The historic peninsula hosted a giant cruise ship that has included Istanbul as its main port in its program yesterday. Weighing 102.6 thousand tons and measuring 272.2 meters in length, the Costa Fortuna, with a capacity of 3,470 passengers, docked at Galataport Port to commence its voyages to the Greek Islands from Istanbul, marking the season's opening from Istanbul.

Fortuna will first stop in Izmir today, and then follow the routes of Mykonos, Santorini, Athens, and Volos in succession. With this program, Costa Fortuna will make a total of 17 voyages throughout the summer, coming to Istanbul every week and departing from Galataport.

As Istanbul moves closer to its goal of becoming a global hub for cruising, port activities are gaining momentum for the summer season. One of the most concrete examples of this strong momentum is Costa Cruises, which reaffirmed its long-term and strategic commitment to the Turkish market with a special event held at Galataport Istanbul.

Costa Cruises celebrated this strong start to the 2026 summer season with a special reception held on board the ship. At the event attended by over 150 guests, including Turkish tourism professionals and business partners, the company's strategic vision for its operations in Turkey, plans for the 2026 summer season, and future goals were shared.

Emphasizing its deep-rooted history and strong operational presence in Turkey, Costa Cruises highlighted that the interest of Turkish guests in cruise vacations has been increasing every year, underscoring that a cruise holiday is a safe, comfortable, and reliable travel alternative.

Costa Fortuna will carry out 17 voyages departing from Galataport throughout the summer.

As of May 11, the first voyage of the Greek Islands program departing from Galataport Istanbul was completed, confirming that operations from Turkey will continue strongly with a total of 17 voyages throughout the 2026 summer season. During the event, Costa Cruises introduced products and experiences developed in line with the expectations and travel habits of Turkish guests. The company’s signature concept, 'Sea & Land Destinations,' transforms travel into a multi-dimensional exploration with unique experiences that guests can enjoy both on land and at sea. This special experiential approach offered by Costa combines the unique views seen from the sea along the enchanting routes of the Mediterranean with the cultural riches discovered on land, providing guests with a holiday that goes beyond the classic cruise understanding.

Mirco Vasallo: 'Turkey holds strategic importance for cruise tourism and Costa.'

In his statement at the event, Costa Cruises International Regional Director Mirco Vasallo said: 'Turkey is a market with great potential in terms of cruise tourism and holds strategic importance for us. The demand for quality, comfort, and exploration in the travel experiences of Turkish guests is increasing every day. As Costa, we continue to present our Italian hospitality, innovative Sea & Land routes, and rich gastronomic experiences to the Turkish market more robustly. While making a strong start to the 2026 summer season, we will continue to sustain our growth in this market with our future plans.'

In addition to the 2026 summer season, Costa Cruises also draws attention with its diversity of destinations in its upcoming plans. Routes offered in the winter season, especially in different geographies such as the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean, stand out with natural beauties, cultural riches, and year-round travel opportunities. The routes in the Canary Islands, which offer a spring-like climate year-round, combine volcanic landscapes, unique nature, and ocean experiences, while Mediterranean routes provide opportunities to explore the cultural capitals of Southern Europe and North Africa. The Caribbean, with its white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and tropical atmosphere, serves as a strong alternative for guests seeking warm destinations during the winter season.

On the other hand, Costa aims to elevate guest satisfaction by continuously improving its onboard experiences. One of the highlighted innovations in this context is the 'Day and Night Buffet,' which draws attention with its rich and flexible gastronomic options available at all hours of the day. The unique flavors inspired by Costa’s Italian cuisine and selections from international cuisines transform the cruise experience into a strong gastronomic journey.

Taking an important step in the digital experience side, Costa Cruises announced that the Costa App will offer a Turkish language option starting in September 2026. This development aims to provide Turkish guests with much easier and faster access to all services before and during their travels.

With its event in Turkey, Costa Cruises aims not only to inspire guests but also to strengthen collaboration with its business partners, contribute to the local tourism ecosystem, and support the development of cruise tourism.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye