Costa Serena Resumes Cruises from China After 5 Years

Costa Cruises has officially resumed its presence in the Chinese cruise market, as the Costa Serena made its return earlier this week after a five-year absence. The vessel, built in 2007, arrived in Shanghai on June 12, 2025, signaling the start of a new series of regional cruises in East Asia.

The ship’s deployment is part of a multi-homeport strategy in the Far East, with Shanghai serving as the main departure point. The Serena will now operate several four-night cruises that visit ports in China, Japan, and South Korea.

Flexible Embarkation and Diverse Itineraries

Passengers have multiple boarding options beyond Shanghai, including ports like Fukuoka in Japan and Seogwipo-si in South Korea. Through the remainder of June, three similar voyages will take place, each offering visits to three main ports as well as scenic sea days in both the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Following this brief China-based season, the Costa Serena will reposition to Taiwan. From there, it will continue offering short itineraries to Japanese and South Korean destinations.

Costa Cruises had previously been a significant presence in China, but it has not operated from mainland ports since early 2020. The Costa Serena was once dedicated to the Asian market for over a decade after being relocated from the Western Hemisphere in 2015.

Future Plans: Refit, Global Voyages, and a Shift West

The ship is scheduled to return to the West in late 2026, starting with a season in South America before transitioning to Mediterranean operations. This comes after the recent sale of the Costa Fortuna to Margaritaville at Sea, further positioning the Serena as a key vessel in Costa’s fleet.

Before ending its service in Asia, the ship is expected to undergo a significant drydock in late 2025. Planned upgrades will include refreshed dining venues and enhanced accommodations across both staterooms and suites.

In addition, Costa Cruises has revealed that the Costa Serena will operate a world cruise ahead of its 2026–2027 season. The two-month journey, running from October through December 2026, will take passengers from Japan to Argentina.

Constructed by Fincantieri in Italy, the Costa Serena has previously sailed a variety of routes across Europe, South America, and the Middle East before her deployment to China a decade ago.