PHOTO: Costa is offering free stateroom upgrades on select cruises departing this year on the Costa Luminosa, pictured, and other ships, including its new flagship, Costa Diadema. (courtesy Costa Cruises)

Costa Cruises is offering free cabin upgrades and half-price deposits for select cruises beginning in April through 2014. Those who book an inside cabin are upgraded to an ocean-view stateroom, while those who book ocean-view accommodations are upgraded to a verandah stateroom. The deposit was reduced by 50 percent to reserve their cabin and sailing date.

Rates start at $349 per person, double occupancy, aboard three-night Costa Luminosa cruises from Savona, Italy — that’s for booking an inside and getting an ocean-view cabin. The cost is $449 for booking an ocean-view stateroom that will be upgraded to verandah accommodations. A seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Savona on Costa Mediterranea is priced from $699 for an ocean-view cabin and $899 for a verandah stateroom.

The promotion also is good on the line’s new flagship, Costa Diadema, scheduled to launch in October. The Nov. 10 and Nov. 17 seven-night Mediterranean cruises are priced from $799 for an ocean-view stateroom or $949 for verandah accommodations.

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