Costa, the Italian cruise line, has revealed that a fifth ship will join its Asian fleet this year.

The 1,800-passenger Costa neoRomantica cruise liner will be deployed regularly in the region in 2017, offerings cruises created specifically for Asian passengers. The ship’s Asian season will officially commence this month, when it departs the Japanese port of Fukuoka on a five-night voyage around Japan and South Korea.

Between April and October 2017, Costa neoRomantica will operate a series of five- to eight-night cruises around Northeast Asia and Russia’s Far East, including calls at Sokcho and Busan in Korea, Vladivostok in Russia and Hakodate, Aomori, Sakata, Niigata, Kanazawa, Maizuru and Sakaiminato in Japan.

“The deployment of the fifth Costa ship in Asia will reinforce our leading position in Asia and allow us to continue significantly grow the Asian cruise market in the next decade, and further boost Asia market to become one of the most prominent markets in the world,” said Costa Group’s president for Asia, Buhdy Bok.

The deployment of Costa neoRomantica reaffirms the company’s commitment to the Asian cruise market. The company has consistently increased its regional capacity in recent years, with Costa Victoria’s deployment in Asia in 2012 being followed by Costa Atlantica in 2013, Costa Serena in 2015 and Costa Fortuna in 2016.

Costa neoRomantica recently underwent a HK$900 million (US$116m) revamp to create an “Italy at Sea” theme onboard the ship. This includes a showcase of Italian food and wine, and even Venetian costume parties.