Wansbrough

Are spirits such as whiskey and vodka included in the All inclusive drinks package? How about cocktails? Can't find much info on the Costa website

and this one....

http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=40953557&postcount=173

Are spirits such as whiskey and vodka included in the All inclusive drinks package? How about cocktails? Can't find much info on the Costa website

Read this post...... ;)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=40965687&postcount=176

The cruise was great. Fortuna is just a nice size with lots going on. Food was not as good as we've experienced before on Costa, but I think they changed some of the wait staff prior to the cruise, which made things a little slow in the MDR, but it did improve as the cruise went on. Also, they had a new Head Chef for our cruise, so I guess the rest of the kitchen staff had to get used to his ways, but again by the end of the cruise everything was OK. Quality wise it was all good.

Don't know your itinerery, but our was a repositioning cruise so most of the ports of call will be different to yours. Muscat is great, Dubai & Abu Dhabi were OK for what they are. Hope you like the Italian experience, we do & have sailed with Costa many times.

Hope you enjoy.

That is good to hear. We are doing the return route at the end of March. :D

I am considering this ship from Dubai but have read mixed reports on Costa Fortuna. The food seems to be criticised although that wouldn't put me off if the destinations are great.

PJ

Much would depend on who is doing the criticising. ;) We haven't had any problems with the food on Costa and will be able to report back in April about the food on Fortuna as we are on the relocating cruise out of Dubai to Savona.

Even MSC is better than Costa!

 

Costa is just a waste of money!!!

I would strongly disagree with you there, we found MSC to totally lacking!

Worst cruise we have ever had was on the MSC Musica and thankfully it was only 7 days.

Costa is Costa, Celebrity is Celebrity, we love both and take them both as they are. You cannot draw comparison because they are both totally different.

If Costa is that bad why have you taken 3 cruises with them? :confused:

 

Guys, leave NCL Epic alone.

Why? We found her to be great fun. Maybe we went with a positive attitude?:rolleyes:

NCL has built new flagships.

Which my look more pleasing to the eye on the outside but not ships I would want to spend any longer than a week on. The mid-ship cabin we had on the Breakaway was tiny and don't mention the balcony or should I say ledge! :eek:

Have you looked at the bar menu posted on this thread several times. I think that will give you the complete overview of how many drinks you need to purchase to break even with the 19.50 euro pppd.

 

Philip

Thats the problem really. My wife doesn't drink and will quite happily put away litre bottles of water all through the day. Opting for sparkling in the dining room while I enjoy a glass or 4 or wine. We don't drink much during the day (apart from water that is) and by the looks of it water is by the glass. :(

We generally have a couple of pre dinner drinks but this is not always the case.

We could benefit from the coffee in the morning but at the moment it doesn't look as if it would provide any real saving for us.

Well, I am not doubting or challenging your statements whatsoever. I can just not relate to your experience from my own experience.

 

I am sure you have experienced what you state, but I am not too sure if it is because your expectations are far from mine, if you are more sensitive than me or if there can be such a vast difference between service levels across their ships.

 

Philip

We have had nothing but excellent service on Costa apart from the last one. We took a 7 day western Med on the Pacifica (the one that goes round and round and round and picks up at all the ports like a bus service). Service was dismal but we put to down to the itinerary and maybe some cut backs. Our next is a repositioning on the Fortuna so I have fingers crossed it will be more like the Costa we are familiar with.

I'll tell you what...... I'm still none the wiser. :confused:

To AI or not to AI?

I suppose I need to break down what sort of usage I am expecting to get from it?

Here is the current list of what is available. If the link works that is!! :)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6eAEtrS07bpMXJ4bkdnZDZTRjA/edit?usp=sharing

Update -

 

I am pleased to report that the waiter got our measure right away, and started leaving the bottle of red on the table by the second night. The white lurks in an ice bucket nearby, and top-ups are frequent. The red of the moment is a drinkable Friuli Cabernet Sauvignon, and the white is a very respectable Chardonnay.

 

Service in most bars is prompt and friendly, although the Grand Bar Apollo is an exception to this. Bombay Sapphire gin is not included in the package, but Gordon's, Beefeater and one other kind whose name escapes me is. Anything else I should check for anyone?

Shame about the Bombay Sapphire but good news about the wine in the dining room.

Thanks for the post. :)

We are boarding Serena on Monday, and we have the all-inclusive drinks package. If anyone wants me to research anything, please let me know.

