Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises have announced major changes to their winter 2026/2027 cruise programs, canceling all planned itineraries to the Middle East as ongoing uncertainty in the region continues to affect cruise operations.

Both cruise lines say the decision was made to ensure a safe and worry-free experience for guests and crew while giving travel partners and passengers enough time to adjust their plans.

Costa Cruises Moves Ships to Canary Islands and Mediterranean

Costa Cruises confirmed that it will not operate any cruises to the Emirates or the wider Middle East region during the winter 2026/2027 season. Instead, the company has redesigned its winter deployment with new itineraries in Europe and the Atlantic.

For the first time, Costa Smeralda will spend the winter season sailing seven-day cruises between the Canary Islands and Madeira, a region known for its mild winter climate and scenic landscapes.

The move follows the strong demand Costa experienced in the area during the previous winter season.

Meanwhile, Costa Pacifica, which had originally been planned for Canary Islands sailings, will now operate in the Western Mediterranean after completing its scheduled shipyard stay in December. The ship will join Costa Toscana, offering:

• New eight-day Western Mediterranean itineraries

• Longer cruises to Southern Europe and North Africa

Costa said the changes were made to provide “planning certainty” for guests and partners while avoiding potential disruptions linked to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

Passengers who had booked the cancelled Emirates itineraries or repositioning cruises of Costa Smeralda will be able to rebook another cruise and will receive €200 onboard credit per cabin (€100 per person).

Guests originally booked on Costa Pacifica’s Canary Islands cruises will be automatically transferred to the new Costa Smeralda itineraries under the same conditions.

AIDA Cancels Entire Orient Season

AIDA Cruises has taken a similar step, announcing that it will cancel its entire Orient season for winter 2026/2027.

The decision affects all sailings of AIDAprima scheduled between October 19, 2026 and May 20, 2027 that were originally planned for the Middle East region.

The company said the move was necessary because of the ongoing uncertainty and the difficulty of predicting the security situation in the region.

“The safety of guests and crew remains our top priority,” AIDA said in a statement explaining the decision.

As part of the program change, the repositioning cruises around Africa planned for AIDAprima in autumn and spring will also be cancelled.

The only voyage that will still take place as planned is the “Western Europe Highlights from Hamburg 1” cruise, sailing from Hamburg to Gran Canaria between October 19 and November 1, 2026.

Guests Offered Alternative Cruises

Guests affected by the cancellations will be able to rebook alternative sailings across the AIDA fleet, which will continue to operate in popular winter destinations such as:

• The Caribbean

• The Canary Islands

• Other warm-weather regions

Passengers who rebook another cruise by May 10, 2026 will receive €200 onboard credit per cabin (or €100 for single occupancy).

AIDA also confirmed that it is already working on new winter itineraries for AIDAprima, which are expected to become available for booking from mid-April.

Cruise Lines Shift Away From the Region

The decisions by Costa and AIDA reflect a broader trend in the cruise industry, where several companies have recently adjusted or canceled sailings in the Middle East due to rising regional tensions.

By redeploying ships to destinations like the Canary Islands, Mediterranean, and Caribbean, cruise lines are focusing on regions that offer more stable operating conditions during the winter season.

Costa Cruises said the updated itineraries will be available through all booking channels by the end of March, while AIDA plans to release its revised routes for AIDAprima later this spring.