Costa to complete €200m refit programme with Costa Serena, Costa Fortuna to be sold

Costa Cruises is nearing the end of a sweeping fleet transformation plan that includes ship modernisation, new itineraries, and fleet optimisation, with the upcoming refit and refurbusgment of Costa Serena, while its oldest ship Costa Fortuna will be sold. 

The strategy, launched in 2021, represents a €200 million investment over five years and is now entering its end phase with the transformation of Costa Serena.

Set to be completed in November 2025, the project will transform the ship into a newly evolved vessel featuring a complete redesign of onboard spaces, dining concepts, and guest accommodation. 

Upgrades will include a new food court with innovative restaurants and bars, such as Archipelago starred chef restaurant, Pizzeria Pummid’Oro, and Sushino@Costa, a fresh and modern design for the main restaurants, redesigned pools and bars, and completely renovated suites.

This overhaul is part of Costa’s broader vision to elevate the guest experience while aligning with contemporary travel trends that prioritise diversity of choice, authenticity, and flexible travel formats.

Following her refit, Costa Serena will embark on a range of global itineraries between October and December 2026, including a World Cruise from Tokyo to Buenos Aires. The ship will then begin regular operations in South America for winter 2027, before repositioning to the Mediterranean in spring 2027.

Beyond refit and freusbishment projects, Costa’s updated product portfolio encompasses both sea and land experiences. 

“Our goal is to provide unmatched experiences for our guests while embracing innovation, sustainability, and exceptional value for money,” said Mario Zanetti, President of Costa Cruises. “We continuously focus on product innovation, such as the Sea and Land itineraries, an exclusive by Costa, that combines new Sea destinations and Land Destinations.” 

“We are also investing in our fleet to enhance onboard experience and introducing new itineraries, including Costa Serena new deployment for 2026-2027. The strategy path that we started a few years ago is strengthening our offer in our key markets with a portfolio of unique vacations.”

Costa’s Sea and Land itineraries are designed to bridge the gap between cruise and land-based tourism, offering curated experiences that allow guests to explore destinations in greater depth. 

This is particularly timely as travellers increasingly seek flexible, immersive holidays with a mix of cultural, historical, and wellness-focused components.

As part of its ongoing review and refinement of fleet operations, enacted by parent company Carnival Corporation following the pandemic, Costa confirmed that Costa Fortuna, the longest-serving ship in the fleet, will be transitioning out in mid-September 2026 following her itineraries in Greece and Turkey during summer 2025, and voyages to the Canary Islands in winter 2025/26.