Costa Cruises has cancelled all sailings on its ship Costa Fortuna between April 2023 and April 2024.
The cruise line said it made the decision after assessing its programme for next season and is in the process of notifying guests about alternative options.
The axed sailings are all round-trip Mediterranean cruises from Istanbul, offering seven- and 11-night itineraries to Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and more.
Cruise Hive says the sailings that have now been cancelled were originally planned for sister ship Costa Venezia, before it was decided that ship was moving to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet.
Costa Venezia’s itineraries were then moved over to Costa Fortuna, one of the smallest and oldest ships in the fleet.
“Costa Cruises is still offering eastern Mediterranean sailings during the summer and early fall of 2023 aboard Costa Deliziosa from Venice and Costa Pacifica from Bari but fewer sailings are available in the region later in the year, and none at all now planned in early 2024,” Cruise Hive said.
Cruise Industry News said a statement by Costa implied the cruises are being cancelled as a result of international restrictions.
“The product is ideal for some nationalities which, under the current scenario, cannot have access to it,” the company said.
“The ship will continue to operate its program of short cruises in the Mediterranean through November 20, 2022.
“Then it will make its way to South America, where it will spend the entire winter season as originally planned, offering eight-night cruises to Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay,” the statement added.
An announcement on new plans for Costa Fortuna will be announced soon.