The Pulse: Costa Cruises and Central Holidays team up.
Why it Rates: Central Holidays has been a major operator of tours in the Mediterranean region for decades. It's well established and authoritative in regard to the destinations in the Mediterranean side of Europe. Cruising is of course a principle means of touring the area, practically the only way to see the Greek Islands, so cruising has been a part of Central Holidays' offerings all along. But this new partnership aims at a new kind of brand synergy and a strong, high-profile partnership with a notable cruise line. - David Cogswell, TravelPulse tour operators editor
Costa Cruises and Central Holidays today announced a new partnership to develop a new vacation packages brand: Costa Cruise Tours. The new alliance features Central Holidays as the operator of Costa Cruise Tours packages that include air, land and Costa Cruises' cruise arrangements to destinations throughout Europe departing from the following ports of call: Civitavecchia (Rome) and Savona, Italy; Marseille, France; and Barcelona, Spain.
"With more than four decades of expertise in travel throughout Europe and the Mediterranean and success as a leading provider of packaged travel across the globe, it is with great enthusiasm that we announce a new partnership with Costa Cruises in the development of Costa Cruise Tours," said Gianni Miradoli, CEO of Central Holidays.
"Our shared goal in Costa Cruise Tours is to create the go-to option for European cruise and land packages that inspires prospective cruisers to make the most of their vacations by combining a Costa Cruises sailing with air and pre-cruise land arrangements -- including accommodations, sightseeing tours, special experiential activities, and other unique offerings for the ultimate in packaged travel by land and sea," he continued. "We are thrilled to be partnering with such a professional team at Costa Cruises and we look forward to a long, successful alliance."
"Costa Cruises guests are sophisticated and discerning travelers, and we knew we needed to find a partner that could provide a superior landside experience to match our shipboard product," said Scott Knutson, vice president sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. "In Central Holidays we found a tour operator whose quality offerings and approach to customer service is a perfect match to Costa's."
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