Mediterranean Nights and Moorish Days: Costa Toscana’s New Winter Voyages to Andalusia and North Africa

Costa Cruises is expanding its horizons for the winter 2025–2026 season with itineraries that bring a fresh perspective to Mediterranean travel. At the heart of the announcement is Costa Toscana, which will sail new routes linking Andalusia, Morocco, Tunisia, and southern Italy, offering passengers a mix of cultural immersion, seaside landscapes, and astronomical wonders rarely experienced on a cruise ship.

The highlight of the program is a 12-day voyage departing from Savona in early January 2026. After brief but colorful calls in Marseille and Barcelona, the ship continues south to Alicante and Málaga, cities that embody the vibrancy of Andalusia with their Moorish architecture, lively markets, and distinctive cuisine. From there, the route crosses the Strait of Gibraltar and enters a zone few travelers associate with a cruise: the Alborán Sea, known for some of the darkest skies in the Mediterranean. On certain nights, passengers will be able to step out on deck and see the stars with an intensity usually reserved for remote deserts or mountaintops — a rare encounter with the heavens while adrift at sea.

Beyond this celestial interlude, the itinerary adds the cultural intensity of Tangier, where the whitewashed Medina, the Kasbah, and the windswept cliffs of Cap Spartel create an atmosphere that has inspired artists and writers for centuries. In Tunis, history comes to the fore with the ruins of Carthage and the UNESCO-listed Medina, a labyrinth of souks where the scent of spices and jasmine fills the air. The voyage concludes with Palermo’s Norman heritage and Baroque piazzas, Civitavecchia as the gateway to Rome, and Naples, where views of Vesuvius and the island of Capri provide a dramatic finale.

For travelers who prefer a shorter escape, Costa Toscana will also operate a seven-day itinerary, still departing from Savona, that focuses on the heart of the western Mediterranean. This route includes Marseille, Barcelona, Naples, Civitavecchia for Rome, and La Spezia, with excursions into the Cinque Terre. Like the longer voyage, it too features a night-time sailing through low light pollution areas — in this case the Balearic Sea — turning the ship into a temporary observatory where astronomy enthusiasts and casual travelers alike can look skyward.

The new program is not limited to Costa Toscana. Costa Smeralda will offer weekly departures from Genoa with stops in Marseille, Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples, and Civitavecchia, while Costa Favolosa is scheduled for short three- and four-day cruises in the western Mediterranean during autumn, an option that appeals to passengers looking for a brief holiday without long-haul commitments.

Meanwhile, other vessels in the fleet will explore more distant waters. Costa Fascinosa and Costa Pacifica are set to return to the Caribbean, with itineraries departing from Guadeloupe, Santo Domingo, Martinique, and La Romana. Their programs range from one-week circuits to two-week packages, combining the colorful rhythms of the Caribbean with the convenience of regional embarkation points. Costa Fortuna, on the other hand, will be positioned in the Canary Islands, offering seven-day voyages from Las Palmas and Tenerife to Madeira, Lanzarote, La Gomera, Fuerteventura, and Gran Canaria, itineraries designed for travelers seeking warmth, volcanic landscapes, and winter sun.

These new offerings underscore Costa’s intent to redefine winter cruising. By blending Andalusia’s passion, North Africa’s exoticism, Italy’s historical depth, and the novelty of stargazing at sea, the itineraries promise to attract both loyal cruisers and newcomers looking for something beyond the traditional Mediterranean circuit. The combination of cultural stops, natural experiences, and flexible formats — from a three-day getaway to a 12-day odyssey — creates a portfolio that speaks to the evolving tastes of travelers who want variety and authenticity even during the cooler months.

For passengers, the appeal lies not just in the destinations but in the contrasts. One day might bring a walk through Gaudí’s Barcelona or Palermo’s mosaic-covered churches; the next, a spice-scented Tunisian souk or the windswept fortifications of Tangier. By night, when the ship leaves the coast behind, the Mediterranean sky reveals itself in unexpected brilliance, reminding travelers that a journey at sea can still surprise, even in one of the world’s most familiar regions.