tenpin

I think this was usually called the Costa C, I sailed on her once round the Caribbean, lovely cruise ship & fabulous food as you said.

I think she was either sold or had a fire around 94/95 and ended up in a scrap yard.

The eighties & early nineties were Costa's Golden years with outstanding menu's excellent all-round entertainment. The after diner cheese board & coffees were to die for. 

Well way back when Costa was really customer friendly 1998, we were given a free cruise the following year as the Christmas cruise in 97 was not as we had booked but the last leg instead of the first on their usual itinerary.

Although I had praised them for a fabulous cruise by letter, with just a minor complaint about the itinerary.

This was in the days when there office in London answered letters straight away & phoned when they said they would.

The manager often rung us after each cruise to ask about our experience, she was without doubt the best contact we have ever had with Costa.

We also had a great commitment from Amanda in Genoa after London shut, she again always contacted us & met up when sailing from Savona, bringing little gifts each time.

Sadly since the Concordia things have not been the same overall. 

Wow that must be some of the best gobble-de gook I have ever read

there is a world wide pandemic, you was offered a hotel room & flight, all leads to total chaos which although not good was an answer.

Your booked business Flight perhaps was not available from Paris or they could not get you to Frankfurt. While this is totally unacceptable in normal times, these are anything but.

Yes you should be repaid for loss of lots of your cruise & every other expense you lost, even a new world cruise, but Covid19 threw the rule books out of the door.

Hope you get satisfaction, but fear this may take a long time Italy was in total lock-down with thousands of cases like yours to deal with.

Good luck for a good outcome.

We have done over 30 Costa cruises & have never had a problem finding & speaking to others. We are always sat with English speakers when dining, meet them at the English speaking hosts get-together. Even in the club restaurant often those closest  to our table speak some English.

On our world tour we had two hundred & forty English speaking guests. 

My personal thoughts are because of the club up-grades from inside to a suite with all the benefits, if you meet the requirements.

Funny when Costa phoned me there were three Suites available on the Magica, two on Diadema & Smeralda yet none on line.

Makes me mad that even if I am offering the full price they prefer to offer these to those who cruise once more next year yet we cruised with them at least three time a year

Hi All,

Had a phone call from Costa yesterday offering me cruises from May 21 with extra OBC Sailing from Marseille/ Barcelona or Savona.

No suites available so we are out.

12 hours ago, Bill Miller said:

Please don't tell Captain Francesco Schettino. 

 

Okay we get it you still remember his name.

Looks pretty good, was wondering about the life boat drill but now all being held in the bars & theatres I expect, major boarding ports will be most crowded but think they have got most point covered.

Holding on to a September booking for now see how things go, as I am a very vulnerable person to any cough/cold.

No just about the same as the new Costa prices, maybe £50/100 more but certainly better perks like free internet.

I agree Bob, I think the whole cruise industry will take a long time to recover there will be no doubt some good offers to get moving again & lots of people who took F.C.C. but not sure we will ever get back to the level cruising was at before covid struck

So the VIP party and club dining rooms will be even more packed in, what next club points being used to book cruises,

Thanks again for wonderful pictures you kept me sane during the last few weeks, with no new posts in the cruise forums.

Hi Allie,

We live in Birchington so close bye to you.

I have been talking to my friends in Costa's Genoa office, & although they cannot comment on any ongoing refunds they have said they are over-run with the back-log over the cancelled cruises. Given the numbers who have lost the cruise & how those with full packages with most lines which included all flights & transfers will be given priority over cruise only, it may be sometime before everything is sorted, so don't give up hope. 

We have been doing cruises with Costa for twenty three years & all our dealings with them have been sorted, some taking rather a long time, even in 'Normal Days'

Hope you will eventually get your full refunds.

No Gerry prices have always fluctuated almost daily with all cruises Companies, I check at least three times before booking.

15 hours ago, drsel said:

Making suites much more expensive is following the Robinhood principle of life

That is certainly the case with Costa now, I worked until I was 72 for a chance of a chance to enjoy my retirement in style, but not sure I would pay those prices when I can do the same on other lines who give even better service for Suite guests.

As I expected just had offers in from Costa, while great deals for Couples in the lower grades the Suites are now £1000 dearer than our last 8 day cruise,

That said anyone willing to take a chance a balcony cabin  on Semeralda from Savona/Barcelona they are offering 40% off taking a 8 day cruise for two at under £900 for top grade cabin, in Jan 21

I personally think almost everything will go up in price in order to recoup losses.

Our local Government is now saying due to losses from car parking & fines they will either put up council tax or seriously cut services,

Cruise & travel will try to encourage us to book well in advance so that they can operate & pay their way. There has been a steady increase in our two weekly food shop since March & I expect most other things will take some time to become reasonably stable again.

