Portuguese 
The Costa Serena Arrives at Nagoya Port to Serve as Temporary Accommodation for the Asian Games, a Solution Integrating Ship, Hotels, and Modular Units Without Leaving a Permanent Village After the Event.
A cruise ship typically associated with vacation travel has taken on a new function in Japan. The Costa Serena arrived at Nagoya Port on September 15, 2026, to host athletes and officials during the Asian Games.
This information was reported by the Associated Press, an independent news organization with international reach. The Games started on September 19 and run until October 4, gathering over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions across 43 sports.
The cruise ship has a stated capacity to accommodate up to 5,000 people. This number represents the operational limit and does not imply that 5,000 guests were onboard at the same time on any given day.
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Cruise Ship Transforms Port into Part of the Asian Games Infrastructure
The Costa Serena has taken on a role similar to that of a large temporary hotel. Rather than transporting tourists between various destinations, the vessel has remained docked at Nagoya Port to house participants of the event.
As a result, the port has stopped functioning solely as the ship’s arrival point and has become an integral part of the Asian Games accommodation structure. Entrances, exits, and movements needed to align with the schedules of competitions and delegations.
The vessel also allows for the concentration of thousands of beds in a single location without erecting a new set of buildings. This solution utilizes an existing structure capable of accommodating guests and providing services during the event’s duration.
Capacity for 5,000 People
The expectation was to accommodate up to 5,000 athletes and officials on the Costa Serena. However, not all guests would be aboard the ship for all 16 days of the Games.
Delegations would have arrivals and departures organized according to the sporting calendar. Participants in the early competitions could disembark after their events concluded, freeing up cabins for athletes competing later.
This turnover is crucial for understanding the reported figure. Up to 5,000 people could use the ship throughout the operation.
Japan Combined Ship, Hotels, and Temporary Accommodations
The Costa Serena was not the only alternative adopted. Athletes and officials were also distributed among hotel rooms and temporary units made of wood.
The Associated Press, an independent international news organization, reported that more than 17,000 athletes and delegation members had registered by the established deadline in July. The organization stated it had provided adequate accommodation for this group during the event.
This number exceeded the initial forecast of 15,000 athletes and officials. Late registrations and the addition of new events increased pressure on the available lodging spaces.
The combination of different accommodations made it possible to distribute this audience without relying on a central village. At the same time, the model required greater coordination of transportation, food, security, and circulation between the lodging and competition sites.
Decision prevents a village that could remain empty after the event
The organizers rejected the construction of a dedicated village for the athletes. One concern was creating an expensive and large structure that could lose its utility after the Games.
Such ventures are termed a white elephant when they consume many resources but become underutilized after their initial purpose. Japan had already faced high costs for the Tokyo Olympic Games, estimated at $13 billion, with government audits indicating the possibility of even greater expenses.
The cruise ship offers a practical difference. Once the event concludes, it can leave the port and return to maritime operations, without forcing Nagoya to occupy and maintain thousands of permanent rooms.
This choice demonstrates how a city can utilize mobile and temporary structures to meet an exceptional surge in demand. However, it also shifts part of the construction challenge to daily logistics.
Complaints involved the lodging system, not just the ship
The adopted model drew criticism from some delegations. Basketball players complained about the size of the beds, while hundreds of participants had to temporarily vacate their accommodations due to heavy rains in the region.
These complaints were linked to the overall set of accommodations arranged for the Games. There is no basis to attribute all the issues to Costa Serena, as some incidents involved other facilities, including temporary units on land.
The organizers also had to manage the late growth in participant numbers and the addition of new events to the program. This change increased the need for rooms when the lodging infrastructure had already been defined.
The situation reveals the difficult balance between economy, comfort, and capacity. Avoiding a permanent village reduces the risk of unused structures, but requires that hotels, temporary accommodations, transport, and port facilities operate in a coordinated manner.
Costa Serena places maritime infrastructure at the center of a major event
The presence of Costa Serena in Nagoya transformed a tourist vessel into part of the urban infrastructure. During the Asian Games, the ship took on a role connected to the city’s planning and the movement of thousands of people.
The operation also demonstrates that ports can accommodate temporary uses beyond conventional passenger and cargo transport. In this case, the dock enabled the installation of significant capacity for hosting guests without permanently occupying extensive urban space.
The cruise ship did not eliminate all the challenges faced by organizers. However, it provided thousands of accommodations and contributed to a solution for an event featuring more athletes than the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
When the competition ends, Nagoya will not be left with a large-scale village to manage. The Costa Serena will be able to leave the port, concluding an operation that temporarily transformed a cruise ship into sports accommodation.
Do you consider this model a smart solution for large events, or do you believe a permanent village would provide better conditions? Share your opinion.
