Costa Cruises will bring the Costa Serena back to South America in the 2026-27 season, ending a 15-year absence for the ship in the region and pairing it with the Costa Diadema for itineraries in Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.

The deployment comes at a capacity cost: Costa is dropping the three- and four-night short cruises the Costa Favolosa operated from Santos in November and December 2025. The Serena's season will run seven- to nine-night cruises from Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro — a shorter, higher-length mix that reduces total passenger throughput for Brazilian homeports.

"In other words, we unfortunately lost what the Favolosa had in the previous season regarding short cruises," Renê Hermann, Costa's institutional president for Brazil, told Cruise Industry News in Brasília. He said Costa hopes to restart the short-cruise program, but any increase depends on ship and itinerary availability.

For sellers and port partners, the loss has revenue implications beyond the line itself.

"It is not something good, even for the destinations in the country. It is bad for cruise terminals, where there are fewer passengers, which impacts everything else," Hermann said.

How the Serena gets there

The 2007-built ship ends a decade-long stint in Asia and reaches South America via a world cruise Hermann described as another deployment highlight.

"It leaves Tokyo (Japan), stops in Chile, sails through Tierra del Fuego and ends in Buenos Aires on December 22, 2026," he explained.

The Serena then absorbs part of the itinerary slate the Favolosa sailed in 2025-26. The Diadema rounds out the season with three- to seven-night cruises from Santos, Itajaí and Buenos Aires.

What happens to Brazil's Northeast?

Brazil's Northeast coast will sit outside Costa's regular itineraries for a third consecutive season in 2026-27. Hermann framed the gap as cost-driven rather than strategic.

"Plans for that always exist. Salvador, Ilhéus and Maceió are wonderful destinations. I'm sure one day we will have to return. But, for that, we need to see operational costs lowering, so we can justify making the investment of having a ship doing an itinerary like that," he said.

The region anchored Costa's schedules for decades, so a return depends on port and operating economics, not demand signals alone.

Sea Destinations goes transatlantic

Costa will extend its Sea Destinations initiative — themed onboard parties with the ship at anchor — to South America with two editions off the Brazilian coast, following the format it has run in Europe since 2024.

"We'll be offering these experiences in Copacabana and Balneário Camboriú, just as we've been doing in Europe since 2024," Hermann said.

The Brazilian Navy has already authorized the Serena to remain anchored off Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro so passengers can view the beach from deck. At Balneário Camboriú, the ship will shift from its normal anchorage to the city center for a second party. Both events sit on the Serena's schedule this season.

Hermann positioned the concept as inventory creation: "The Sea Destination is a destination in the middle of two destinations. So, we managed to build a new destination here between Rio de Janeiro and Ilhabela, in the case of Copacabana." He added the initiative could expand to other regional ports if it lands well with guests.

Who runs the region next year?

The season also follows a leadership change announced in August: Dario Rustico, president for the Americas, steps down after more than five years. Jorge Serrano de Vidales, currently leading trade sales for Costa in Spain and Portugal, takes over in early January 2027.

Hermann said the handover will not disrupt operations.

"Jorge Serrano de Vidales arrives in early January, but the operational staff already has everything ready for the season, so absolutely nothing will be changed," he said, noting Rustico left to pursue personal goals.

"We'll have continuity. Costa will continue in Brazil, will continue in Argentina, will continue in Chile, in the Americas and everywhere else," Hermann added.