Keep your service expectations low and you won’t be disappointed. Fortunately, with our private chauffeurs and guides, the ports were lovely.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Given the fact that guests received a time to embark, the process in the terminal was uncrowded and fast. A huge plus. However, as we arrived on the vessel, there was not one crew member around to help in locating our suite. Not one anywhere. We’ve cruised for over 30 years and never experienced such an embarkation.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We always ate in the Club dining room. It would have been nice to receive some information on its location and hours before we arrived in our room. However, the service in this dining room was excellent. The food was always well prepared, but we often had a hard time finding something kinda basic that we enjoyed. Many evenings we picked up a sandwich from the buffet afterwards. The only other comment is that there were gaps during the day when there were no food options except room service. Then it was kinda odd that in the evenings, the grill became a fee restaurant.
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
The only onboard activity in which I participated was the spa. And after my first two back-to-back appointments, I didn’t even schedule the second two. The therapist for my massage collected me from the registration desk….no relaxation room, no robes….showed me to her room, told me to get undressed and left. I waited for her to return, she was surprised I was just sitting in a chair, and I asked her about a robe…we don’t have robes…ok, what do I use to cover myself. Oh….use this sheet and make yourself comfortable on the bed. Got it. Now, I have to say, she provided an excellent massage. But her room was too bright, the music was too loud and her shoes squeaked as she moved about the room. It was not a calming, relaxing environment. OK. Next, my pedicure. A few days later, I had lost the nail on my little right toe. I told the therapist this and asked her not to treat or touch it. The FIFTH time I pulled my foot away from her and asked for another therapist, she said there was nobody else. Seriously…..I asked her what part of don’t touch that toe do you not understand?!? I got the feeling, these therapists were doing a job, not performing a service. They use Elemist products, but don’t provide and Elemist experience. Needless to say, I did not schedule a facial or manicure.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We enjoyed the theatre shows every evening. They were often multi-lingual, but always well done and entertaining.
Service and Staff
1 out of 5
I’ve never sailed when every crew member you walked past in a common area looked away from and ignored you. Not a single crew member met your eyes and said, in any language, hello. Now when you asked a question directly, the crew was generally helpful. I would not pay extra for a butler, however. He was mostly a glorified room service waited. In fact, if we needed him, we had to call room service. For example, one of our suitcases wasn’t delivered. Three hours before sailing, I asked if he could figure our where it was. Nope. Call Guest Services. Seriously? On embarkation day. I asked, or tried to ask him, three more times before we sailed. Circle back to his number was room service. So after my first request, he was a ghost. Finally, as we sailed, guest relations called to let us know our suitcase was in prison. We could claim it after a search of its contents, on deck 0. Our BnB in Marseilles didn’t have a hairdryer, so we brought our own. Of course a heating element isn’t allowed. No problem. They keep it until the cruise ends. But why didn’t our butler research thus just so we at least knew our luggage was aboard. We always sail in a suite, often w a butler. They have always been our go to guy with answers to everything. Like I said, on Costa, they’re room service deliverers.
With a suite, we expected priority embarkation and disembarkation. One day, we arrived late into a port. There must’ve been 1,000 guests trying to get lined up to the gangway at once. It was chaos and, quite honestly, dangerous. Crew should have been on hand to keep guests from the stair case on the staircase, in the elevator lobby, in that lobby, in the hallways leading to the gangway, in the hallways. Instead, it was a mass of humanity pushing, shoving, gosling for a spot. It was scary. Any medical or ship emergency would have clearly gone unserviced. Crew on this ship were clearly trained to do as little as possible with regards to their guests. I expect the crew to guest ratio was much lower than most any ship we’ve ever sailed.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Yes. Everything was clean and appeared well-maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Having booked a suite, we expected a certain size. This cabin was clean and comfortable, but without any extra space. As well the deck was nothing more than what you would find on a usual balcony cabin.
In closing this review, we’ve never sailed on Costa, or any other
European flagged line. It was half the price we would have expected, and worth exactly half of any cruise we’ve taken before.
Ship tip
Keep your service expectations low and you’ll be fine. Prepare to be self-sufficient. Also, double check the Costa site for itinerary changes. We expected, for example, to visit Barcelona. The night before, as we read our daily planner, we learned Barcelona was actually a sea day. Several other US guests had the same surprise. So we were out $800 for a pre-booked tour.
There was a time change here the ship didn’t make public until this morning. Fortunately, our private guide waited for us and gave us a great day. Several cruise guests who booked a ship tour didn’t get a tour, just a refund.
Again, private guide, great day. This was another port where we arrived late. Our guide waited for us. Some cruise line tours didn’t go. Refund, no tour.
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