If you are a wine drinker then I would be keen to know if they leave a bottle at your dining table? Some have said yes while others have only had glasses.

They moved you up in numbers so that you were still within striking distance of Elite with one cruise (but it can't be a short one in an inside cabin :rolleyes: ).

 

They did not add points to change anybody's level to the next one.

 

Gotcha, it makes perfect sense now. Until you pointed out the obvious I read it completely different. :o I have one booked but still won't make Elite after taking that one which in fairness was going to be the same on the old system.

Thanks for this info. We are 4 points away from Elite under the new system and have been told by the Captain's Club Supervisor that no exceptions are being made......I see that is not true. Interesting to see that you were awarded 30 bonus points and we cannot be provided 4.

It might say at the bottom I have been moved up but everything else is still saying I am Select. :confused:

Coincidentally, using the new system on my previous cruises works out at only 115 points. :rolleyes:

I had seven old points. I now have 240 new points so I must have received 30 bonus points.

 

Dave

OK, here is one to mull over.........:confused::confused::confused::confused:

We were never kept waiting for a top-up, the bottles of wine were left on the table so we could help ourselves, although the waiters did top up in between serving food.

Thats good to hear. We have had excellent staff in the dining room apart form our last one on the Pacifica. They seemed to be doing too many tables, much more than I have noticed on previous cruises. I don't think we would have been topped up regularly on that one. :(

you can look through what packages are available here: http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/before_board/services/SpecialServicesCategories.htm#anchor-ss

 

if you look under the 'special gifts' section, i believe you will see the package you mention.

Not where I would have thought to look for it. Pleased to see they still have it and thanks for the link. :)

Now the next bit is the decision...... not sailing until March so have time to mull over it.

We have sailed Costa a few times (I'm now Pearl :)) but have never purchased an All inclusive drinks package, in the past we have opted for a package which included several bottles of water and wine. I forget the amount of each and were also able to buy another package mid cruise when we had used it up.

Are these type of packages still available?

My wife doesn't drink alcohol so this method worked perfectly for us in the past. I don't like what I have read about not having a bottle on the table for dinner if you go all inclusive.

The rest of the package looks good though I just wouldn't want to left waiting for a top up when dining in the evening.

Thanks for this, be sure to let us know how you get on. We will be there in March 2014 :)

We have booked a dhow cruise along a fjord for the day in Khasab, in search of dolphins which are quite common.

 

I emailed three tour firms and these are their replies:

 

From: khour shem tourism <khourshem@hotmail.com>;

To:

Subject: RE: Dhow cruise 24th December

Sent: Sun, Sep 29, 2013 4:24:31 PM

 

Hello Sir/Madam,

Thank you very much for your reply and please find our package details...

 

PACKAGE NO:1

Full Day Dhow Cruise:

Timing: 9.30AM to 4PM

Enjoy an amazing dhow cruise experience with our traditional decorated Omani Dhows where you can sit comfortably on cushions and carpets. Cruise to the Khourshem Fjords, where beautiful, calm, turquoise waters contrast with the creamy, white limestone cliffs. During the cruise we explore small fishing villages and the famous Telegraph Island and Seebi Island, there is also a possibility to see dolphins along the way, We will make two stops for swimming and snorkeling in the clear, dynamic water. Refreshments… water, soft drinks juices and fruits, tea coffee, lunch are served on board. Telegraph Island, is the famous location where the British laid an underwater cable in 1864 from Bombay (India) to Basra (Iraq), for onward communication to London

PRICE: 20/OMR (1person)

NB: IF YOU HAVE MINIMUM 15 PERSONS WE CAN PROVIDE YOU AN EXCLUSIVE DHOW(PRIVATE DHOW) WITH SAME PRICE

20/OMR (1person)

 

On 9/28/2013 11:01 PM, Al Taif Tours wrote:

 

Dear Sir,

 

Good Evening,

 

Greetings from Al Taif Tours,

 

Thank you for choosing us for your holiday excursion.

 

Further to the Enquery:-

 

We can Provide Dhow Cruises , Mountain Safari and City Tours .

The Tours are Available on the day 24-Dec-2013.

Please find the detailed Itinerary :

Inclusions:-

 

 

• Full Day Dhow Cruise
  
  • Visiting Telegraphic & Seebi Island
    
  • Snorkeling equipments and life jacket
    
  • Lunch, Soft Drinks, Fresh Fruits, Coffee & Tea.
    
