Costa Cruises has officially cancelled all winter 2025–26 itineraries in the Arabian Gulf, including round‑trip sailings from the UAE aboard Costa Toscana, as well as the planned seasonal repositioning cruises to and from Dubai in fall 2025 and spring 2026.
Instead, Costa Toscana will remain in the Western Mediterranean, extending its scheduled seven‑night cruises through November 13, 2025, followed as planned by a cruise from Savona to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Why the change?
Geopolitical instability in the Middle East
Costa cited the “currently fluid situation in the Middle East”, pointing to heightened uncertainty following escalations – such as the brief missile exchanges between Iran, Israel, and the United States – which prompted broader industry caution.
This follows AIDA Cruises’ own withdrawal from the region earlier in July, the first cancellation of Dubai homeporting in 20 years for that brand – also attributed to regional security risks.
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Operational & booking cycles
Cruise itineraries are planned well in advance, with bookings, port arrangements, marketing, and logistics locked in months prior. A sudden escalation can trigger decisions to cancel far ahead in order to provide clarity to guests and avoid operational disruption later.
Redeployment to safer and proven markets
Rather than risk uncertainty, Costa is strategically shifting Toscana’s winter deployment to familiar, stable regions. The vessel will serve itineraries across Southern European shores and North Africa – ports in Italy, Spain, Greece, Tunisia and Morocco – where demand remains strong.
Other ships in the Costa fleet will continue winter deployments in the Canary Islands (Costa Fortuna) and the Caribbean (Costa Fascinosa and Costa Pacifica) – all part of the company’s broader winter strategy.
What it means for guests
All passengers booked on the now‑cancelled Dubai sailings – or fall/spring repositioning cruises – will be contacted directly by Costa Cruises with options such as:
- Full refund
- Alternative cruise aboard a different ship or itinerary
- Future cruise voucher or rebooking on another winter voyage.
Bigger picture: A broader industry trend
- It’s not just Costa – AIDA and now Costa both cancelled Gulf programmes for winter 2025/26, citing security risks. Costa has had a presence in Dubai since 2006, growing steadily until last winter season.
- The regional cruise market remains robust, however other lines are adapting by focusing on Red Sea routes, Saudi Arabia, or Cape Town repositioning – bypassing politically unstable corridors.
If you were booked on one of these cancelled sailings, it’s worth reaching out to the line to explore the options offered—including Mediterranean or Caribbean alternatives – or to arrange a full refund or future travel credit.
🧭 What’s next?
- Keep an eye out for the soon‑to‑be released revised winter itineraries for Costa Toscana’s Mediterranean‑North Africa programme.
- Monitor other cruise lines’ plans for the Gulf region – some may return if security conditions stabilise, while others continue deploying via alternative routes such as Cape Town or Saudi ports.
- Stay informed about regional developments, especially geo‑political updates, as they continue to shape cruise deployment strategies worldwide.
