Costa Fortuna to Exit Fleet in September 2026

Costa Cruises has confirmed that the Costa Fortuna, one of the oldest vessels in its fleet, will be departing in September 2026.

The 2,700-passenger ship, which entered service in 2003, is the longest-serving member of Costa’s current lineup and part of the Destiny class. Until its exit, the Costa Fortuna will continue sailing Mediterranean itineraries through summer and fall 2025, departing from ports including Barcelona, Marseille, and Savona.

In the winter of 2025, the vessel will reposition to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, offering regional cruises focused on the archipelago. It will then return to the Mediterranean in April 2026, with scheduled departures from Athens and Istanbul, visiting ports in Greece and Turkey ahead of its transfer to a new, unnamed owner.

Costa’s parent company, Carnival Corporation, did not elaborate on the reason for the ship’s retirement but noted that the move aligns with a wider fleet downsizing effort that has seen three ships removed from the Costa brand over the last three years.

This follows a pattern of fleet redistribution within Carnival Corporation. Previous Costa vessels — Costa Luminosa, Costa Venezia, and Costa Firenze — have already transitioned to Carnival Cruise Line and now operate under that brand.

At the same time, Costa Cruises is focusing on upgrading its existing ships. As part of its €200 million ($225 million) Strategic Path initiative, the company is preparing for a significant renovation of the Costa Serena, a Concordia-class vessel launched in 2007. Set for completion in November 2025, the refit will include updated suites, pool areas, dining venues, and new culinary concepts such as Pizzeria Pummid’Oro and Sushino at Costa.

Costa currently operates eight ships and, with no new builds currently on order, the size of the fleet is expected to remain stable for the foreseeable future.