Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Costa-Smeralda

In light of escalating tensions in the Middle East, the renowned cruise ship 'Costa Smeralda' has revamped its travel plans, opting to forgo its previously scheduled Arabian Gulf voyages. Instead, the vessel will embark on an exciting new seven-day itinerary connecting the beautiful Canary Islands and Madeira. This strategic change is designed to provide clarity and assurance for travelers and partners as the region's situation remains precarious for the upcoming winter season of 2026/27. Following a scheduled drydock, 'Costa Smeralda' will launch its updated program, significantly enhancing the company's guest capacity in this sun-soaked locale. The adjustments also impact the 'Costa Pacifica', which was initially slated to cruise the Canary Islands and Madeira. After completing its own drydock, 'Costa Pacifica' will be redirected to the Western Mediterranean. Here, it will operate a series of seven-day cruises to popular Western Mediterranean destinations, as well as extended voyages that explore Southern Europe and parts of North Africa. This newly revised transit plan suggests that Costa will introduce additional extended itineraries as part of its offering. Consequently, the repositioning journeys planned for 'Costa Smeralda' connecting Europe and the United Arab Emirates are now canceled. Travelers who had booked these voyages, along with those affected by the cancellation of the Middle East cruises, will have the opportunity to transfer to alternative Costa sailings. As a gesture of goodwill, these guests will receive €200 in onboard credit per cabin, which equates to €100 per individual for couples sharing a cabin. Additionally, passengers originally booked on the 'Costa Pacifica’s Canary Islands itinerary will be smoothly transitioned to the new voyages aboard 'Costa Smeralda', under similar terms. New itineraries for both ships are anticipated to be available for booking before the end of March 2026.

A distressing event unfolded on February 6, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m. when a German passenger onboard the Costa Smeralda leaped overboard at the Civitavecchia port, falling approximately 98 feet onto the quay. This incident occurred as the cruise ship was actively engaged in the embarkation and disembarkation of guests. First responders were already on site at Pier 12, attending to a separate medical emergency involving another passenger, when they were alerted to the alarming situation. Known as the Red Helmets, local firefighters, alongside the ship's medical personnel, rushed to the scene to assist. Tragically, despite their swift response and efforts to revive the individual, he was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time, it remains unclear if the man had just boarded the Costa Smeralda or was set to continue his journey. Civitavecchia's port authorities, along with the Italian Coast Guard, are investigating the incident, preliminarily suggesting it was a 'voluntary gesture.' The captain of the Costa Smeralda and the cruise line company are reportedly providing full cooperation and support to the bereaved family during this difficult time.

In the pre-dawn hours of October 6, 2023, the Coordination Center of Barcelona received an urgent request for medical evacuation from a physician aboard the cruise ship 'Costa Smeralda'. At the time, the vessel was approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Barcelona, en route to Cagliari. In response, the SAR helicopter Helimer 222 was dispatched to the scene. The helicopter successfully hoisted the patient from the ship and transported them to Reus, where they arrived safely around 3 a.m. This rapid response exemplifies the effectiveness of maritime emergency services in the region.

On November 27, 2024, the cruise liner 'Costa Smeralda' encountered an unexpected medical emergency that necessitated a change in its course while en route from Genoa to Dubai. The ship, which is currently on a 36-day journey, diverted its path towards Ghana as it made the passage between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Walvis Bay. In a bid to reach the nearest medical facilities swiftly, 'Costa Smeralda' navigated at high speed towards Accra, where the emergency patient was successfully transferred ashore on the night of November 28. The individual is now receiving treatment at a local hospital in Ghana. It remains uncertain how the ship's schedule will be adjusted to accommodate this unexpected delay. Should higher speeds not suffice in reclaiming lost time, the upcoming ports might face cancellations to ensure that 'Costa Smeralda' adheres to its revised itinerary. The ship was initially slated to dock in Walvis Bay on December 2, but this timeline is now in jeopardy considering the extensive distance that remains. Following Walvis Bay, 'Costa Smeralda' is set to visit Cape Town on December 4, 2024, and will then continue on to Port Elizabeth from December 6 to 7.

The Savona Prosecutor's Office has initiated a manslaughter investigation following the death of Paola Arata, a 68-year-old tourist from Rapallo, who passed away on November 14, 2023, aboard the Costa Smeralda while navigating off the coast of Barcelona. The deceased was transported back to Savona, where her body was received early in the morning and subsequently taken to the morgue at San Paolo Hospital. An autopsy, authorized by Prosecutor Giovanni Battista Ferro, is scheduled for November 22, 2023, to determine the cause of death. In light of this incident, Polmare investigation agents conducted a thorough inspection aboard the Costa Smeralda, focusing on the vessel's sanitary conditions. They also interviewed medical personnel and staff regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. Following these investigations, the Costa Smeralda resumed its journey later that evening towards Marseille. Ms. Arata boarded the cruise ship on November 11, embarking on a Western Mediterranean voyage. It is important to note that prior to her departure, cases of a gastrointestinal virus had already been reported onboard, prompting the implementation of heightened health and safety measures. While en route to Barcelona, Ms. Arata began experiencing intestinal discomfort, which escalated as the ship traveled towards Palma. Despite the prompt response from the ship's medical team who attended to her in her cabin, she sadly passed away shortly thereafter.

On the morning of January 22, 2021, the cruise ship 'Costa Smeralda' encountered a mishap while maneuvering into the port of Savona. During its arrival, the vessel's port side collided with the Colacem terminal, resulting in significant damage to the terminal's silo plant and the dislodging of an elevator from its tracks. A lifeboat from the ship was severely damaged, leading to it being torn and subsequently falling into the water. The force of the allision also pushed a fender onto the quayside under immense pressure. Authorities, including the Port Authority and local police, promptly responded to the scene. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Preliminary investigations suggest that a steering error may have played a role in this incident. The 'Costa Smeralda' had departed from Civitavecchia on January 20 and was scheduled to dock at the Costa Crociere terminal at 8 a.m. For more details, you can view the Italian reports that include photos and videos of the incident: [La Voce di Genova](https://www.lavocedigenova.it/2021/01/22/leggi-notizia/argomenti/cronaca-5/articolo/savona-costa-smeralda-sbaglia-manovra-e-danneggia-gru-e-le-strutture-fisse-foto-e-video.html) and [Il Secolo XIX](https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/savona/2021/01/22/news/savona-la-nave-costa-smeralda-urta-la-banchina-e-danneggia-una-gru-durante-l-attracco-una-scialuppa-finisce-in-mare-1.39805997).