Costa Cruises Appeals to Savvy Travelers with ‘Flash Fares’ on 2015 Shoulder Season Cruises

Savvy travelers looking for a more affordable vacation this fall can take advantage of the less-traveled shoulder season with Costa Cruises’ “flash fares” for North Americans on select European cruises from September through November. The Italian-flagged cruise line is offering rates as low as $399 per person, double occupancy, on weeklong western Mediterranean itineraries and $699 on longer 11-night explorations of the eastern Med.

Europe’s shoulder season falls between summer and the holidays, when the crowds dwindle and the weather cools. Travelers will find visits to attractions and museums more comfortable with smaller crowds, enjoy having lunch at outdoor cafes and walking around Europe’s quaint towns with milder temperatures. By night, guests will get a taste of “Italy’s Finest” onboard with Costa’s immersive, Italian-style cruise experience.

“Costa calls the Mediterranean home year-round, giving travelers the ability to cruise this wonderful destination whenever it fits into their schedule,” said Scott Knutson, vice president, sales and marketing, for Costa Cruises North America. “When the crowds leave after the summer, we stay so we can offer our guests an exclusive, VIP-style experience where it feels like they have many of the region’s often-crowded attractions to themselves.”

Guests can cruise the western Med aboard Costa Diadema, the line’s new flagship, on seven-night itineraries from Savona, Italy, featuring calls at Marseille, France; Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Naples and La Spezia, Italy. Departures are Sept. 5, 12, 19 and 26; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; and Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Rates start at $399.

Costa Deliziosa will cruise an 11-night itinerary in the eastern Med from Savona highlighted by two nights at Istanbul, Turkey. The ship also calls at Bari, Italy; Corfu or Argostoli, Katakolon and Piraeus, Greece; and Izmir, Turkey. Roundtrip Venice, Italy, departures are Oct. 25 and Nov. 5 and 16. Rates start at $699.

Additional Shoulder Season Options
Western Mediterranean
Costa Fortuna’s five-night sailings in October and November feature a call at Civitavecchia, Italy, the gateway to Rome; Marseille and Barcelona. Departures from Savona are Oct. 13, 18, 23 and 28; and Nov. 2, 7 and 12. Rates start at $349.

Costa Favolosa’s seven-night cruises include calls at Civitavecchia; Marseille; Barcelona; La Valletta, Malta; and Cagliari, Sardinia. Departures from Savona are Sept. 18 and 25; Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; and Nov. 6, 13 and 20. Rates start at $399.

Costa Fascinosa’s seven-night itinerary includes calls at Civitavecchia; Palermo, Sicily; La Valletta; Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona. Departures from Savona are Sept. 13, 20 and 27; Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25; and Nov. 8, 15 and 22. Rates start at $399.

Costa Magica’s 11-night cruises call at Marseille or Toulon, France; Cadiz and Valencia, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and Tangier and Casablanca (overnight), Morocco. Departures from Savona are Sept. 1 and 23; and Oct. 4 and 26. Rates start at $699.

Eastern Mediterranean
Costa Deliziosa’s seven-night sailings include Corfu, Santorini and Mykonos or Piraeus, Greece; Bari; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Roundtrip Venice departures are Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27; and Oct. 4, 11 and 18. Rates start at $499.

Costa Mediterranea’s seven-night cruises feature calls at Trieste, Italy; Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Argostoli and Corfu, Greece. Roundtrip Venice departures are Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25; Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; and Nov. 6 and 13. Rates start at $449.

Costa Pacifica will cruise alternating 11-night itineraries from Savona. The first features calls at Katakolon and Heraklion, Greece; Port Said and Alexandria, Egypt; Civitavecchia; and a call at Rhodes, Greece; and Ashdod, Israel, or an overnight at Ashdod. Departures are Sept. 18, Oct. 10 and Nov. 1.

The second itinerary on Costa Pacifica includes calls at Katakolon, Heraklion, Piraeus, Civitavecchia, Izmir and an overnight at Istanbul. Departures from Savona are Sept. 29, Oct. 21 and Nov. 12. Rates start at $749 on both options.

NeoCollection Cruises
Costa neoRiviera’s 11-night itineraries feature less-visited destinations in the western Med including Propriano, Corsica; Olbia, Sardinia; Trapani, Sicily; Portoferraio, Italy; La Valletta; and Toulon. The ship also overnights at Salerno and Capri, Italy. Roundtrip Savona departures are September 10 and 21. Rates start at $999.

Costa neoRiviera’s October and November sailings include calls at Monte Carlo, Monaco; Barcelona; Port Mahon, Minorca, or an additional night at Barcelona; Trapani; La Valletta; Salerno; and Livorno, Italy. Departures are Oct. 2, 13 and 24; and Nov. 15. Rates start at $799.

Costa neoRomantica’s 12-night fall cruises are highlighted by four calls in Greece: Kalamata, Nauplia, Volos and Piraeus, as well as calls at Naples, Trapani and Marseille. Departures from Savona are Oct. 12 and 24; and Nov. 5. Rates start at $799.

All cruise-only fares are per person, double occupancy, and do not include government taxes and fees. Departures from alternate embarkation ports available on select itineraries.

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