Italian cruise operator offers Far Eastern Promise

Costa Cruises is targeting the UK market with its two-week tour of the Far East departing from and ending in Hong Kong. European cruise giant Costa Cruises is opening up its specialist itineraries in the Chinese market to UK travellers.

The new 14-night itinerary begins and ends in the vibrant city of Hong Kong stopping at Malaysia, the Phillipines, Brunei, Singapore and Vietnam along the way. Travellers will have the chance to experience many diverse cultures with the backdrop of lush rainforests, paddy fields and tropical beaches.

Costa Cruises is the first international cruise company authorised to operate in the Chinese market departing from Chinese ports and last year repositioned its Costa Allegra in Hong Kong.

With so much interest in the Far East and China in particular at the moment and the increased trend in UK visitors to the region Costa has decided to offer this amazing trip to UK cruisers.

In 2007 Costa is offering nine departures – 05, 19 May, 02, 16 June, 27 October, 10, 24 November and 08 and 22 December.

The itinerary starts in Hong Kong followed by a day at sea, Manila (Philippines), at sea, Kota Kinabalu-Borneo (Malaysia), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), at sea, Singapore (Singapore), at sea, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), at sea, Da Nang (Vietnam), Sanya Hainan Island (China) and back to Hong Kong.

Prices start from £759 per person for a basic cabin excluding flights and £1459 per person including return economy flights from London to Hong Kong. Costa Allegra, which draws inspiration from some of the great painters, has just 410 cabins and a maximum capacity of 1,000. On-board facilities include a number of restaurants and bars as well as a pool and children’s pool.

Costa is also offering a series of four and five-night sailings in 2008 from China - Hong Kong, Shanghai or Tianjin – enabling guests to see more of South-east Asia including South Korea, Vietnam and Japan. Departures for the short cruises, also on board Cost Allegra, are in February, April, May, June, July, September and October 2008.

For more information or to book go to Costacruises.co.uk.