Sunday, March 31, 2024

Costa Toscana Cruise Ship Review

costa cruise reviews

Just maybe don’t rock up to dinner in your tighty-whities. Upgrading to the all-inclusive drink package runs about 21 euros per day when purchased on board. Still, it costs significantly less if booked before your cruise. For this added fee, you can access superior alcoholic beverages, juices freshly squeezed on demand, and specialty coffees. Our biggest reason for giving Costa a below-average rating is its track record for safety. Despite implementing new safety procedures and improving protocols overall, Costa ships still had collisions in 2017 and 2019, though fortunately there was no loss of life resulting from those incidents.

Life On The Costa Toscana: Entertainment

Costa Toscana has a total of 2,663 staterooms for passengers to choose from, split across several categories. These range from economical inside cabins with no window to spacious oceanviews, staterooms with balconies, and full-blown suites. Dancing and music are also held nightly in the classy Leonardo Gran Bar on Deck 6, a massive venue reminiscent of the large single-story shipboard lounges of the 1990's. Spanning the entire width of the vessel, this cozy nightspot decked out in wood tones and blues is the place to see and be seen for the dancing set. Instead, a three-story space at the center of the ship known as the Colosseo functions as an entertainment pavilion for vocal and visual performances ranging from guest headliners to full-blown dance productions. As an American, I was in the minority of passengers on this cruise ship.

How much does it cost to go on Costa Pacifica?

First, the bathroom was MUCH more spacious than traditional cruise staterooms. Most sailings have two formal nights, where men are requested to wear a jacket and tie or tuxedo, while women are directed to wear a dressy pants outfit or cocktail dress. In practice, outfits were all over the map, from casual to the occasional tux. Shopping for swimsuits probably means the weather is heating up or you're headed out for a fun vacation. First, boarding is expedited since procedures repeatedly occur at various ports instead of just once for all passengers.

MSC Cruises

The Costa Diadema features larger cabins accommodating up to 5 guests. For non-alcoholic drinkers, Costa offers individual water, soda, and coffee packages at additional expense. However, these limited packages fail to match the comprehensive value of the all-inclusive.

Key cruising tips

costa cruise reviews

And if you want a taste of good Italian food while on a trip here, you may also check out Italy’s best restaurants. We have to mention that the desserts in the main dining room on Costa are the best we have ever had. They are incredibly tasty, beautiful, and very innovative. Are you planning your first Costa Cruise tour and you are looking for the things that you need to know beforehand? Well, today, we’ll tell you everything we have learned from our many cruises on Costa that will make your vacation even more fantastic. Online travel visa providers have revolutionized the way individuals apply for visas when planning their international trips.

Speaking of amenities, make sure you understand what you'll get as part of your fare and which extras will come with an additional cost. For example, most cruises offer drink packages for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, but a few have drink stations where you can get complimentary lemonade, coffee and tea. Other amenities that might be important to you are Wi-Fi, spa services, babysitting, fitness classes, and upgraded dining experiences.

Costa Diadema Cruise: Expert Review (2023) - Cruise Critic

Costa Diadema Cruise: Expert Review ( .

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:56:48 GMT [source]

In fact, most of the other Americans on my cruise were travel media visiting for the same reason I was. Almost all other passengers were European, with the majority being Italian. As an almost 30-year-old millennial, I think the Costa Toscana is perfect for people my age traveling abroad–whether going solo, with friends, or even your kids. It’s much more relaxing than the fast-paced vacations I’m used to.

Maybe you've found a last-minute travel deal to that far-flung destination you've always dreamed of visiting. The cruise line's move has angered some passengers and prompted social-media accusations that the effort was profit-motivated. It may be possible to work remotely while at sea, but there are some important things to keep in mind. The eye-popping facility includes 16 treatment rooms, a hammam, relaxation rooms, a Thalassotherapy pool with swing chairs, a salt room, and a snow room filled with real snow. A wide variety of treatments are available, at prices comparable to most quality resorts. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.

Costa Toscana Cruise Ship Review - Cruise Critic

Costa Toscana Cruise Ship Review.

Posted: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:53:27 GMT [source]

Today, we are proud to offer content here on Travel Addicts Life, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. This problem was more common during the pandemic when few English-speaking passengers were on board. Today, there’s more, but be aware that it might still happen. So, if you’ve been searching about Costa, you may have found it has a not-so-great reputation online—at least outside Europe. Passengers from North America and England tend to complain much about Costa on places like Cruise Critic and other online forums.

Spanning Decks 6,7 and 8 and flanked by three stories of glass windows on both port and starboard sides, this circular space is also situated near the Kartell Caffe coffee bar; the Campari Bar; and the Caffe Vergnano 1882 on Deck 6. Even if you're not directly viewing the performances, you can always hear them from some of the key bars on the ship. Public rehearsals are held here during the day, allowing passengers to glimpse the work that performers put into their nightly shows.