I do not think there will many takers for any empty cabins for a long time, if at all this year. 

Yet another Costa attempt to downgrade the higher Club levels, having been a member for twenty plus years there are far too many guests reaching the top level hence the decline in eating in the Club Restaurant's and wine tasting, kitchen visits & priority boarding and such like becoming a full sized cattle run.

The Costa Club is now a faint mockery of the once privileged few, who stayed loyal to Costa & cruised the most with them. Although we normally have a suite this also has been increased by turning balcony cabins into so called Suites & giving upgrades to anyone who has a few club points & decides to cruise twice every other year.

Perla Diamante members are already overcrowding VIP parties there seems to be so many now.

Now points not expiring, double points for new cruises booked looks like they will be bringing in some more new levels soon. 

Thanks for posting I was thinking I was the only one still looking very day.

Food looks a lot better than our last three/four cruises hope to cruise again late this year. Will try the Smeralda

Hi SpeedySal,

                     Thank you for your kind message & comment.

At 84 we have done many more cruises than even I expected, I do hope to manage another one or two before giving up my Sea Legs.

I think you are right the Costa of old is gone, like many travel groups we will see a big change in the way holidays are booked & taken, Costa will pay a price for the delay in making refunds. My friends who were booked for this week with TUI received their full refund yesterday after being offered F.C.C. twice & a 25% s called bonus. (They were on the phone holding on for just under two hours.) before getting through even then thy were again offered FCC.

From what I have heard & read this seems to be the norm.

Got a Princess booked for October keeping our fingers crossed

We had to cancel our two cruises booked this year in May & Sept, through my continuing decline in health.

Please note; this was in early February & before the virus was around. It took just three weeks to get our money refunded less £50 each pp per cruise. These were booked in 2019 & those were the terms & conditions then.

I also cancelled one cruise early last year although my wife went with her cousin they gave them a suite even though I was not on booking.

I do understand all the frustrations you are having, it must be bad, but I hope you eventually receive any payment back soon.

23 hours ago, SWEMarcus said:

 

Me and my wife got a our train ride cancelled for next week. Phoned them up 2 days ago for a full refund. Showed up on our account today and no hassle at all.

 

I still can't seem to grip that a refund process is simply quite a simple process apparently for some companies whilst not for others. All fair that Corona has an effect on things in the world and for business, but does it really justify that companies withholds your money with no further explanation or compensation for several months?

Today my friend had a email from TUI after their cruise was cancelled refund should be in their bank in the next six weeks.

Italy was in total lock-down some staff ere working from home have told me that it Could take up to 90 minutes to get the okay to refund just one couple. Don't know how true this is , but do know they can't just issue them.

Mt post are about Costa in general although I am loyal to them, it seems to me that most post on forums are against Costa yet you book with them, the worst being heard on board "it's full of Italians"

I have dealt with the for year often with concerns & maybe suggestions, I was given a full refund and another cruise after 9/11 when we did a different itinerary to the one booked since then I have always had a reply to all my e-mails & met with the staff in Savona.

Yes you are entitled to a full refund (less £50) & I personally think you will eventually get it, however Costa is not the only Company holding back or offering FCC I still wait a refund for a Carnival cruise cancelled, 

You seem to think that they can just give refunds at the blink of an eye, it take rather a long time, sometimes months given the huge number & supplies, Crew, Port Fees, laying ships up & trying to get crew home that have completed their contract.

'Voluntary Decision' they had no choice but to cancel hundreds of paid for cruises all over the world, to our benefit & safety due solely to the Corona virus. 

While I agree with everyone's claims on here for their refunds I have dealt with Costa for 30 years & do think eventually you will get your money back, I cancelled two cruises early this year & have been refunded.

To refund 12 ships roughly 1500 couples a week over what 10/twelve weeks is a huge number to even start sorting out, on top of that FCC has always been cruise Companies first call, that has to be taken off your files before any refund can be given.

It is a huge undertaking, but Costa are now booking for 2021 & hopefully won't go bust, so I think you will be repaid, either by Costa, Carnival or your credit card.

Cruising is never going to be the same, & we must all now be very careful booking, we use to book cruise only (lost percentage of our flights & hotels) now everything will be booked via TA or Cruise Line, 

You are right there SpeedySal, the cruise industry will be hit really hard & I don't expect many will survive, along with airlines & TA's.

The loss is colossal immagine just one ship with 3000 passengers booked for twelve months most paying a 25% deposit then multiply  that by Costa's twelve ships out of action for at least six months. Airlines still paying parking fees & maintenance & wages.

It is the end of travel as we knew it.