NAGOYA, Japan: Thousands of athletes and officials competing at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan will reside on a cruise ship as organisers seek to address accommodation shortages and reduce the cost of hosting one of Asia’s largest sporting events.
The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena arrived in Nagoya on Tuesday and will accommodate around 4,000 athletes and officials during the Games, which are taking place until October 4. The vessel is nearly 300 metres long, weighs more than 100,000 tonnes and has 1,500 cabins.
The village has arrived, by sea. ⚓
Samurai warriors, ninja fighters and taiko drums welcomed the Asian Games “floating village” into Nagoya Port this morning. 🥁 pic.twitter.com/X73ji2VhPq
— Olympic Council of Asia (@AsianGamesOCA) September 15, 2026
Why are athletes staying on a cruise ship?
More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected to participate in the Games, a figure larger than the number attending the Olympics. With conventional accommodation unable to meet the demand, organisers are using a combination of cruise ship cabins, wooden container-style huts and standard hotel rooms.
The cruise ship is also part of an effort to make the event financially sustainable. Local organising committee president Hideaki Omura said the temporary accommodation could offer a model for future large-scale sporting events.
“This is the first time in Japan that a cruise ship is being used as accommodation for a big international sporting event,” Omura said at a ceremony welcoming the vessel to Nagoya.
A cruise ship that will house thousands of athletes at the Asian Games arrived in Japan on Tuesday as complaints over accommodation at the multi-sport event grew louder.
The Italian cruise ship Costa Serena docked in Nagoya, where the Games are taking place until October 4.… pic.twitter.com/luR69NSZea
— Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) September 15, 2026
Accommodation concerns grow
The cruise ship’s arrival comes as complaints about other accommodation facilities grow louder. South Korean officials described the container-style huts as the “worst ever” and said concerns had been shared by representatives of all 45 participating nations.
Jung Jae-yong, vice president of the Korea Basketball Association, said he was deeply unhappy with the cabins assigned to the men’s basketball team, citing small beds. A team player also posted a video showing a leaking sink and a soaked floor in his hut, with the caption: “Please help us.”
Hundreds of athletes were briefly evacuated from their accommodation last week after record rainfall caused flooding in Nagoya.
Read Also: Cricket to Feature at 2026 Asian Games in Japan
A South Korean Sports and Olympic Committee official said there was a “serious shortage” of rooms, while a Taiwanese sports official reported a general shortage of beds. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino said all Filipino athletes had been accommodated, although some officials, including coaches, were moved to different hotels and Airbnb properties.
43 sports. One celebration.
From the pool to the field, and now to the surf, court and ring, athletes across Asia are ready to make their mark at the 20th Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026. pic.twitter.com/rKpxyftEF1
— Olympic Council of Asia (@AsianGamesOCA) September 3, 2026
Cruise ship offers large-scale accommodation
Organisers hope the cruise ship will provide a more comfortable and reliable option for athletes despite the Games coinciding with Japan’s typhoon season.
The vessel, which has 1,500 cabins, was chartered at an estimated cost of 4.5 billion yen ($28 million). It is a sister ship of the Costa Concordia, which sank off the coast of Tuscany in 2012, killing 32 people.
Costa Serena captain Federico Sias said he hoped the athletes would enjoy a “comfortable, safe and memorable stay”, describing the ship as a home where people from across Asia could come together in friendship, mutual respect and unity.
2026 Asian Games accommodation at a glance
- Cruise ship: Costa Serena
- Location: Nagoya, Japan
- Capacity for Games: Around 4,000 athletes and officials
- Cabins: 1,500
- Ship length: Nearly 300 metres
- Other accommodation: Wooden container-style huts and standard hotel rooms
- Estimated charter cost: 4.5 billion yen ($28 million)
The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, officially run from September 19 to October 4, 2026, with the opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.
However, competition actually begins earlier: several team sports, including men’s basketball, football, and volleyball, kick off as early as September 10, while cricket and hockey start on September 17-18.
The schedule spans 43 sports across multiple prefectures, with athletics (Sept 23-29), swimming (Sept 20-25), and esports (Sept 23-Oct 2) among the highlights.