Chalk that up to someone having a bad day; the remainder of Costa Toscana's crew speak flawless English and are keen to ensure you have a great holiday. There are seating arrangements in every nook and cranny of the ship (both inside and outside), which I took advantage of. I spent time reading outside while taking in some sun, and inside by the Colosseo peoplewatching. Mediterranea's evening attire is "elegant casual," which is interpreted a bit differently by different nationalities.

Playstation World, in a small room off the casino, offers passengers a chance to play various games in a public setting. On nice evenings, there are even Playstation events in the Calypso pool area, which has a huge television screen. The ship's wee-hours disco (and, indeed, it's open almost until breakfast) is two decks high; you enter on Deck 4, but it's possible to look down on the action from the casino on Deck 5 through glass walls. Reservations are required to dine at the Blue Moon, which is open only for dinner. Rather than paying a per-person service charge to dine there, passengers pay a la carte prices for menu items.

Two of their ships are LNG-powered (liquefied natural gas), which drastically reduce sulfur, nitrogen oxide, and greenhouse emissions. I was hosted by Costa Cruises to familiarize myself with their ship and features. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased.

In our opinion, this reputation is totally undeserved because these passengers compare Costa with the North American cruise lines that they are accustomed to. I followed Costa guidelines to bring either passport or national ID card and they approved my documents(!) I was denied boarding on Xmas eve as they demanded both documents. Nowhere did it say and they knew I submitted my EU card which is accepted everywhere -hotels, cruises, flights.

Embarkation for the Costa Toscana is available at almost every port on the itinerary. Everyone is going on the same cruise, they’re all just starting at different points. This cuts down on congestion when getting on, and off, the ship. And, creates a different mix of passengers nearly every day. Between the food, ship’s atmosphere, language spoken, and culture from the European passengers on board, my time on the Costa Toscana was an immersive experience.

MSC Cruises is an Italian-themed, family-oriented cruise line with a fleet of 23 ships that sail to destinations worldwide. They offer a wide range of itineraries, from short Caribbean cruises to longer world cruises. Caribbean sailings are one of their specialties, with budget-friendly fares often starting at $139 per person for a three-night Bahamas cruise.

Costa Review for April 2024 Best Cruise Lines

costa cruise reviews

The ships feature elegant interiors, with plenty of open spaces and natural light. Italian cuisine is a highlight of the dining experience on Costa Cruises, with fresh ingredients and authentic recipes that showcase the flavors of Italy. We're not convinced that travelers wanting a European ambience onboard will find Costa Deliziosa notably more upscale and sophisticated than the ships in the fleet's Concordia class. The neon signage in public spaces simply screams "mass market," for example. By day, casual resort wear is appropriate aboard Costa Smeralda.

Costa Diadema Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Ratings of Costa Diadema - Cruise Critic

Costa Diadema Cruise Reviews (2023 UPDATED): Ratings of Costa Diadema.

Posted: Sat, 16 Sep 2023 17:01:35 GMT [source]

Carnival Cruises

It’s no wonder Costa collaborates with some of the world’s best Michelin Star chefs to create the food you eat on board. The selection is excellent, and the presentation is always Michelin-perfect. It goes against our guidelines to offer incentives for reviews.

Where does Costa Toscana sail to?

The majority of Costa’s guest-facing crew is from Southeast Asia, and English is a second or third language for all. Most officers and most of the entertainment staff hail from Italy. With interior cabins selling for under $1,000 per person, even during summer, Costa Smeralda is a good option for anyone wishing to combine a traditional Italian holiday with a Mediterranean cruise. Bathrooms in suites and spa cabins are outfitted with mini-bottles of a Costa brand of soap, shampoo and shower gel. Spa cabins are equipped with the same basic facilities as standards, verandahs and suites, but have a soothing color scheme and mini-bars that are stocked with healthful drinks. Other lunch options include the Ipanema Grill and the Lido Calpyso.

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Deliziosa's Mediterranean itineraries attract cruisers of all ages, and summers see lots of families onboard. The world cruises attract an older demographic, with an average age of about 65, and travelers are typically retired and affluent. Italians are the biggest nationality onboard, followed by Germans, French, North Americans and Asians. Mixed drinks average $9-12, with beer and most wines by the glass priced somewhat less. Drink packages start as low as $22 per day for wine and beer with lunch and dinner. The Squok Club, the cruise line's kids' program, offers a dedicated tots-only pool area for Costa Pacifica's youngest passengers.

Entertainment staff, known as "animators," lead line dances and conduct wacky events like the "Mr. Costa Contest," which includes a partial striptease by contestants. Adopt an Italian mindset, and it's all hilariously wonderful. Now, we’ve had many people ask, “Do you dress up every night on a Costa cruise? Costa cruises do not require formal attire or dressing up every evening. Formal nights are optional for those who wish to participate. Smart casual clothing suffices for specialty dining venues, with no obligation to wear formalwear unless desired.

More about Costa Toscana

costa cruise reviews

The only toiletries provided are stingy-sized bars of soap and in-shower dispensers, offering combination shampoo/body wash. Staterooms are thoughtfully designed across the board, with vibrant colors, unique design accents, and comfortable furnishings. A great departure from the bland palette North American cruise lines rely on, our Balcony Stateroom included no less than three shades of blue; two shades of orange and red; and not an earth tone to be found. Everyone that I interacted with was incredibly kind and made sure I was well taken care of. That being said, Italian is the primary language spoken on the ship. Most everyone was able to communicate in English, and if not, they were able to grab someone nearby who could.

