Costa Cruises – Crusing Holiday Review

Costa Cruises ships you either love them or you don’t love them.  Costa has been through some very ‘rough seas’ over the past few years, the Costa Concordia was well and truly in the headlines and this has given Costa a backward motion when it comes to being in the cruise race.

Costa Fortuna We have now been on three Costa Cruises, so yes, we must enjoy them, but – there is always a but!  Our first trip was on the Costa Atlantica to the Eastern Mediterranean, our main reason for choosing Costa was the price, the places of interest and how the journey fitted in with our busy schedule.

We had no great expectations and were fully aware that our friends were amazed that we were ‘risking’ going on ‘one of those ships’  Wasn’t that the cruise line that had the ‘problem’?  Well, yes, but we wanted a short break to interesting places and that is what we got.

The safety aspect is paramount and as soon as you get on board the safety drill is announced, after you have got your life jacket, you are guided to the ‘muster stations’ the life boats area to be placed in order of height, male, female and children and then everyone knows that this is where they are expected to be when the emergency sounds; this is dealt with in a strict, professional way and is better than most ships I have been on.

The cabins are good and the beds comfortable, no frills though, no extra soap or shoe polish nothing that the top line cruise ships give as freebies, but saying that if you forget anything the staff will go out of their way to make you as comfortable as possible.  The staff is good as are most staff on cruise ships, mainly from the Philippines and all with a smile on their faces.  Tipping is difficult for some people who like to tip the staff they consider have gone the ‘extra mile’. We don’t, we use the gratuities procedure that starts with your on board account.  I do feel that I can’t  not tip the person that washes my towels or the kitchen dish washer and I like to think that all staff get some of the share of tips I leave.

Costa Fortuna Costa cruises go to some very interesting places – after our first trip to Eastern Mediterranean, we went to Rio in Brazil and sailed back with the Costa Fortuna to Savona, a repositioning cruise. This was a wonderful trip – 22 days with a short stopover in Rio, an exciting, interesting city (read my article about Rio de Janeiro) plus lots of interesting cities along the way. 5 days at sea was also a pleasure with lots of good entertainment and things to do all day long if you wished.  Our last cruise was on Costa Fascino to the Eastern Mediterranean again, but this time we went from Venice to Istanbul another exciting and interesting trip (read my article about Venice).

Costa is cheap and cheerful and the main group of passengers are Italians who do have a few idiosyncrasies to say the least, one of eating well and pushing you out of the way … in the buffet area, good elbows are required!  The restaurant breakfast or the buffet breakfast is good with lots of variety.  Lunch is also very good with lots of pizza but also with a good choice, not high standard, not cordon bleu but good.  The evening meal has fixed timings – there is no free time dining on the Costa ship, either 6.30 to 6.45pm or 9.15 to 9.30pm – the latter is too late for me so we opted for the early evening sitting, early but no one got too upset if we turned up a little late. Depending on how long you are on the cruise, a drinks deal is a very good idea, for a long cruise it works out costing less over all. One thing that does draw people to Costa is there is no single supplement, which is a bonus when travelling alone.

I can only give you our opinion, but try it for yourself before they put the prices up to Costa fortune!!!

206 people found this helpful
16916

Share Article:

Glynis Sullivan

Traveller and writer for Silver Travel Advisor

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.