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Costa Luminosa Sets Sail Around The World

The exclusiveCosta Cruises 2017 Around the World Cruise departs on 6 January: 106 daysexploring the most interesting sights on 5 continents, crossing 3 oceans andvisiting 35 fascinating destinations.

Genoa, 5 January2017 –TheCosta Cruises 2017 Around the WorldCruise will set sail from Savona on 6 January on board Costa Luminosa: athrilling 106-day journey that willtake guests on an exploration of the most wonderful sights on 5 continents, across 3 oceans and visiting 35 destinations, before returning toSavona in Italy on 22 April 2017. This special cruise is a Costa exclusive, offeredeach year since 2011, after the cruise's great success in the '70s and '80s. It isevery traveller's dream: a truly unique opportunity to circumnavigate the globein slightly more than three months, following in the footsteps of history'sgreat navigators, and coming into contact with magnificent cultures andenjoying spectacular scenery.

Justover 2,000 cruise passengers have reserved a cabin on the 2017 Around the WorldCruise. They hail from 37 different countries, the majority from France (around 600), Germany(just under 500), Switzerland(around 300), Italy (over 200) and Spain (around 150). The oldestexplorer, a man from Switzerland, is 96years old, and the youngest is a little Italian girl who is just 2.

Aspecial highlight of the Costa Cruises 2017 Around the World Cruise is that itwill cross both Tropics, headingdown to Gibraltar then Cape Horn,before heading back up to Polynesia, Australia, India, the Suez Canal andfinally Savona. Along the way CostaLuminosa will call at some wonderful destinations, such as Casablanca(Morocco), Salvador and Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina),Punta Arenas and Valparaiso (Chile), Easter Island (Chile), Tahiti (Polynesia),Auckland (New Zealand), Sydney, Melbourne and Perth (Australia), Mumbai, Goaand Cochin (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Muscat(Oman) and Aqaba (Jordan). Anyone not lucky enough to be travelling on thisincredible voyage on Costa Luminosa can follow it on the Costa Cruises website (#via the two live webcams installed on board.

Anotherhighlight of this cruise will be the stops of several days in many of the itinerary's destinations, giving gueststhe chance to enjoy the atmosphere in these far-flung locations to the full onthe wonderful shore excursions offered.

In Casablanca they can take a thrillingexcursion exploring the city's more modern and cosmopolitan side, travellingalong Boulevard Moulay Youssef, one of the city's main thoroughfares, to theHassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in the world after Mecca. Back on theseafront they'll head through La Corniche with its chic shops andrestaurants. And it will be in one ofthese restaurants that they can try some traditional local food, a heady mix offlavours, fragrances and colours, with some Arab-Andalusian music andtraditional dance for entertainment.

In Rio De Janeiro they can head off byjeep and explore the city's most beautiful sights, from the Statue of Christthe Redeemer, the world-famous symbol of Brazil, to the panoramic spots of BoaVista and Vista Chinesa, passing through the Tijuca Forest, the largest urbanforest on the planet. Guests can walkthrough it in the company of a guide, admiring the splendid Waterfall of theMonkeys before returning on board.

Oneof the most fascinating tours that Costa offers is during the stopover at Ushuaia, with a four-day excursion taking in two of southern Patagonia's mainattractions: the Perito Morenoglacier and the Torres del Paine National Park. Guests will head south fromUshuaia on a short flight, where this unforgettable experience begins: after atraditional dinner and a good night's rest, they can admire the 250 km²Perito Moreno glacier, the third largest natural reserve of fresh water in theworld. The third day will take them on avisit to the Torres del Paine National Park, now a UNESCO biosphere reservethanks to its numerous glaciers, lakes, rivers and valleys. The western side of the park will be the mainevent of day four on this excursion, with a trip to Del Toro Lake, the park'slargest, with lots of panoramic observation points. The tour will end at Punta Arenas, from wherethey'll head back to Costa Luminosa.

Thereare plenty of tours too for the more adventurous passengers: an excitinghelicopter tour on the long stopover at Papeete,flying over the capital's lagoon and the sea around Tahiti, from where they canadmire the coral reef, the white sand, and the lush green valleys and mountaintops, or an adrenaline-inducing climb up Harbour Bridge in Sydney, walking approximately 1500 metres along a series ofwalkways, stairs and arches on a three-hour tour.

Andfinally, to see the shores of Dubaifrom the air, Costa offers a premiumtour by seaplane flying at 1,500 feet, where guests can enjoy seeing thecity's magnificent skyscrapers from a privileged viewpoint. This totally exclusive tour will give themthe chance to observe the historic DubaiCreek, Palm Jumeirah, Hotel Atlantis, Hotel Burj Al Arab, BurjKhalifa, The World Islands and many other attractions from on high.

Forfurther information:

CostaCruises

Press Office - Tel. +39 010 5483523 / 010 5483068 - costapressoffice@costa.it

Gabriele Baroni – CommunicationDirector – mob. +39 3497668013 -baroni@costa.it

Davide Barbano – MediaRelations Manager – mob. +39 3346525216 -barbano@costa.it

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