Logic and forward planning is one thing that isn’t to be expected from the planning departments of cruise companies, I would think. Otherwise how is it possible to respond to Costa Cruises decision to use UK as the base for one of their ships, which is just under 3 months after the Italian company has previously shut down its London office?
It has only been a short while since the rival company NCL – despite figures showing increasing expansion in the numbers of passengers sailing cruises-only from United Kingdom ports, had decided to stop using Dover for their European Cruises and use the Port or Copenhagen instead to base its Baltic cruises from instead.
They stated that their passengers would rather save the time spent travelling over the North Sea, however the more likely truth is that the company’s choice was partly made to save fuel and to meet the requirement for 9-night cruises instead of much longer itineraries.
Now, Costa are taking a different position. On May 29th, next year the 2,700 passenger Costa Magica will be sailing from Harwich on an itinerary which will take in 7 European capitals in total, not stopping in all 7 though so you need to include some long travel times by coach to include them all.
As well as London, the cities are Amsterdam, Berlin (from Hamburg), Paris (from Le Havre), Oslo , Copenhagen and Edinburgh.
Departures dates are on June 8, 18 and 28; July 8, 18 and 28, and August 7 and 17 leaving from Dover, and the final 2 cruises of the season, on August 27 and September 6, departing from Harwich.
The sailings leaving on May 29, July 18 and August 7 will visit Invergordon which is in the north-east of Scotland, this is to replace Edinburgh.
There is also an very interesting chance at the end of the season to leave port from Harwich to Savona, which will call at Amsterdam, Hamburg, Vigo, Lisbon, Cadiz and Marseille.