Costa Cruises has opened reservations for Costa Venezia’s inaugural cruise from Trieste, Italy to Yokohama, Japan. The 53-day cruise departs March 8, 2019. The 5,260-passenger Costa Venezia is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. It’s the first Costa ship purpose-built for the Chinese market.

Costa Venezia’s inaugural cruise is the only sailing currently available to the North American market.

The ship will depart from the Mediterranean, cross the Suez Canal and Red Sea before entering the Persian Gulf. She’ll call in Croatia, Greece, Israel, Jordan and Oman. The ship will then stop in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates before entering the Indian Ocean. The cruise continues to India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, followed by the Far East, with calls in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

In addition to the full 53-day itinerary, Costa Venezia’s inaugural cruise can be broken into three segments. They are: Trieste to Dubai (20 days), Dubai to Singapore (18 days) and Singapore to Yokohama (17 days). Additional combinations include Trieste to Singapore (36 days) and Dubai to Yokohama (33 days).

“With our first ship built for the Chinese market, North American cruisers will have the experience of cruising in Italian style with Costa Venezia’s unique Asian flair,” said Scott Knutson, vice president of sales and marketing for Costa Cruises North America. “Whether they choose the complete 53-day itinerary or a shorter segment, guests will have an unforgettable voyage on a fantastic new ship.”

After the inaugural voyage, Costa Venezia enters service exclusively for the Chinese market. A sister ship (as yet unnamed) is set for delivery by Fincantieri in 2020.

Cruise rates for the 53-day inaugural itinerary start at $4,999