The restart of the Italian company marks the recovery of an entire sector, the cruise industry, which is essential for the local economy.

GENOA,Italy, April 30,2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OnSaturday, May 1,Costa Cruiseswill be sailing again fromSavona, with its LNG-powered flagshipCosta Smeraldaon an itinerary exclusively dedicated toItaly. To celebrate the restart of Costa Smeralda, local and port authorities will be present at the port of Savona, along with Costa Cruises PresidentMario Zanetti.

The restart of the Italian-flagged cruise company marks an important economic recovery for the entire territory: indeed, before the Covid-19 emergency, Costa generated inItalyan economic impact of€3.5 billionper year andover 17,000direct and indirectjobs.

The Costa Smeralda's week-long itinerary includes Savona, Civitavecchia/Rome,Naples,Messina, Cagliari and La Spezia, and can also be divided into two mini-cruises of 3 or 4 days for those who prefer a shorter holiday.

Costa Smeralda cruises departing from Saturday will follow the procedures set out in theCosta Safety Protocol, the protocol developed by Costa together with scientific experts and Italian authorities, which includes enhanced health and safety measures for all aspects of the holiday experience, both on board and ashore. The protocol includes, for example, swabbing all guests before embarkation and after half of the cruise, visiting destinations with protected excursions, new ways of using on-board services, and wearing a mask when necessary.

Costa Smeralda will be the first of a total offour Costa shipsto operate during the summer of 2021, offering cruises in the Mediterranean.

On the days when Costa ships are not operating, the Palacrociere terminal in Savona, managed by Costa Cruises, will continue to be used by ASL 2 Savona (local Public Health Unit) for the Covid-19vaccination campaign, contributing to the distribution of the vaccine in the Savona area.

SOURCE Costa Cruises

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