The experiential ship to shore experiences, with pre- and post-excursion activities, will be available in Savona, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo, Cagliari, Barcelona, Valencia and Marseille, and curated by the team of animators of the Squok Club and the Teens Club.
Youngest guests
There are two main options: the first is designed for kids aged three to 13 accompanied by family members. These are slow paced, with moments for playing as well as for resting.
Possibilities include exploring Palermo in search of ingredients used to make the traditional Sicilian dessert, cannoli. At the end of the experience, they will participate in a cooking class in the on board food lab.
In Marseille, the youngsters and their families can discover the city through its most iconic games and products, from petanque to soap.
In Genoa, a historic Righi funicular railway will bring the guests to an observatory to learn about the sun and stars.
Older kids
The second option is reserved for children aged 14 to 17 and, while designed with adventure in mind, allows for some independence as well as group interaction under the supervision of Costa animators.
Highlights include photographic tours and discovering street art in Marseille; surfing and paddle-boarding on the coast of Cagliari; a walk through Naples’ most Instagrammable spots; trekking to the Cave of Forgers (Grotta dei Falsari) near Savona; a journey by sailing boat – learning the main manoeuvres – on the 'Lisca Bianca' in Palermo.
A key target group
All Costa ships offer clubs dedicated to minors, open every day of the cruise, from 9am until midnight. These are divided by age group, with indoor and outdoor areas reserved. For the youngest there is the Squok Club, named after the mascot 'Squok' while teenagers have the Teens Club at their disposal. Membership is included in the price of the voyage.
‘Families are a key target group for our offer. In particular, the summer months and itineraries in the Western Mediterranean are among the most popular with families,’ explained Giuseppe Carino, SVP guest experience and on board sales operations, Costa Cruises.
‘Thanks to our new proposals, the excursions will become true experiences tailor-made for them, suitable for different age groups, which will have a strong connection with the entertainment activities on board, so as to create a themed itinerary that will accompany our youngest guests and their families throughout the day…’
On board programme ties in
The family program includes entertainment activities on board that tie in with the tours. Kids will have the opportunity to participate in cooking-classes together with their parents, learning the secrets of cooking from on-board chefs, or participate in workshops, dances and group sports activities.
Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda
In particular, on board Costa Toscana and Costa Smeralda, one of the days will be dedicated to families, with the mascot Squok guiding them through all the experiences, culminating with the evening show at the Colosseo.
Hall of Fame
At the Hall of Fame in the Squok Club and in the Teen Zone young passengers will have the opportunity to showcase their most memorable photos and moments from on board and from during the excursions.
