Wansbrough

19 hours ago, Edinburghgirl1 said:

We just got off the Toscana last Friday.

So.....how did it go? 😁

7 hours ago, alpencoolcruiser said:

Hello everyone, We will be boarding the Costa Toscana from Dubai this coming Friday on the 17th of February. Can anyone of you who have already been on this cruise , let me know if there are free shuttles to Dubai city ?  I would like to avoid the taxi if possible.  

None that I am aware of.

13 hours ago, Alex71 said:

Question regarding the port in Muscat: I booked a tour to Wadi Shab with a local company that requires cash payment in the local currency. Have you seen an ATM in port? I wasn't able to find anything online. Or does Costa offer money exchange on board at decent rates?

The only ATM I remember seeing was midway along the corniche, I didn't spot one in the port area but then I wasn't really looking for one. Are you not able to get some before you leave or in Dubai?

Sorry I can't be of more assistance.

12 hours ago, Sea38 said:

Hi 👋 

 

Looking at booking a cruise from Dubai in January 2024, you embark on Saturday (day 1) and Sunday (day 2) the ship is scheduled to leave at 23.59 (overnight stay in Dubai).

 

Please could someone tell me how their embarkation process works i.e. can you just come and go as you please once you have checked-in on day 1? 
 

On day 2 can you just leave the ship in the morning, then there is an all on board time in the evening?

 

Just wondering how it all works as I can’t find this detail on the Costa website 😊

 

many thanks

Once you have checked in and have your sea pass you are free to come and go even if its day 2. We embarked on day 2 and could have gone back ashore but wanted to settle in, explore the ship and get the muster out of the way. If you come out a day early, either stay in Dubai or embark that day so day 2 is free to explore Dubai. As we boarded day 2, we had a day in Dubai at the end of the cruise instead.

Costa Toscana Dubai and UAE Preamble

Costa Toscana Postcard #1 - The Journey to Dubai

Costa Toscana Postcard #2 - Dubai & Embarkation

Costa Toscana Postcard #3 - A Christmas Sea Day

Costa Toscana Postcard #4 - Muscat, Oman

Costa Toscana Postcard #5 - Muscat, Oman

Costa Toscana Postcard #6 - Abu Dhabi, UAE

Costa Toscana Postcard #7 - Abu Dhabi, UAE

Costa Toscana Postcard #8 - Dubai, UAE

Costa Toscana Postcard #9 - Dubai & Disembarking

11 hours ago, Tan1415 said:

Wow this is a great post as I am planning similar cruise.

 

how much was the pay restaurants? Could we get a package like on Royal Caribbean?

 

 

Sorry but I can't help you with this one, they are not something we show much interest in because my wife is vegan and there is nothing in them she can eat.

And to be honest, the food in the MDR was so good we were more than happy to eat there.

6 hours ago, Alex71 said:

 

Looking at a return flight leaving around 13:00 hrs. Do you think that would be easy enough to reach?

We were picked up at 8:00am from the cruise terminal for a 12:10pm flight so I would say easily. There were taxis outside the cruise terminal if that is your plan.

4 hours ago, Alex71 said:

Just in the process of booking this for the Departure on February 24th. Were you given a specific embarkation time or were you able to check in at any time on that first day? Looking at a flight with which we'd be arriving shortly before midnight the day before, so assuming we won't be at the airport hotel before the eary moring and will likely want to sleep in a bit before getting a taxi to the port.   

We were given a specific embarkation time but did arrive about an hour earlier because of the pre arranged car from the hotel. The cruise terminal was pretty much deserted. We embarked on the 2nd day in Dubai and I think most of those getting on in Dubai had done so the day before. I have just remembered something that was unusual for Costa, we were given our cruise cards in the terminal. 

1 minute ago, Wansbrough said:

We missed Doha and I can't remember seeing one in Muscat. We did make purchases in Muscat but used Dirhams

I have just looked back through my photos and there appears to be one near the entrance to the Mutrah Souk

1 hour ago, Edinburghgirl1 said:

Was there a currency exchange at the port in Doha and Muscat? 

We missed Doha and I can't remember seeing one in Muscat. We did make purchases in Muscat but used Dirhams

13 hours ago, Edinburghgirl1 said:

Oh no. I bet you were taken task for that! I  take it they were not confiscated? Did she also take her own hairdryer? 

It came onboard in the suitcase so don't know if they are x-rayed or not. Yes, I was made to feel a little uncomfortable about the situation but after buying her some argon oil onboard at a bargain price it seemed to pacify the situation.

No, she didn't take her own hairdrier, she seldom uses one even at home.

