Costa Cruises

by **HW tenpin** on Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:31 am

(This is posted as a reply to a e-mail)
First and foremost my Wife and I have the highest regards about the way Costa Cruises treat all their customers, and wheelchair users have little to fear in that they will be treated any different. Access is good and from what we have seen, help is always there should you require it. Both on board and during any tours you may take.
If you read my other postings you will find I expect 5 star service when I pay for a cruise, and Costa give us that every time, even with my one complaint they dealt with it quickly and efficiently.
As for the ships, they are all the Brochures say, the flights, and transfers are in our opinion the best ever taken on any cruise, the new terminal at Genoa superb. Embarkation is painless, unless you have a really early flight, you will wait less than one hour to board.
As this is an Italian line, the number of English on board is small, however you will be seated with English speaking guests in the Dinning Room, and most of the crew speak English far better than I speak Italian. We have never found the shows less than entertaining, but are in general about 50% in English, fairly easy to follow though.
Trust me the food is wonderful, with normally four choices for each of the five courses. You may if you wish have Breakfast delivered to your cabin, free, or for that matter any other meal at a small charge.
So take a cruise with Costa, be amazed at the standard of service, and above all, enjoy it.

by **BoozeCruise** on Wed Jun 08, 2005 13:52 pm

Hear hear! - I've now done 8 Costa Cruises and really enjoy the atmosphere onboard the ships. Much prefer a lively European crowd to a formal British crowd anyday - much more fun! :thumleft:

by **HW tenpin** on Wed Jun 08, 2005 19:52 pm

"Hear hear! - I've now done 8 Costa Cruises and really enjoy the atmosphere onboard the ships. Much prefer a lively European crowd to a formal British crowd anyday - much more fun! :thumleft:" --- BoozeCruise

Hello BoozeCruise,
Just nice to hear we are not alone with our enjoyment of Costa Cruises, would like to read about the ones you have done. What ships you have tried. and how they compare with other lines.
Has anyone been on the MSC line which by all accounts is overtaking Costa's British market ?
We have booked a cheap one for Oct �649 for outside cabin sailing from Milan, on the Melody

by **BoozeCruise** on Thu Jun 23, 2005 16:18 pm

I've travelled on the Classica, Romantica, Victoria, Atlantica and more recently the Fortuna. The newer ones are showing the Carnival influence with neon lights and a las vegas feel. It would be wrong to try and compare them to the Princess Cruises or Royal Caribbean as they are a more casual style of cruising. As for comparing them to the Ocean Village, Thompson and Island Cruises; it leaves them standing!!!

I have visited thje MSC Lirica and found it similar to Classica/Romantica. Nothing too flashy, very conservative. Overall I think the service on MSC is slightly better than on Costa, the ships are spotless, but they can't compete with the variety of dining and entertainment that the new Costa ship have.

ccasion1

by **HW tenpin** on Fri Jun 24, 2005 21:13 pm

Hi BC,
Never done the Costa Fortuna, figured with a name like that I would give it a miss. We was aboard the Romantica when they announced that name, much to the ammusment of the English there, had been planning to try MSC this Oct. but due to a error in the booking missed out untill early next year. going on the Europa instead, before its phased out. And with Thomson for Christmas this year, hav'nt been with them since the Topaz in 96 but they used to put on a great show, hope its just as good
Love Princess Cruises, hoping to get on for the Panama Canal next year out of LA.
Would like to hear about your views on Cruising in general, think the members are getting fed up with my rantings on how great cruising is.

by **Robabody** on Fri Jul 01, 2005 20:44 pm

Hi Ten Pin - thinking of going on my first cruise (Costs Classica) reading the bumf on the web site doesn't quite reval all - what happens re tips, snacks (is this included or an extra) dining, dress code on this line?

by **HW tenpin** on Fri Jul 01, 2005 23:05 pm

Hello Robabody,
First off its a great ship, a little old now but beautifully appointed. Med or Caribbean?
To answer your questions.
1 Tips are added to your final onboard account at the rate of 6 Euros a day per person. You may have these taken off at any time up until the last night, if you do not want to tip, for any reason. The 6 Euros covers everyone.

2 No you do not pay for snacks, there is normally a 23hrs buffet as well as meals in the dining room. Room service is 24 hrs at a small charge after 9PM

3 Dining, you will be allocated a table with other English speaking guest's ask for a large table whatever sitting you prefer, it more fun. (6.30 & 8.30pm)
You do not have to eat in the DR you can eat buffet style if you want at anytime. The evening meal is the only one that tables are allocated.

4 Costa hold two formal nights, Gala & Captains, you are requested to be smart, but that just means a jacket/tie if you like, up to full DJ's about 50% of guest do dress up for these nights. the other nights are smart casual or casual, they tell you in daily newspaper what the dress code for that night is.

5 Do not pay brochure price you can get at least 40% less than that.
If you read some of the other posts I have done this will help you, but any more questions or help just ask, only to pleased.

by **Robabody** on Mon Jul 04, 2005 18:43 pm

Cheers Ten Pin - many thanks

by **Loopy Lou** on Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:02 am

Hi Ten Pin, I am going on a Costa Cruise shortly on the Atlantica and have heard such bad reports. Can you reassure me that we are not in for a hellish time. Loopy Lou"(This is posted as a reply to a e-mail)
First and foremost my Wife and I have the highest regards about the way Costa Cruises treat all their customers, and wheelchair users have little to fear in that they will be treated any different. Access is good and from what we have seen, help is always there should you require it. Both on board and during any tours you may take.
If you read my other postings you will find I expect 5 star service when I pay for a cruise, and Costa give us that every time, even with my one complaint they dealt with it quickly and efficiently.
As for the ships, they are all the Brochures say, the flights, and transfers are in our opinion the best ever taken on any cruise, the new terminal at Genoa superb. Embarkation is painless, unless you have a really early flight, you will wait less than one hour to board.
As this is an Italian line, the number of English on board is small, however you will be seated with English speaking guests in the Dinning Room, and most of the crew speak English far better than I speak Italian. We have never found the shows less than entertaining, but are in general about 50% in English, fairly easy to follow though.
Trust me the food is wonderful, with normally four choices for each of the five courses. You may if you wish have Breakfast delivered to your cabin, free, or for that matter any other meal at a small charge.
So take a cruise with Costa, be amazed at the standard of service, and above all, enjoy it." --- tenpin

by **HW tenpin** on Wed Oct 05, 2005 09:35 am

loopy away cruising will reply on our return