Costa Cruises is offering two special cruises in collaboration with A.P.E.I. (the Association of Pastry Ambassadors of Italian Excellence) to discover the art of pastry with its great masters. The cruises will take place in the Mediterranean aboard Costa Toscana from June 9 to 16 and aboard Costa Fascinosa from October 21 to 31.
Italy is known for its delectable desserts, and now Costa Cruises is showcasing some of the leading Italian and international pastry masters on two confectionery-themed sailings aboard Costa Toscana and Costa Fascinosa.
This collaboration with the Association of Pastry Ambassadors of Italian Excellence (APEI) will be led by renowned pastry chef Master Iginio Massari. The collaboration between Costa Cruises and A.P.E.I. (the association that brings together the Pastry Ambassadors of Italian Excellence, headed by the Master of Masters Iginio Massari) continues, with the aim of bringing the best of the pastry art around the world. This year the Italian cruise line is offering two cruises dedicated to foodies, featuring some of the greatest Italian and international pastry masters on board Costa Toscana and Costa Fascinosa.
The first cruise-event, “Massari narrates Iginio,” is scheduled from June 9 to 16 on the flagship Costa Toscana, during a weeklong itinerary in the Mediterranean. Iginio Massari and the other A.P.E.I masters will be onboard, offering guests daily workshops dedicated to pastry making. Departing from Genoa, the cruise will visit some of the most beautiful destinations between Italy, France and Spain, such as Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples and Rome. It will be a real “journey within a journey”, discovering Master Massari’s personal and professional path, with the opportunity to taste some of his most iconic desserts. There will also be moments dedicated to the younger guests, through the reading of fairy tales written to guide them into a world of sweet fantasies.
Complimentary volumes from the “Dolce è la vita” book series, autographed by the Maestro Massari, will be distributed to guests.
The second event planned for 2023 is the new edition of “Panettone senza confini” (Panettone With no Borders), which for the third consecutive year will come onboard a Costa ship. From October 21 to 31, guests will be able to sample delicacies prepared by master chefs from 15 pastry shops from around the world competing in the Panettone senza confini that’s dedicated to Italy’s iconic sweet bread.
During the cruise, panettone will be prepared in a variety of ways: traditional and chocolate, plated desserts and even an ice cream version. Guests will judge and vote the best chocolate panettone. The best traditional panettone will be chosen by a jury of APEI masters, chaired by Iginio Massari. The 10-day roundtrip itinerary from Savona features calls at Marseille; Málaga, Cádiz and Valencia, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; and British Territory Gibraltar.