COSTA Cruises has decided to deploy a second cruise ship, Costa Atlantica, to Asia from May 2013.

The 2,680-guest Costa Atlantica features 1,057 cabins, including 54 suites with private balconies, 620 cabins with private balconies, 40 Wellness cabins, and four Wellness suites.

Having previously operated the 1,680-guest Costa Classica in Asia, the double positioning of the 2,394-pax Costa Victoria (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 11, 2012) and Costa Atlantica in Asia will offer a combined daily passenger capacity of 5,074.

From May to June 2013, Costa Atlantica will depart from Singapore on seven-night cruises to Malaysia and Thailand, and on three- or four-night cruises to Malaysia. The three itineraries can also be combined to form a 14-night itinerary, covering Kuantan, Laem Chabang/Bangkok, Koh Samui, Langkawi, Penang, Port Klang and Malacca.

From June through October 2013, the ship will depart from Shanghai on short cruises to South Korea and Japan, calling at Jeju, Busan, Fukuoka, Hososhima and Kagoshima.