A charter arrangement has been concluded for the deployment of Costa Serena as a ship hotel during the 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19th to October 4th, 2026.
The vessel is to remain berthed at Nagoya Port, housing a substantial portion of athletes and officials throughout the duration of the event.
Estimates indicate that between 4,000 and 5,000 participants will be accommodated on board, forming part of a broader lodging strategy that replaces the construction of a conventional athletes’ village. The charter, valued at approximately US$28 million, reflects a logistical decision intended to reduce both construction costs and preparation time while maintaining sufficient capacity for the Games.
Organisers have acknowledged that the use of a cruise vessel as a residential facility has prompted discussion, particularly given that the Games coincide with Japan’s typhoon season. It has been indicated, however, that the arrangement is temporary in nature and structured to provide functional accommodation between training and competition periods.
Accommodation onboard will be assigned according to sporting discipline rather than national delegation, creating a different organisational structure from that typically seen in land-based athletes’ villages. The vessel will operate as a contained residential unit, supported by its existing onboard infrastructure, including dining and recreational facilities.
Costa Serena's staterooms will be supplemented by additional housing ashore. Approximately 2,000 participants will be lodged in temporary modular units constructed along the Nagoya waterfront, while further contingents will be distributed among regional hotels, including in Tokyo, where selected events are scheduled to take place.
The use of Costa Serena forms part of a wider decentralised accommodation plan for the Games, representing a departure from traditional single-site athlete villages. Preparations for the event are reported to be progressing in line with schedule, with operational planning continuing alongside increasing public engagement and ticket demand.