Costa Cruises has revealed the details of 10 themed vacation packages for 2016, which combine an immersive destination experience with a weeklong Mediterranean cruise.
The packages include roundtrip flights to iconic Italian cities such as Venice, Milan and Rome, first -lass hotel accommodations, two full-day excursions and the cruise itself.
“Our themed cruise tours are perfect for travelers who have specific interests and want an immersive landside experience followed by an exceptional weeklong cruise,” said Scott Knutson, vice president sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America, in a press release. “Italy is a country that excels in romance, history, culture and cuisine, and Costa Cruise Tours offer carefully selected destinations and activities that showcase the best of each theme.”
Themed packages include the Romantic Tour, Food and Wine Lovers Tour, Art and History Lovers Tour, Music Lovers Tour, Art Lovers Tour, Food and Chocolate Lovers Tour, and Nature and Wine Lovers Tour.
An example itinerary for the Romantic cruise includes a walking tour of Venice with visits to Saint Mark’s Basilica, a traditional gondola ride on the Grand Canal, and a visit to Verona, the UNESCO World Heritage site where Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is set.
The Music Lovers cruise features a day exploring Cinque Terre, and a day at Parma, the city where Giuseppe Verdi lived for most of his life. Guests will visit Verdi’s birthplace, the church where he was baptized and learned to play the organ, and the Casa Barezzi Museum that houses his piano and other artifacts.
After three nights on land, the cruises will embark on a western Mediterranean cruise departing from Savona or Civitavecchia on the Costa Diadema, Costa Fascinosa or Costa Pacifica. Or alternatively, an eastern Mediterranean cruise departing from Venice on the Costa Deliziosa.
Costa Cruise Tours can be booked via Central Holidays by calling (800) 720-3009 or at www.costacruisetours.com. For detailed itineraries, download the brochures here.