat there is a stop to visit a traditional Bedouin house.

Last but not least, Abu Dhabi also offers all sorts of interesting excursion options. A highlight is the Al Maya private island resort, with a mega-sized heated pool overlooking the Arabian Gulf; Guests traveling on the Costa neoRiviera will be able to spend a whole day in this corner of paradise. The more adventurous will not want to miss out on the excursion featuring a night in the desert with the spectacular views at daybreak followed by breakfast in the perfectly reconstructed Arabian heritage village: this unique experience combines the profound silence and timeless, endless beauty of the desert with the traditions of the people who live there.

During the port call at Abu Dhabi you can of course also visit this incredible city with its skyline and the futuristic “Abu Dhabi 2030” urban structure framework plan, featuring the cultural district with the Guggenheim, Louvre and other large-scale museum projects. The many local tourist attractions include the great “White Mosque” and “Ferrari World”, the world’s first Ferrari theme park.

Costa Cruises’ program for the winter 2013/2014 season in the Emirates is completed by the Costa Fortuna, deployed from December 20, 2013 through March 21, 2014 on one-week cruises, with homeport Dubai and stopovers at Muscat, this being an overnight stay, Kashab in Oman, Abu Dhabi and then back to Dubai.