Costa Cruises has confirmed its plans for the 2026–2027 South America season, outlining a programme of itineraries operated by Costa Diadema and Costa Serena. The deployment will cover a range of cruise lengths and routes across Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, supported by recent upgrades to both vessels and designed to serve markets seeking both short coastal sailings and longer regional voyages.
Costa Diadema is scheduled to open the season on November 26th, 2026. Initially, the ship will operate 3- and 4-night cruises from Santos and Itajai, calling at Ilhabela. These short itineraries are positioned as brief coastal sailings focused on one of Brazil’s best-known island destinations. From December 20th, 2026, the vessel will transition to 7-night itineraries, also departing Santos and Itajai, with calls at Buenos Aires and Montevideo. These longer voyages combine a major South American capital with Uruguay’s principal port, offering contrasting urban and coastal experiences within a single itinerary.
Alongside Costa Diadema, Costa Serena will return to South American waters for the first time since 2007. The ship is scheduled to arrive in the region on December 22nd, 2026 following a 65-night voyage from Tokyo to Buenos Aires. Once in South America, Costa Serena will operate cruises ranging from 3 to 9 nights, sailing from Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Rio de Janeiro. Planned ports of call include Punta del Este, Ilhabela, and Balneario Camboriu.
The return of Costa Serena follows a comprehensive revitalisation completed earlier in the year during her deployment in Asia. The refit introduced updated interiors, refreshed public spaces, and revised onboard services intended to align the vessel with Costa’s current product standards. These changes are intended to support the ship’s re-entry into the South American market with a contemporary onboard offering.
Across the season, Costa Serena’s itineraries will focus on destinations combining beach resorts, coastal scenery, and established tourist centres. Punta del Este features as Uruguay’s primary seaside destination, while Ilhabela and Balneario Camboriu represent two contrasting Brazilian coastal ports with established cruise infrastructure and shore-side attractions.
At the conclusion of the regional season, both ships are scheduled to reposition to Europe. Costa Diadema will depart Santos on April 5th, 2027 for a 26-night transatlantic voyage to Kiel, Germany, offering an extended sailing that bridges the South American and European deployments.
With this programme, Costa Cruises is offering a layered South America season that accommodates different travel patterns, from short domestic cruises within Brazil to longer itineraries linking multiple countries. The deployment of Costa Diadema and Costa Serena, supported by updated onboard facilities and varied routing, positions the line to maintain a broad presence in the region during the 2026–2027 season while continuing its established model of combining regional exploration with flexible cruise durations.