Costa Cruises has released an expanded 2010 sailing programme with two new ships in Dubai and a third operating in Asia. The Italian company, which is introducing three new vessels over the next 12 months, aims to help families on a budget with a new booking option.

The Family Plan enables two adults to book any category of cabin for themselves, and Costa will provide a special rate for children staying in a separate inside cabin.

The new incentive is in addition to the company enabling children aged under 18 sharing the same cabin as their parents to travel by only paying port taxes, which amounts to less than £100 for a week in the Mediterranean.

Discounts are also available for a single adult sailing with children under 18 and supplements for single travellers get reduced supplements. The line has also introduced online check-in, enabling passengers to fill out their embarkation form at least ten days before departure, printing it out and taking it with them to the port to help reduce queues.

The company is increasing capacity by 16% in 2010 and aims to carry 1.5 million passengers, up from 1.2 million in 2008. New ships Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifica, which are to be named at a dual ceremony in Genoa on June 5, enter service in April and May to be joined by Costa Deliziosa in January 2010. Costa Pacifica will feature a fully equipped music recording studio.

Two further new vessels are planned to join the fleet in spring 2011 and 2012, by which time Costa estimates that with 17 ships it will be the fourth largest cruise line in the world after Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and Princess Cruises. The 2010 highlights, featured in a brochure to be released next week, include Costa Romantica replacing Costa Allegra in the Far East from April 2010. The other two ships sailing from Hong Kong and Singapore will be Costa Classica and Costa Allegra.

Costa’s Dubai sailings will be on two new ships, Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa. The line is continuing with 16-day winter sailings in the Indian Ocean from Mauritius with Costa Romantica. Stops in Israel and Libya are being re-introduced as part of selected Mediterranean itineraries while Yokohama becomes a new port of call in the Far East.

Four ships will offer Northern Europe summer cruises – Costa Lumunosa, Costa Deliziosa, Costa Magica and Costa Atlantica. New spring cruises to Canada and the US include new calls at Charleston, Baltimore and Norfolk on Costa Atlantica.