Costa Cancels 2026-27 Middle East Program, Smeralda To Europe
costa has reworked its 2026–2027 deployment, cancelling planned Middle East itineraries for the winter season and redirecting capacity to European waters, with the Costa Smeralda scheduled for new weekly cruises in the Canaries and Madeira and the Costa Pacifica reassigned to the western Mediterranean.
Costa Cancels Middle East Sailings for 2026–2027
The company will not operate itineraries in the Middle East during the winter of 2026/2027, a move described as intended to ensure trips remain “relaxing, enjoyable and worry-free” given that “the outlook for the Middle East remains uncertain for the next season. ” The broader deployment change is framed as a reshaping of the brand’s 2026–2027 program, with Gulf sailings explicitly dropped and European options expanded.
Smeralda Repositioned To Canary Islands And Madeira
As part of the update, the Costa Smeralda will be deployed to the Canary Islands region to operate a new seven-day weekly itinerary that includes calls in Madeira. The company emphasized that the redeployment will “significantly increase passenger capacity and enhance the experience offered in the Region, ” positioning the Macaronesian islands as a reinforced winter offering.
Pacifica, Fleet Shifts And Regional Focus
The Costa Pacifica, which had been scheduled for the Canary Islands and Madeira, will instead undergo a planned maintenance period in a shipyard and then be repositioned to the western Mediterranean. In that role it will offer seven-day cruises in the region and longer voyages to southern Europe and North Africa, widening the company’s European winter roster after the decision to drop Gulf sailings.
The company framed the program changes as a response to the international situation, prioritizing destinations it considers stable and popular during the winter months. It noted the Canary Islands and Madeira remain sought-after winter destinations due to their mild climate and diverse attractions, and the revised plan aims to capture demand by increasing capacity there.
The redeployment marks a clear shift from the previously planned Middle East and Gulf sailings toward stronger European and Macaronesian coverage for winter 2026/2027. The company says the changes are designed to offer passengers new opportunities for discovery while maintaining service levels and operational confidence amid an uncertain regional outlook.
