Port of Savona

Savona is home port of Costa Cruises, one of the largest cruise lines in Europe. Although Costa Cruises allows passengers to embark in almost every port, their cruises are planned using Savona as their main port (Barcelona is the second one). 
However, during the winter season, Costa Cruises often plan long cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean and Dubai that do not touch Barcelona. So the only option is to embark in Savona.

Although the nearest airport is Genoa (45 kilometers away) it only receives charter flights or Alitalia connections via Rome. Therefore, the easiest and cheapest option is book a flight to Milan.

 

Map www.costacruceros.es

If you are planning to get to Savona the day before your cruise, you can take advantage and visit Genoa, a very nice city with one of the best aquariums in Europe.

 
GETTING TO SAVONA. The cruise terminal is exclusively for Costa Cruises passegers, although other companies such as Carnival and IberoCruceros use it as a port of call.

You have three different ways to reach the port of Savona:

• BY TRAIN. Starting from Malpensa airport you have to take the "Malpensa Express" to "Milano Centrale" station (about 10 €) . There are some trains that reach only Cadorna station, so you have to swich trains get to Centrale by subway. Centrale is the starting point for the direct train to Savona (25 € ). Be careful because there are some trains with transfer at Genoa "Piazza Principe".

• BUS + TRAIN. From Malpensa, Direct Express Bus goes to "Centrale" station in Milan (10 €). It takes longer by bus than by train (an hour or more depending on the traffic). From Milano Centrale we can take the train to Savona.

• CAR RENTAL . We can find many companies at the airport. The cost including delivery in Savona is about 150 € (compact category). The return offices are near the port in Vittorio Veneto street. It can be a good option if you do not travel alone and you divide the cost between the three or four occupants.  

HOTELS. As you know, we usually advise to fly the day before the start of the cruise. You can find a very good hotel near the Palacrociere, the NH Savona Darsena (rooms starting from 100 €).

LINKS:
NH Savona Darsena
Malpensa Express (Tren)
Malpensa Express (Bus)
Trenitalia
Avis Rent a Car
Europcar
Video Palacrociere
Costa Cruceros

Genoa

This port and the city for being home of famous sailors as the great admiral Andrea Doria or Christopher Columbus. Andrea Doria gave his name to a luxury liner of the 50's that crashed into another ship near the coast of Newfoundland in route to the United States (and sank 10 hours later). Genoa owns the largest port in the whole Italy and has a famous shipyard where most of the cruise ship and passenger ships make their dry dock repairs and global refits. It is home port of MSC cruises.

The port is the heart of the city. From there, the visitor has many options to visit Genoa by foot, bus or boat. Surprising is the large number of small motorbikes that you find all around the city.

MOTORCYCLES

OFFICIAL EXCURSIONS: The most famous is Portofino, a small exclusive holiday place where you'll find restaurants and luxury shops, located 36 km from Genoa on the Riviera of Levante. The companies also offer an overview of the city of Genoa that includes a nice boat ride through the port and its surroundings. If you choose this last option, do not forget to bring a warm clohes with you.

ALTERNATIVES: If you are visiting the city on your own you have to know that the exit of the port is not easy to find. You have to reach the old terminal (Stazione Maritima), go upstairs and reach the street level. From there you can take a tourist bus (NOT HOP ON-OFF), which offers a 40-minute ride through the city for 10 € (there's another one, a little train that is cheaper, but with a shorter duration of the visit). You can also take the tourist bus near the Aquarium (which is closed on Mondays), 10 minutes away from the port. I recommend to visit the aquarium, the old pier and then take the tourist bus. If you have time left you can visit Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Palazzo Ducale and Columbus House.

WHERE TO EAT: In the area of ​​the aquarium there are restaurants where you can eat a Panini, a restaurant spezialiced in fish (medium-high price but also high quality) and a few trattorias.

SHOPPING: Everywhere near Soziglia street or September 20th avenue

VIEW OF GENOA