Costa Cruises, an Italian operator within the Carnival Corporation fleet and among the larger global cruise lines, is intensifying its commercial engagement in Romania in response to sustained growth in demand for sea-based holidays among Romanian travellers. The company identifies Romania as its second-largest market in Central and Eastern Europe and among the stronger markets within the European Union, with passenger volumes from the country representing roughly a quarter of its Central and Eastern European customer base; local sales have risen sharply in recent years and the operator projects continued annual growth in the mid single-digit range.
Under its expanded market strategy, Costa has strengthened cooperation with Romanian travel agencies and tour operators and increased efforts to raise overall brand awareness and tailor its offerings to local preferences. Initiatives have included plans to introduce the cruise operator’s onboard application with Romanian-language support so that passengers may access daily schedules, dining information, shore excursion details and other service information while at sea.
Data released in conjunction with these efforts indicate that Romanian demand for cruises remains in an early phase of development relative to other travel segments, with penetration rates below 1%; estimates suggest steady increases in the number of Romanian cruise passengers through 2028 as air and maritime connections to primary embarkation ports in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe remain accessible.
Costa’s product mix for Romanian markets reflects broader trends in its European deployment, with a majority of bookings favouring Mediterranean routes and a secondary preference for destinations in the United Arab Emirates and Northern Europe, while shorter “mini-cruise” offerings of four to five nights have shown particular appeal among younger adults and younger families.
The company’s expanded engagement in Romania aligns with its international diversification strategy, supported by long-term fleet investments and modernisation programmes, and reflects a maritime commercial response to evolving consumer interest in multi-destination seaborne travel from Romanian ports of origin and beyond.