Costa Cruises to Transfer Costa Fortuna in 2026
Costa Cruises has confirmed that its longest-serving vessel, the 2,700-passenger Costa Fortuna, will leave the fleet in September 2026, marking another step in the line’s planned downsizing. Launched in 2003 as part of the Destiny class, Costa Fortuna has sailed for more than two decades on Mediterranean itineraries and will continue cruising through fall 2025 before transferring to a yet-to-be-named new owner.
During summer and autumn 2025, Costa Fortuna will depart from major European ports such as Barcelona, Marseille and Savona, maintaining its signature Mediterranean voyages. In winter 2025, the ship will reposition to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands to offer island-focused itineraries before returning to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean in April 2026. As its final deployment, the ship will operate cruises from Athens and Istanbul in summer 2026, calling at Greek and Turkish ports before exiting the Costa Cruises roster.
Costa Cruises has not disclosed the specific reasons for retiring the Fortuna, but the move follows three vessel transfers over the past three years, including Costa Luminosa, Costa Venezia and Costa Firenze. Each of those ships joined sister brand Carnival Cruise Line, adopting the playful “Fun Italian Style” theme as Carnival Luminosa, Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze between 2022 and 2024. With the departure of Fortuna, Costa Cruises will continue to operate with eight ships, consolidating its focus on modernizing its core fleet.
Since 2001, Costa Cruises has invested approximately €200 million in its Strategic Path initiative, a five-year program designed to enhance onboard experiences and improve environmental and operational performance. The initiative concludes in November 2025 with the extensive refurbishment of Costa Serena, a Concordia-class vessel that entered service in 2007. Scheduled works include renovated suites, refreshed pools and main dining rooms, and a new food court featuring concepts such as Pizzeria Pummid’Oro and Sushino@Costa. Following its makeover, Costa Serena will embark on a 2026 world cruise, departing Tokyo for Buenos Aires before focusing on South American itineraries through winter 2026 and returning to the Mediterranean in spring 2027.
Costa Cruises president Mario Zanetti emphasized that the strategy balances innovation, sustainability and value for money. He explained that fleet rationalization allows the brand to invest more heavily in guest experiences and introduce new itineraries, including Costa Serena’s upcoming deployments. By concentrating resources on a streamlined fleet of eight modern ships, Costa aims to strengthen its presence in key European markets and deliver unique vacation offerings that reflect authentic Italian flair.
The upcoming transfer of Costa Fortuna underscores the broader cruise industry trend toward fleet optimization and environmental efficiency. Older vessels often require higher maintenance costs and face stricter environmental regulations, making replacements with more fuel-efficient ships a priority for major operators. Costa’s decision to part ways with its longest-serving ship aligns with Carnival Corporation’s global strategy to modernize its brands and reduce carbon emissions across its yards.
Costa Cruises does not have new ship orders on the horizon and will rely on its current roster to meet demand. With its eight-ship fleet, the company will continue to offer a blend of Mediterranean cruises, Atlantic repositioning voyages and signature South American sailings. While loyal guests bid farewell to Costa Fortuna’s storied career, Costa Cruises is poised to enter a new chapter of optimized operations, innovative enhancements and carefully curated itineraries that reflect the company’s commitment to delivering memorable vacations in sustainable style.
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