Costa Cruises Alters Winter 2025-2026 Itineraries in Response to Middle East Instability

Costa Cruises has made notable changes to its deployment plans for the winter 2025–2026 season, specifically cancelling previously scheduled operations in the Middle East. The cruise line has decided to suspend the Costa Toscana’s program that included sailings from Dubai due to ongoing regional instability.

Initially, the Costa Toscana was set to operate winter voyages to Dubai and other UAE ports. However, with those routes now put on hold, the vessel will instead remain in the Western Mediterranean, offering week-long cruises until November 13, 2025. These cruises will feature various destinations across Southern Europe and North Africa. Additionally, the repositioning voyages to and from Dubai that were planned for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 have also been cancelled.

In response to these changes, Costa has prepared a new winter program focused on Mediterranean destinations. The revamped itineraries aim to maintain the cruise experience while providing guests with culturally rich ports and pleasant weather.

The rest of the Costa fleet will continue with robust winter offerings. The Costa Fortuna will run weekly sailings to the Canary Islands, available through fly-cruise packages, enabling passengers to visit multiple ports in the archipelago. Meanwhile, the Costa Fascinosa and Costa Pacifica will adhere to their planned Caribbean deployments, each offering unique 7-night itineraries that can be combined for extended vacations, showcasing the region’s natural beauty and vibrant culture.

Costa Cruises is reaching out to guests who are affected by the cancellations, offering a variety of rebooking options and alternative itineraries. The cruise line has reassured that flexible arrangements will be made to accommodate passengers’ preferences and uphold their high service standards.

While the cancellation of the UAE operations marks a shift from Costa’s traditional winter schedule, the company is committed to providing destination-rich voyages around the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, and the Caribbean—regions that remain vital to its seasonal strategy. The adjustments reflect both operational prudence and a focus on enhancing the passenger experience.

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