After almost two years laid up in the Middle East, the Costa Serena is returning to Asia. On March 15, the Costa Cruises vessel departed Dubai on a two-week voyage to Singapore.

Getting ready to resume service following a three-year operational pause, the ship is set to arrive at the Southeast Asia port on March 30. Out of service since early 2020, the Serena is set to welcome guests back next June as part of a charter program operated in cooperation with local Asian partners.

As the summer moves into its peak, the schedule is initially based in South Korea, with departures from Busan, Sokcho, Pohang, and Keelung.

During this time frame, the 2007-built vessel is scheduled to sail to Japan’s ports of Sasebo, Kagoshima, Otaru, Hakodate, Naha, Miyakojima, and Ishigaki for four- to seven-night cruises.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Costa Serena was one of three Costa ships that operated year-round in Asia.

It has been four years since the Serena was out of service while the other vessels underwent redeployment or left the fleet of the company. It was originally built by Fincantieri in Italy and sailed in the Western Hemisphere until it was sent to China in 2015.

Over 3,000 guests can board the vessel, which features several facilities, including one of the largest wellness centers at sea, two retractable glass-domed swimming pools, four dining options, and more.

There are also multiple bars and lounges on the Costa Serena, a three-deck theatre, a casino, a fitness center, and a waterslide. Joseph  designed the ship’s interiors, which feature ancient Roman and Greek mythology as the main theme. On the ship, there are also 6,000 works of art that reflect the same theme.