The Canary Islands and Madeira continue to rank among the most popular winter destinations thanks to their mild climate, diverse landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. Following the great success of the recent winter season in this region, Costa Cruises announces an increase in its operations in the area for winter 2026/27.
This coming winter, the company's flagship, Costa Smeralda, will be based in the Canary Islands and will operate a new 7-day itinerary between the Canaries and Madeira. With the addition of Costa Smeralda to this program, Costa will significantly increase its passenger capacity and enhance the overall experience offered in the region.
Following its scheduled dry-dock renovation, Costa Pacifica — originally planned to operate in the Canary Islands and Madeira — will finally be repositioned in the Western Mediterranean, where it will offer both 7-day cruises to Western Mediterranean destinations and longer itineraries to Southern Europe and North Africa, including new exclusive long-duration tours.
This new program will offer a selection of particularly attractive destinations to visit during the winter season, providing passengers with new and inspiring opportunities for discovery.
With this decision, Costa aims to offer clarity and planning security to both its guests and business partners as far in advance as possible. Given the continued uncertainty in the Middle East for the 2026/27 winter season, Costa will not operate itineraries in this region during the upcoming season, ensuring that every Costa journey remains relaxing, enjoyable, and worry-free (Costa currently has no ships operating in the Middle East).
Costa Smeralda will operate a new 7-day itinerary between the Canary Islands and Madeira, while Costa Pacifica will sail new itineraries in the Mediterranean with week-long and longer cruises.
As a result of this relocation, the previously planned Costa Smeralda repositioning cruises to and from the Emirates will not take place. Passengers booked on these repositioning cruises to/from the Emirates, as well as those booked on Emirates cruises, will be able to immediately choose any other cruise, with an onboard credit of €200 per cabin (€100 per person).
Passengers with reservations on pre-scheduled Costa Pacifica winter cruises in the Canary Islands will also be protected under the same conditions within Costa Smeralda's Canary Island itineraries.
The new Costa Smeralda itineraries in the Canary Islands and the Costa Pacifica itineraries to the Western Mediterranean and North Africa will be available for booking through all sales channels at the end of March.
Costa Cruises remains committed to providing solutions tailored to the needs of its guests, guaranteeing an unforgettable and peaceful travel experience. The company thanks all its passengers and business partners for their continued cooperation and trust.
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