Costa Serena, the Asian Games floating hotel

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

The Costa Serena cruise ship is being used as a floating hotel to accommodate nearly 4,000 athletes and officials during the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. This innovative housing strategy, combining cruise ships, hotels, and temporary units instead of a traditional athletes’ village, aims to reduce costs and may influence future multi-sport event accommodations despite some criticism over land-based housing and transportation challenges.

NAGOYA, Japan — The Costa Serena, an Italian-flagged cruise ship docked in Nagoya’s port, is serving as a floating hotel for participants of the 2026 Asian Games, offering accommodation for nearly 4,000 athletes and officials. This arrangement is part of a broader housing strategy for the continent-wide multi-sport event, which features over 17,000 competitors and support personnel—surpassing the number of participants at recent Olympic Games.

Instead of constructing a traditional athletes’ village, organizers of the Games in Aichi-Nagoya opted for a cost-saving approach by utilizing a combination of hotels, temporary wooden housing units, and cruise ships like the Costa Serena. This marks one of the largest uses of cruise vessels for athlete lodging in the history of multi-sports events, with officials suggesting the model could influence future competitions.

The decision to forgo a centralized athletes’ village has drawn criticism from some teams. Complaints have centered on the temporary container-style accommodations, which athletes describe as cramped with beds that are too short. Additionally, transportation issues have emerged, with some teams reporting a shortage of buses or delays that have hampered movement between venues and housing.

In contrast, the Costa Serena is receiving positive feedback from its residents. The nearly 300-meter-long ship offers a variety of amenities, including a buffet with specialty items, and maintains a higher comfort level compared to the temporary land-based accommodations. Tom Stevens, the Canadian rowing coach for Lebanon’s delegation, described the experience aboard the ship as “perfectly fine” with “plentiful” food, characterizing the setup as a viable alternative to large-scale village construction.

The Asian Games’ operational challenges have been compounded this week by severe weather, including a typhoon that affected eastern Japan and brought strong winds to Nagoya. Despite these conditions, the floating hotel continued to accommodate athletes safely and effectively.

As the Games proceed, the combination of housing solutions highlights the evolving logistical approaches to managing large-scale international sports events, balancing cost considerations with the needs and comfort of athletes from across Asia.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.