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I feel like I lived in Italy for seven days, seeing the Mediterranean like a local. In your main dining room (ours was L’Oliveto Restaurant), dinner menus are based on the port the ship will visit the following day. Yes, regular (non-distressed) jeans are acceptable daytime cruise wear. Costa maintains a relaxed dress code, allowing jeans in all areas except the main dining rooms, which require casual business attire in the evenings. Most Costa ships offer cabins suitable for up to 4 guests.

It's amply represented in the ship's decor -- artwork, from antique violins to prints of scores, is simpatico, and decks are named after music styles. What's interesting here is that the theme is also carried through in ship activities. Unique to Costa Pacifica are cruising's first-ever recording studio (more on this below) and a "music maestro," who oversees the unusual-for-Costa enrichment opportunity. In this case, passengers can learn how to play piano, guitar and drums during their time onboard. Most passengers aboard Costa Toscana hail from Italy, with cruisers from France, Germany and Spain making up the remainder of the guests. Few are English-speaking, and those that are come from very different countries.

Evenings, “smart casual” wear is sufficient—shorts, poolwear, and tank tops are discouraged at night. Select nights are designated as “elegant” or “black and white,” but this does not seem widely embraced. Jacket and tie are not required for men (a few tradition-bound guests will be wearing them), but otherwise, collared shirts and slacks for gents, and elegant dresses, skirts or slacks for women are generally fine.

The state-of-the-art recording studio onboard is truly a magnificent new feature. For 35 euros, passengers can book one-hour stints in the specially created facility. Technicians are on hand during your recording session, and afterward, they mix and edit your CD. This is much harder than karaoke; a member of the tech crew said it's important to really know your song before you start. The New York, New York and My Way restaurants (clearly a nod to Frank Sinatra) serve as the ship's main evening venues.

Several areas are set aside for kids, Squok Club for children ages three to 11 and Teen Zone, for kids up to age 17, and age-specific activities are provided. There is a video arcade at La Sala Giochi and Tutti a Tavola is a dedicated family restaurant next to the Squok Club. Costa Smeralda has a staffed medical facility with a physician available for more serious issues; consultations are charged to an on-board account. Hand sanitizer stations are everywhere, and restaurant entrances feature high-tech automated hand-washing stations. A selection of cabins are set aside for quarantine guests or crew, as needed.

These trips are popular with both families and couples, but they can be just as rewarding and enjoyable for solo travellers, giving you as much flexibility as you want along with opportunities to meet ... The sister ships are actually built to Panamax specifications, which means they're not only smaller than many of their fleetmates, but they're more flexible, too. Since Deliziosa can slide through the Panama Canal, it has more itinerary possibilities, and, indeed, it's been doing annual world cruises since 2011. Costa Deliziosa, a twin to Costa Luminosa, is a warm, whimsical ship with a simple layout that's easy to navigate. The 92,600-ton, 2,260-passenger ship, which debuted in February 2010, represents a "retro-style evolution" for Costa Cruises.

Your base fare with Costa will allow you some of the perks found with our highest-rated cruise lines, like being able to select your cabin and your seating time for the dining room. However, where many cruise lines will give you access to some kind of complimentary beverage, even if it's just lemonade or coffee, everything but water will cost you on Costa (see what we did there?). You can either go a la carte, which gets spendy, or purchase the All-Inclusive/Total Comfort fare tier and it will come with a drink package. You’ll also find a live jazz combo at Quelli della Notte, a piano bar at Il Cielo in una Stanza with live music and singalongs, while the Mastroianni Grand Bar is the main dance floor offering a variety of musical genres. The Beach Club pool is used for Silent Disco on some evenings. Naturally, Italian cuisine is a focus for Smeralda—Costa claims the ship works its way through 500 traditional recipes from across Italy’s 18 regions, and the wine list is thick with bottles from fine Italian vineyards.

You can usually get a decent discount if you sign up for an amenities package before you sail, so keep an eye out for promotions in the months leading up to your sailing. For someone who doesn’t speak Italian, a Costa Smeralda cruise provides a gentler immersion into Italian culture than an independent land vacation. Virtually all guest-facing crew members speak English, menus are available in multiple languages, and shore excursions are segregated by language. Costa further eases the landing by having several liaisons onboard dedicated to non-Italian speaking guests. These ambassadors first meet their dedicated language groups during the safety briefing at the start of the cruise and remain accessible throughout the voyage to smooth over any hiccups foreign guests encounter.

We also ensure all reviews are published without moderation. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.Learn more about other kinds of reviews. Suggested companies are based on people’s browsing tendencies. The quintessential high school experience, prom, is one of the most exciting moments for teenagers across the US. Planning for the inevitable isn't exactly a dinner table conversation starter, but creating a will is a critical step in securing your legacy.

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