A single PVC card for identification, access control, and payment.

The challenge

The Italian group Costa Cruises takes millions of passengers on cruises throughout the world each year. Guaranteeing optimal cruise conditions for this stream of passengers requires strict organization. This organization is based on a multi-purpose card, the “Costa Card.”

We needed to have printing machines on board, as close to our clients as possible, in order to provide them with a fast, efficient service.

The solution

The “Costa Card” is an ID card containing all the passenger’s details: first name, surname, photo, access rights, and bank details. This information is printed on the card and encoded on a magnetic strip. The “Costa Card” serves to:

  • Visually identify passengers at any time
  • Control access for embarkations during the journey and access to cabins
  • Pay for services (bars, shops, Internet access)

A fleet of 120 Dualys card printers throughout the Costa ships allows over 3.5 million cards per year to be personalized!

The result

“We have been extremely pleased to note a very low rate of failure with Evolis printers. This makes us feel more secure on our travels!” said Franco Caraffi, Director of Reservation Services at Costa Cruises.