Costa Cruises has announced the cancellation of a repositioning voyage aboard the Costa Toscana, which was scheduled to traverse the Red Sea. The 19-night journey, planned to sail from the United Arab Emirates to Italy, was set to depart on March 9, 2024.

In a statement issued to guests who had booked the cruise, Costa Cruises emphasized its ongoing monitoring of the critical situation affecting maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The company stressed that the security and well-being of its guests and crew are its top priorities and that it cannot accept any uncertainty or compromise in this regard.

Costa Cruises explained, “Given recent developments on the security environment and future uncertainties in the area, working in close consultation with global security experts and government authorities, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the cruise that was originally planned.” The original itinerary for the Costa Toscana included visits to several destinations in the United Arab Emirates and Oman, followed by a journey through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, with stops in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and Italy, before concluding at Costa’s cruise terminal in Savona.

Guests affected by this cancellation are being offered several options. They can transfer their bookings to any repositioning or transatlantic cruise departing by December 2024. Alternatively, they can request Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) for the amounts paid or opt for full refunds of their reservations. In some instances, Costa is providing up to 200 euros in non-refundable onboard credit per cabin.

With the repositioning cruise no longer taking place, the Costa Toscana is now expected to circumnavigate Africa on its way to Europe. Starting in April, this LNG-powered vessel will begin offering a series of week-long cruises in the Western Mediterranean, featuring stops at ports in Italy, France, and Spain.