Costa Cruises reimagines itineraries around experiences from summer 2027

Costa Cruises will overhaul the way it designs and markets its cruise holidays from summer 2027.

The cruise line will replace traditional destination-based itineraries with experience-led voyage concepts built around specific themes, locations, and moments at sea.

The new approach expands on the cruise line’s Sea & Land Wonder programme, introduced in 2024, which combines onboard experiences and shore excursions into a single itinerary concept designed to place greater emphasis on the journey itself rather than simply the ports visited.

Under the new strategy, cruises will be organised around themed concepts with distinct identities rather than geographical routes alone.

“There is a before and an after in the history of Costa Cruises itineraries, and the turning point is Summer 2027,” said Francesco Muglia, Chief Commercial Officer and Senior Vice President, Costa Cruises.

“When we launched the Sea & Land Wonder Platform, our goal was clear: to place wonder at the heart of every moment of the journey, at sea and on land,” he said.

“Results have confirmed that guests are increasingly seeking authentic experiences that leave a lasting impression,” Muglia added. “With the new itinerary concepts, launching in Summer 2027, we take a step further: each itinerary is inspired by a clear vision and develops as a coherent journey made of iconic places and defining moments.”

According to Costa, research conducted with travel partners found that 85% identified experiential coherence as an important factor when selecting an itinerary, while booking intent increased by 5% when consumers were presented with the new concept-based approach.

Among the new itineraries will be Dolce Vita aboard Costa Fascinosa, featuring destinations including Taormina and sea-based experiences near Stromboli, and Golden Islands, which will combine calls in the Balearic Islands and Sardinia with sunrise and sunset experiences at sea.

Other concepts include Blue Islands in the Eastern Mediterranean aboard Costa Serena, as well as Lights of the Mediterranean, Sea of Lights, Aegean Icons, Aegean Islands, Adriatic & Cyclades, Seaside Dreams and Nordic Souls.

The changes build on Costa’s existing Sea Destinations programme, which incorporates specially designed experiences during navigation, such as sunrise concerts, sunset performances, and cultural events in scenic locations that are not traditional ports of call.

Costa Cruises also confirmed the return of its solar eclipse cruise programme. Following the sell-out success of its 2026 sailing, Costa Fascinosa will host a dedicated eclipse voyage during the total solar eclipse of August 2nd, 2027.

While the new concepts will formally launch in 2027, Costa said elements of the strategy are already present in its 2026 deployment.

Summer 2026 itineraries aboard ships including Costa Smeralda, Costa Toscana, and Costa Pacifica will feature Sea Destinations such as Capri Bay and the Calanques National Park, while Eastern Mediterranean sailings will incorporate experiences in locations including the Venice Lagoon and the Dardanelles Strait.

In Northern Europe, voyages aboard Costa Diadema and Costa Favolosa will combine Norwegian fjords with destinations in Scandinavia, Scotland, and Iceland.

Costa is also extending the concept into winter deployments. Beginning in late 2026, itineraries in the Canary Islands, Caribbean, and Mediterranean will include dedicated stargazing experiences at designated “Darkest Spot” locations, taking advantage of low light pollution and open ocean conditions.

Costa’s new 2027 itinerary concepts

Dolce Vita – Western Mediterranean aboard Costa Fascinosa

Golden Islands – Balearic Islands and Sardinia aboard Costa Fascinosa

Blue Islands – Greek Islands and Eastern Mediterranean aboard Costa Serena

Lights of the Mediterranean – Western Mediterranean

Sea of Lights – Greece and Turkey

Aegean Icons – Venice, Santorini and Mykonos

Aegean Islands – Corfu, Crete and the Cyclades

Adriatic & Cyclades – Adriatic and Greek Islands

Seaside Dreams – Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean

Nordic Souls – Scandinavia and Norwegian fjords

Eclipse Cruise 2027 – Total solar eclipse voyage aboard Costa Fascinosa on August 2nd, 2027