According to a press release, the seven-day itinerary will primarily visit Italian ports, calling in Naples, Palermo, Catania, La Spezia and spending the night in Civitavecchia / Rome.

The first cruise is scheduled to begin on 17 October, with trips offered weekly until 28 November.

After Costa Deliziosa, Costa Diadema and Costa Smeralda, AIDAblu is the fourth Costa Group vessel to resume operations.

“The restart of AIDAblu is an important milestone for Costa Group, as it marks the return to cruising after a long pause also for our German brand AIDA Cruises, joining Costa Cruises. We are very proud that the restart takes place from Italy, because all of our ships fly the Italian flag and our Group is headquartered in Italy. Currently, cruises are only operating in the Mediterranean and in Italy, which would not have been possible without the support of the Italian Government and authorities," said Group CEO, Costa Group & Carnival Asia Michael Thamm.

"Thanks to AIDAblu’s cruise program, we are contributing to the restart of international tourism in Italy, bringing our German guests to a destination they love in a safe and responsible way. We see this ship as a symbol of the long-lasting, solid relationships between Italy and Germany," Thamm added.

Maritime Business World