Costa-Pacifica Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On April 29, 2026, a significant medical evacuation took place involving the cruise ship 'Costa Pacífica'. While en route from Valencia to La Spezia, the vessel initiated an emergency response for a 42-year-old French passenger in need of urgent medical attention. The ship diverted to the northern anchorage to facilitate the quick evacuation. The Valencia Coordination Centre promptly deployed the Search and Rescue boat 'Salvamar Aldebarán', which successfully transported the patient to the shore. Upon arrival, an ambulance was on standby to provide immediate assistance and transfer the individual to the hospital for further care.

In response to the shifting geopolitical landscape, the 'Costa Smeralda' will no longer navigate the Arabian Gulf as initially planned. This renowned vessel is set to embark on an exciting new chapter, operating a seven-day cruise itinerary between the picturesque Canary Islands and Madeira. This strategic change aims to offer guests and travel partners a clearer path for planning as the situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable for the winter season of 2026/27. Consequently, Costa Cruises has opted out of all itineraries in the region for the upcoming season. Following a scheduled drydock, the 'Costa Smeralda' will commence its new Canary Islands program, significantly enhancing the company's guest capacity in this popular holiday destination. The itinerary shift also impacts the 'Costa Pacifica', which was originally intended to cruise the Canary Islands and Madeira. Instead, after its own revitalizing drydock, this vessel will relocate to the Western Mediterranean, where it will offer a blend of seven-day itineraries visiting charming destinations in the region, as well as longer voyages that explore parts of Southern Europe and North Africa. Costa has disclosed plans for new extended itineraries as part of this revised program. As a result of these changes, the previously scheduled repositioning voyages for 'Costa Smeralda' between Europe and the United Arab Emirates have been cancelled. Passengers who were booked for those sailings, along with those on canceled Middle East cruises, will have the opportunity to transfer to alternate Costa sailings. Affected guests can choose another cruise with the added benefit of receiving €200 in onboard credit per cabin, which amounts to €100 per person for two guests sharing. Additionally, customers originally booked on the 'Costa Pacifica's' former Canary Islands program will be transitioned to the new itineraries on the 'Costa Smeralda' under the same conditions. New itineraries for both ships are anticipated to be available for booking before the end of March 2026.

On October 31, 2022, a medical emergency unfolded aboard the 'Costa Pacifica' while it was sailing from Barcelona to Lisbon in the North Atlantic. A passenger experienced severe cardiac issues, prompting immediate action. The Spanish maritime rescue agency, Salvamento Marítimo, swiftly dispatched the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Spica' to the location. The medevac operation was successful, and the patient was safely transported to the port of Almería, where an ambulance was on standby for expedited hospital transfer. This incident highlights the efficiency of maritime rescue operations in critical situations.

On the morning of April 10, the cruise liner 'Costa Mediterranea' docked in La Spezia, where it will be berthed alongside the 'Costa Pacifica' until at least April 12. Currently, there are 950 crew members aboard the 'Costa Pacifica' while the 'Costa Mediterranea' hosts 750 crew members. A planned personnel exchange is set to take place, aimed at consolidating crew members from the Far East onto the 'Costa Mediterranea'. Following this operation, the vessel will make a stop in Brindisi for similar crew adjustments before embarking on its journey to the Far East. Meanwhile, the 'Costa Pacifica' will remain in La Spezia until the resolution of the ongoing emergency situation. Both Costa and MSC cruise operations have been suspended until May 30. The logistics at the La Spezia terminal are currently focused on facilitating the timely delivery of spare parts and supplies necessary for the vessels.

On March 26, the Costa Pacifica departed from Civitavecchia, arriving at La Spezia's Mollo Garibaldi dock on March 27 at 6:40 a.m. This voyage saw only the ship's 900 crew members on board, all of whom are symptom-free regarding coronavirus. Many crew members are awaiting organized repatriation flights and transfers coordinated by Costa Cruises alongside both national and international authorities. Following the disembarkation of passengers at Civitavecchia, Costa Cruises reassured that the onboard health situation remains under continuous scrutiny with no issues reported. In compliance with Italian governmental regulations, crew members will remain aboard until their repatriation can be executed as efficiently as possible.