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Costa Luminosa Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

Cruises: 2-3 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 55

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Costa Luminosa

7 Night Christmas 2015 (Savona Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 21, 2015

Ship: Costa Luminosa

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 5234

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

This was our first cruise in a long time - we really enjoyed it.  The staff was very friendly and they understood English.  The staterooms were very comfortable and well-kept.  We slept well!  We had perfect weather and calm seas! The ship had many activities for our family of four to choose from and the nightly shows were outstanding.  The food was varied and phenomenal at all meals.  We loved the multiple courses at dinner! I am perplexed at the low reviews on the food.  I will say a couple of tips - wait until you are on the boat to decide if you want to purchase a drink package. There are more options offered after you are underway.  (Without a package, you do have to pay for drinks - specifically, soda at lunch and all drinks at dinner.) We did get a drink package and thoroughly enjoyed trying all the different coffees, the chocolate bar, and the alcoholic drinks.  Also wait until on board to decide on excursions because more options are offered on board than on the web.  But, even so, the cruise excursions are expensive, compared to what you can arrange on your own at the ports. As to internet, plan on not having it.  The ship provides it but for a fee that you won't want to pay.  Finally, if you take a Christmas cruise, be aware that where ever you stop on 25 Dec, the monuments you want to see will likely be closed.  So, for example, we docked in Athens on 25 Dec and the Acropolis was closed.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

We didn't use them.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Cabin was great! Beds (queen and two bunk beds) were well-sized and very comfortable. The balcony was awesome. The steward was attentive, spoke good English, and very helpful. If there is anything that could be improved, a couple more wall hooks to hang things and a shoe rack on the wall or back of the closet door would be great.

Ports of call

Corfu, Greece

5 out of 5
We enjoyed Corfu! The shops are open just for the ships that dock here. There is a very nice collection of stores to peruse in Old Town. Also the Fort was fun to tour and from the top, the views are outstanding. You don't need to pay for an excursion here - the cruise ship will have an affordable bus into town.

Katakolon (Olympia), Greece

5 out of 5
Better than expected! We enjoyed this port. We hired a taxi for the day (Andreas Stamos) and that was the best decision we made. We saw the Ancient Olympic Stadium & museum, watched olives being pressed, and visited a nunnery set into the cliffs of a mountain. He was very knowledgeable. It made the stop outstanding.

Piraeus (Athens), Greece

3 out of 5
This was okay, but would have been outstanding on a different day. The Acropolis is closed 25 & 26 Dec. Also, for excursions, there are taxi drivers who will stay with you the whole time and take you to the major sites, for less than the excursions. Also there is a hop on/hop off bus.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

3 out of 5
Wow! One day goes fast and wasn't enough to see Rome. If I'd have realized that, I'd have started or ended in Rome and planned two or three days to explore it. As for a tip: we took the train ourselves - not an excursion. Be careful to get the train schedule for your day of the week - we almost didn't get back in time!
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1 Comment

cruisellama    5 years ago