Costa Cruises’ Oldest Ship To Be Sold In 2026, Reducing Fleet Size To 8

Carnival Corporation’s Costa Cruises announced that its oldest cruise ship will soon be getting new owners next year. This development comes amidst the cruise line’s downsizing efforts, which began after the 2020 halt in operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 102,669 gross tonne ship Costa Fortuna will be handed over to a new owner by September 2026, though the buyer’s identity remains unknown for now.

The cruise ship is presently in the Mediterranean, offering trips to Turkiye and Greece.

It was constructed by Fincantieri and delivered in 2003. The 272 m long ship can accommodate around 3500 people and was among the first mega cruise vessels for the Brand and also in Europe.

With Fortuna’s departure, Costa would have given away 6 ships from its cruise fleet. Two of the newest vessels, the Costa Venezia and Costa Firenza, were transferred to Carnival Cruise Line to launch a sub-brand, Costa by Carnival, that promises a ‘fun Italian Style’ experience to guests.

The vessels are operated in the American market, and Carnival also took over the Costa Luminosa, which was renamed Carnival Luminosa and offers itineraries between Australia and Alaska.

The ship Costa Victoria was sold for scrap during the pandemic.

Costa says it is following a strategic path, including investing over €200 million in the past 5 years, modernising and upgrading its vessels.

After selling Costa Fortuna, the company would have 8 cruise ships, including 2 of the LNG-fueled cruise ships delivered in 2019 and 2021.

Another old cruise ship is undergoing extensive refurbishments, which will be completed in November.

The Costa Serena’s upgrades would wrap up the Costa Cruises ship modernisation program, which began in 2021.

The enhancements include the addition of a new food court with an Archipelago Restaurant and bars, updating the designs of the main restaurants and renovation to suites.

The restaurants will have a fresh look, and the pools and bars will be redesigned.

Costa Serena is deployed in Asia and was the ship for China before the pandemic. In 2026, she will leave Tokyo for Buenos Aires to replace Fortuna.

The Costa Serena will offer cruises in South America in the winter of 2027, before redeploying to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2027.

References: Cruise Industry News, Cruise Hive

Source: Maritime Shipping News