My wife brought her hair straighteners onboard Toscana......guess who forgot to pack the adapter. 😊

11 hours ago, Edinburghgirl1 said:

We have just been given our boarding time as 22.00pm. We are overnight on the ship in Dubai. Is there the option to drop off our luggage at the port prior to this time as I seem to recall we were able to do this 7 years ago when we sailed Costa from Dubai. 

I would say as long as your labels are attached it should not be an issue. Both times we have embarked at the Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, we have handed over our cases as soon as we have entered the building at ground floor. All that is done at that stage is to just double check you have the correct papers.  BTW, as people are boarding throughout the night, the buffet will remain open until about 3:00am. The new terminal is excellent and if you cabin looks out over the marina it is an amazing panorama at night.

10 hours ago, At7Seas said:

 If you regularly want to use the mini bar.........

No mini bar in our cabins on Firenze or Toscana, looks like it may become a thing of the past like the table cloths in the MDR.

23 hours ago, Edinburghgirl1 said:

....was the passenger demographic mixed nationalities or mainly Italian? 

Interestingly, the Italians were not the largest contingent as there were a lot of Indian passengers who were the largest nationality onboard. I got this from one of our waiters.

I always try and get specific passenger mix from the waiters but wasn't able to this time. They have it broken down on a pin board in the galley/servery area.

23 hours ago, Edinburghgirl1 said:

What was your overall impression of the ship? 

We loved it, perhaps bigger than we would normally like but being as capacity was low it sort of balanced it out.

The only area we were not keen on was the Infinity bar at the back, it felt cramped and was also not the easiest to get to. Not a patch on the equivalent bar on Costa Firenze.

The Colosseo is a revelation, fantastic idea. However the theatre viewing isn't too clever, we always sat upstairs and unless you have a front row seat viewing is not that good plus there are only seats to the side. We never sat downstairs so can't comment if it was any better.

Food, restaurants were all very good, probably the best I have had in 9 Costa cruises dating back to 2007.

I will be boarding Costa Toscana later today and will be blogging over the coming week if anyone would like to read. 

https://www.wansbroughs-cruise-blog.me.uk/2022/12/costa-toscana-postcard-1-the-journey-to-dubai/

Just back from a river cruise on the Ganges with a 4 night pre-cruise trip to India's Golden Triangle

India's Golden Triangle & Ganges Voyager II Preamble

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #1 - The Journey to New Delhi

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #2 - New Delhi

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #3 - New Delhi, Transfer to Agra

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #4 - Agra, Transfer to Jaipur

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #5 - Jaipur

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #6 - Jaipur, Transfer to Kolkata & Embarkation

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #7 - Kalna

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #8 - Matiari

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #9 - Murshidabad, Baranagar

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #10 - The Ganges, Khusbagh

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #11 - Mayapur, Chandannagar

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #12 - Kolkata

Ganges Voyager II Postcard #13 - Kolkata & Disembarking

Its actual name is a Magrodome. 😁

We have enjoyed every Costa ship we have sailed on.

Magica, Serena, Atlantica, Pacifica, Fortuna, Deliziosa, Mediterranea & Firenze

We are also looking forward to Toscana in a few weeks time.

Do we have a favourite? Probably Atlantica which unfortunately is no longer part of the fleet although still 40% owned by Carnival.

On 11/14/2022 at 9:00 PM, gerryuk said:

Sorry the link did not work properly. Its WEB CHECK IN and DOWNLOAD YOUR TICKET. Right click on them and press open in new window. 

https://www.mycosta.com/en/login.html

12 hours ago, cruisenutcol said:

Can anyone recommend a pharmacy in Trieste where I can obtain a RAT test with certificate prior to boarding the cruise.

Are you not immunized?

If you are, since October 8 2022 all guests immunized guests will no longer be required to take a pre-boarding antigen test for cruises in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the UAE.

That is unless your cruise is 14 days or longer.

Just picked these up on Twitter. 

What an earth are thinking? Is anyone going to take this seriously? 

14 hours ago, Beezo said:

 

I saw that this morning as well.  My guess is that you will see Fortuna transferred to another Carnival Corp brand, most likely, Carnival Cruise Line.

 

As of right now, Magica and Serena are out of service, and Fortuna pending after the winter season with nothing announced for two more years....

 

 

"the cruises are being cancelled as a result of international restrictions"

I wonder what they mean by that? We had our Venezia cruise cancelled which was the same itinerary they referenced ( Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt). We are now booked on NCL Jade doing similar ports except its not doing Egypt.

I'd love to know more but I guess its all smoke and mirrors.