Costa has announced deployment updates for the 2026-27 season, as the Costa Smeralda will not be sailing in the Middle East and instead be positioned in the Canary Islands and will be operating a brand-new seven-day itinerary between the Canaries and Madeira.

With Costa Smeralda operating this program, Costa will significantly increase guest capacity  in the region, the company said.

After her planned drydock, the Costa Pacifica (previously planned in the Canary Islands and Madeira) will be instead positioned in the West Med offering both seven-day cruises towards Western Mediterranean destinations and longer cruises towards South Europe and North Africa, also with new exclusive long itineraries, the company said.

“With this decision, Costa intends to provide clarity and planning certainty for all guests and travel partners at an early stage. As the outlook in the Middle East remains uncertain for the winter season 2026/27, Costa will not operate itineraries in the area for the upcoming season to ensure every Costa voyage is always relaxing, enjoyable and worry-free (Costa also does not currently have any ship operating in the Middle East),” the company said in a statement.

As a result of this redeployment, the previously scheduled positioning voyages of Costa Smeralda to and from Emirates will also not take place. Guests booked on the repositioning cruise to/from the Emirates, as well as guests with a booking in the Emirates, may choose any other cruise immediately, with €200 onboard credit per cabin (€100 per person). Guests with a booking on the previously scheduled winter cruises of Costa Pacifica in the Canary Islands will be protected under the same conditions on the Costa Smeralda Canary itineraries.

The new itineraries for Costa Smeralda and Costa Pacifica will be available for booking by the end of March.