Costa Cruises Expands 2025 Eastern Med Routes With Flexible Homeports

Costa Cruises has officially launched its 2025 Eastern Mediterranean program, spotlighting two vessels, Costa Fascinosa and Costa Fortuna, as they expand itineraries across Greece, Italy, Malta, and Turkey. With Piraeus near Athens positioned as a prominent homeport for both ships, the cruise line aims to diversify routes, enhance accessibility, and balance passenger flow among the region’s most in-demand destinations.

Costa Fascinosa’s Eastern Mediterranean Deployment

The 3,012-guest Costa Fascinosa kicked off its summer schedule on June 7, 2025, departing from Catania in Sicily. After wintering in the Southern Caribbean, the ship repositioned to offer seven-night itineraries calling in Italy, Greece, and Malta, with homeports in Catania, Taranto in Southern Italy, and Piraeus near Athens. Regular ports of call include Mykonos, Argostoli (Kefalonia), and Valletta, while Katakolon is featured on select itineraries through late September.

Itinerary Adjustments and Third Homeport

In October 2024, Costa Cruises notified guests that previously scheduled calls to Santorini on Costa Fascinosa would be replaced with additional destinations. According to an official statement, “the Santorini changes on Costa Fascinosa were designed to diversify itineraries and enhance accessibility, and Piraeus would serve as a third homeport for the ship.” The company added that Santorini remains on the roster of other vessels, ensuring this marquee island continues to appear on Costa’s broader lineup.

Short-Cruise Options and Late-Season Shifts

Following its primary summer deployment, Costa Fascinosa will introduce three- and four-night cruises highlighting Malta, Sicily, Tunisia, and Southern Italy. These short voyages will depart from Palermo and Naples. In late fall, the ship is set to operate weeklong Western Mediterranean itineraries before eventually returning to the Caribbean in December.

Costa Fortuna’s Piraeus–Istanbul Program

Meanwhile, the 103,000-ton Costa Fortuna arrived in Piraeus on June 13, 2025. In addition to sailing roundtrip from Istanbul, it offers seven-night itineraries covering iconic Greek Islands such as Santorini, Rhodes, Kos, Heraklion (Crete), and Mykonos. To extend time ashore, Costa Fortuna remains docked in Piraeus until 11 PM, giving passengers longer days in Athens.

Seasonal Transitions and Future Plans

The Eastern Mediterranean program continues through late September, after which Costa Fortuna repositions to the Western Mediterranean for 14-night voyages in the fall. Winter 2025–26 will see the ship stationed in the Canary Islands, operating from Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with calls in Madeira (Funchal). In December 2026, Costa Fortuna is slated to leave the Costa Cruises fleet and join Margaritaville at Sea. After a major refurbishment to incorporate Margaritaville’s signature branding and venues, it will enhance the line’s U.S. offerings by adding a third homeport.

Costa Deliziosa’s Regional Presence

Complementing the line’s coverage, Costa Deliziosa also maintains an Eastern Mediterranean presence in 2025. While Costa Fascinosa has replaced Santorini with alternative calls, Deliziosa and Fortuna continue to feature the island in their schedules, ensuring broad itineraries for travelers seeking popular Greek locales.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why did Costa Fascinosa replace Santorini with other destinations for its summer itinerary?

Costa Cruises introduced Piraeus as an additional homeport to improve boarding options and diversified the ship’s calls to reduce overtourism pressures in Santorini. The destination remains part of other Costa itineraries.

Will Costa Fascinosa offer short cruises later in the year?

Yes. After its primary Eastern Mediterranean season, Costa Fascinosa will run three- and four-night voyages to Malta, Sicily, Tunisia, and Southern Italy from Palermo and Naples.

How does Costa’s repositioning strategy impact the Eastern Mediterranean cruise market?

By adding Piraeus and Istanbul as departure ports and redistributing stops to different islands, Costa Cruises aims to spread tourism benefits more evenly across the region. This approach can help manage congestion in popular areas while boosting lesser-known destinations.

What is the future of Costa Fortuna within the Costa Cruises fleet?

Costa Fortuna will remain with Costa Cruises until late 2026, when it will be transferred to Margaritaville at Sea. It will undergo refurbishment to reflect the Margaritaville brand before entering service from a new U.S. homeport.

What sustainability measures are Costa Cruises implementing in its operations?

Costa Cruises continues to emphasize sustainable tourism practices by offering diverse itineraries that ease pressures on heavily visited ports. The company also integrates cleaner fuels and advanced shore power systems where feasible, reflecting its broader effort to reduce ecological impact.

Across its fleet rotations, short-cruise introductions, and evolving homeport strategies, Costa Cruises’ 2025 season in the Eastern Mediterranean demonstrates how operators continually adapt itineraries to balance high-demand destinations with regional accessibility and passenger convenience.