Costa Cruises is making big changes to its 2021 itineraries, helping the cruise line adhere to new health and safety protocols due to Covid-19.

Italian-based Costa is currently the only Carnival Corporation cruise line to have resumed operations, now revealing it has “reshaped” its itineraries for next year.

The cruise line is implementing a series of changes so it can better adhere to strict health and safety protocols, now in place due to the coronavirus pandemic and the suspension of cruising.

Costa will now extend its operations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, introducing new ship Costa Firenze to the European market.

Currently being built in the Fincantieri shipyard near Venice, Costa Firenze will debut next year and carry 4,200 passengers.

Other 2021 plans include three Costa Cruises ships being deployed in the western Mediterranean and three in the eastern Mediterranean.

Western Med ships include Costa Smeralda, which launched last year, Costa Firenze and Costa Pacifica. The three ships will operate seven-day sailings around Italy, France and Spain.

In the eastern Med, Costa Deliziosa will sail the Greek Islands, Costa Luminosa will sail Greece and Croatia and Costa Magica will operate in Greece and Malta.

Other ships affected by the new changes include flagship Costa Diadema and Costa Fortuna, which will both sail one-week itineraries in the Baltics and Norwegian Fjords.

Other ships deployed in the area include Costa Fascinosa (North Cape and Baltics) and Costa Favolosa (Iceland, Norwegian Fjords). Costa Favolosa will also operate a two-week sailing in the UK and Ireland.

Outside of Europe, Costa Diadema will sail two-week cruises in Israel and Turkey. Come autumn, Costa Favolosa will operate 10-day cruises to Morocco.

A spokesperson for the cruise line said: “Costa is making the necessary arrangements to inform travel agents and the customers concerned, who will be guaranteed the option of rebooking in accordance with the applicable requirements of consumer protection law,” the company said.”

All other March to November 2021 cruises not included in the new schedule will be cancelled. Costa is in the process of letting affected agents and passengers know.