  • Service of English Speaking Assistant through out the cruise
    
  • Duration : 6 hrs
    

   

  [*] Half Day Dhow Cruise

  • Visiting Telegraphic Island
    
  • Snorkeling equipments and life jacket
    
  • Soft Drinks, Fresh Fruits, Coffee & Tea.
    
  • Service of English Speaking Assistant through out the cruise
    
  • Duration : 3 Hrs
    

   

  [*]Mountain Safari

  • Covering "Jebel Harim" & "Khor Al- Najid"
    
  • 4 WD Vehicle Provided
    
  • Refreshments like fresh fruits,coffee & Tea
    
  • English Speaking Chauffeur
    
  • Duration 4 Hrs
    

   

  [*]City Tour

  • Visitng Khasab Fort
    
  • Visting Wadi Qadah with the old village Tawi.
    
  • Visiting Rock Carved monuments
    
  • 4 WD Vehicle Provided
    
  • Refreshments like fresh fruits,coffee & Tea
    
  • English Speaking Chauffeur
    
  • Duration 4 Hrs
    

   

Dedicated Guest Relation Team at khasab for your assistance.

 

Our Special Promotional Price :-

 

Full Day - Dhow Cruise :- EURO 40/Adult

Half Day - Dhow Cruise :- EURO 29/Adult

Mountain Safari :- EURO 36/Adult

City Tour :- EURO 32/Adult

 

 

We can Provide you Private Exclusive Dhow For your Convenience and also we can provide you

Exclusive 4 WD Vehicle for the Mountain Safari and the City Tour.

Please let us have your thought on that.

 

Hope the above information is fine for you, Please feel free to contact us for any enquery/clarification.

 

We are awaiting to hear from you,

--

 

Thank You & Best Regards,

Appu M

Executive - Marketing | U.A.E & Oman |

Mobile Number : +971 50 6327011

Al Taif Tours

 

 

 

Dear sir/madam,

 

Greetings from Dolphin Khasab Tours!!!

 

As per your inquiry, we do have full day and half day dhow cruise

available for the people arriving in cruise ships. We receive the people

directly in the Khasab port arrival lounge and transfer to our dhow. Our

rates, schedules and details are as follows:

 

Full day dhow cruise

Timing : 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Enjoy an unforgettable day cruising through the “fjords of Musandam” on

board our traditionally decorated Omani dhow, where you can sit

comfortably on cushions and carpets while feasting your eyes on the

striking scenery. A dhow trip offers an insight into the fantastic

landscape. Discover ancient villages and swim and snorkel in the clear

waters off Telegraph Island and Seebi Island, visiting Khor Shem, Qanaha

and Maqlab along the way. There is a distinct possibility you may see

dolphins. Buffet lunch and refreshments are served on board. Snorkeling

equipment and towels are provided.

 

Rates: Adults: AED 200; children 4 – 8 years AED 100; under 4 years

complimentary

 

Half day dhow cruise

Morning: 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Enjoy an unforgettable experience cruising through the “fjords of the

Musandam” on board our traditionally decorated Omani dhow, where you can

sit comfortably on cushions and carpets while feasting your eyes on the

striking scenery. A dhow trip offers an insight into the fantastic

landscape. Discover ancient villages and swim and snorkel in the clear

waters off Telegraph Island. There is a distinct possibility you may see

dolphins along the way. Refreshments, snorkeling equipment and towels are

provided.

 

Rates: Adults: AED 150; children 4 – 8 years AED 75; under 4 years

complimentary

 

For confirming your booking,please send a confirmation mail as soon as

possible with exact number of adults and children.

 

If any further queries, please let us know.

 

Thanking you,

 

Regards,

 

Arundas.H

Manager-operations

Dolphin Khasab Tours

Khasab

Mob: 00968 99566672

<sales@dolphinkhasabtours.com>

So Aplmac, this is where you have been hiding..... good to see you are still about and cruising. :)

After returning from a memorable cruise, most people don't throw out their cruise cards, I'm sure..

they serve as an integral part of your holiday memories.

They get stuck away somewhere, not seeing the light of day for years!

Not me! :D

I have posted a photo below of what I have done with my cards. I have some filling up to do. :D

Hello Bill & Mary Anne

Just popped by to say hello following a tip from fellow cruisers Paul & Maria Bradley. I hope you are enjoying it as much as they are and be sure to say hello to them from Nicole + Mike.