Costa Cruise Ship Rerouted to After Winds Shut Down Tunisia Port
Key Aspects:
Costa Smeralda will skip its April 15 call in La Goulette, Tunisia, due to forecast wind conditions that could make it unsafe to dock.
The Tunisia stop has been replaced with a port call in Cagliari, Sardinia.
Shore excursions in La Goulette were automatically cancelled and refunded, with new tours available for booking in Cagliari.
A Mediterranean sailing aboard Costa Smeralda, a Carnival Corporation Costa Cruises vessel, saw a key port removed from its itinerary after forecasts indicated wind conditions could make entry unsafe. Again.
The itinerary change affected the ship’s scheduled call in La Goulette, Tunisia, the port serving the capital city of Tunis along the African country’s northern coastline, during a 7-night Western Mediterranean cruise that departed Barcelona on April 13, 2026.
According to the notice distributed to guests as they boarded the ship for the week, Costa Cruises had been monitoring weather forecasts along the vessel’s route and determined that wind conditions near the port could exceed safe limits for entering the harbor during its first call on Wednesday, April 15.
Weather forecasts noted unsettled conditions along Tunisia’s northern coast, including rain and shifting winds, with daytime temperatures near 76°F and continued storm activity.
Forecasts also warned of strong west winds, suggesting wind speeds reaching 20 to 30 miles per hour. These conditions would make it difficult for large cruise ships like Costa Smeralda to safely maneuver.
“Due to weather conditions expected in the port of La Goulette, it is anticipated that wind speeds could exceed the operational limits required for safe entry into the harbor,” said Captain Giovanni Cosini in a letter distributed to guests.
He continued, “For this reason, in line with our commitment to safety and in compliance with current maritime regulations, the itinerary will be modified.”
The disruption also follows a similar situation earlier this year, when Costa Smeralda was forced to cancel a scheduled stop in La Goulette after strong winds made docking unsafe on March 4, 2026. Instead, the ship diverted to Naples, Italy, as reported by Cruise Hive.
Passengers on this voyage were informed that the Tunisia call would be replaced with a call at the nearby Italian island of Sardinia’s Cagliari.
Visiting Italy
The 185,010-gross-ton Costa Smeralda began its current roundtrip voyage on April 13.
Under the original schedule, the ship was set to make its first stop in La Goulette on April 15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. The port serves as the main cruise gateway for the Tunis region and excursions often take guests to Carthage, the historic Medina of Tunis, and the seaside village of Sidi Bou Said.
Instead, the ship will visit Cagliari, where it is scheduled to dock from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving passengers 9 hours ashore.
According to the letter sent to guests, shore excursions booked for La Goulette have automatically been cancelled, with refunds issued to the original payment method used for purchase.
Passengers are now able to book new excursions in Cagliari through the ship’s excursion desk or onboard booking system, with options typically including visits to the city’s historic Castello district, Roman ruins, and nearby beaches along Sardinia’s southern coast.
Aside from the port substitution, the remainder of the itinerary will proceed as scheduled, with Costa Smeralda continuing to Savona, Italy, on April 18, and Marseille, France on April 19, before the ship returns to Barcelona on April 20.
Costa Cruise Ship Rerouted to After Winds Shut Down Tunisia Port