Costa Cruises is to position one of its new ships, Costa Luminosa in Dubai for 2009/2010.

Costa Luminosa is at present being fitted out at an Italian shipyard, before entering service at the end of April 2009 where she will be christened in Genoa on June 5 alongside the Costa Pacifica.

The 2,826-passenger Costa Luminosa will be joined in Dubai by Costa Europa, which will run a new series of eight cruises from Savona to Dubai.

Costa Cruises this winter will increase its Dubai capacity by another 50% with the return of 1,680-passenger Costa Classica and 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria for the first time.

Costa Classica will set sail from Dubai every Sunday on a total of 11 cruises between December 21 and March 8, 2009. Costa Victoria will make 18 weekly calls on Saturdays between December 13 and April 18.