mcdermott

I know this doesn't sound like a very important question to most but it is for me:)

Do the windows in the bathroom of the SF suites on the Spirit open?

We live a block from the ocean and are used to being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the Atlantic, I noticed in pictures of the suite that the bed is in a separate room from the balcony door that we always leave open when sleeping.

We have a balcony room booked for now.

I have stayed in 10018 and the window in the bathroom dont open however I to like to listen to the sea and as there are no doors in the suite other than the loo and shower.You can hear the sea whilst lying in the sleeping area

I usually order the first glass of wine and when its delivered I smile sweetly and ask could you please keep it coming always works for me

I am on this cruise and have been on the ship and others of NCL.I find that there are people well dressed and not so.It will be Christmas and the specialty restaurants usually have people who are dressed for the occasion.My husband wears a lounge suit but not a Tux I wear long dresses for the dress up dress down evenings Hope this helps I would also take something warm for during the day the last three cruises in the last 6 months the ships have been quite cool

and the weather wont be that warm outside

I have quite a few food allergies and found that when they took those foods out the meal was tasteless However I eat in all the other pay restaurants and they are fine I personally would choose another venues but it depends on allergies.I am well on from Platinumand I havent been ill yet

As you are in Europe have you tried booking celebrity UK They have certainly help me with queries and also allowed me to upgrade the drinks package even when booked in US

I am aware of that but I will have completed my 3 cruises in 1year but they appear to be discarding this provision.I dont want anything but that which I was told

We were golden pearl and were downgraded to pearl because we hadnt sailed with them for three years.We were told if we sailed with them 3 times in the next year we would get golden pearl back.Now it is looking like we wont why do Costa always get thing wrong.

The only problem you will find with taxis in this city is that they all overcharge.

I thought it was something they did to foreigners but after speaking to Spaniards they to report that they are ripped off by taxi drivers be warned

The correct fare from the Airport to the Cruise port is €29 you will be lucky if you get if for€40

why dont you do it before you go?

I sailed HAL once. I actually thought the cabin was a more intelligent layout and bigger than a comparable balcony cabin on Celebrity. The bed was heavenly, although that was before Celebrity put in its new beds.

 

The service, however, was terrible. Our bathroom had not been properly cleaned. The toilet didn't work. Took 3 calls to guest relations to get that fixed. It got really old wandering the ship in search of a functioning restroom. Food was OK, but Celebrity is better. Service in the MDR was indifferent.

 

I would be reluctant to take a long cruise on HAL after that experience, even though they have some very interesting itineraries.

 

Linda

 

Have just returned from 3weeks in Artic circle on Prindendam and we really enjoyed the cruise this is a very old ship but everything was great they make the best French fries at sea however we are looking forward to October when we sail on the Equinox.My DH likened it to an old peoples home even the lifts smelt of old people and there were lots of wheel chairs and zimmer frames.We are not young late 60s early 70s but we felt very young.I find it difficult choosing between more modern ships with badly behaved kids or geriatric cruise companions.We are Elite with x so have sailed many times with her.

I was taken on a tour of the Equinox engine rooms and later had dinner with the ships chief engineer he assured me there was no problem drinking the water (I have a very delicate stomach)

Norovirus does not seem as previlant here in Europe we have done many cruises all over the world they had it on the QM2 on a world cruise a few years ago.I caught it on an NCL ship doing the Chilean Fjords so it doesnt seem to mattter on the class of ship basically its down to fellow passenger hygiene.I have just returned from the Costa Luminosa and that ship had cells to break for entry and exit of the bathrooms which I thought was a good idea

I have had 13 cruises with Costa and the only one that was early was the last one out of Miami.In February we were one of the first at the port 1115am dropping the luggage wasnt difficult and we could have gone off we waited we are pearl suites were number 1 golden pearl 2 etc. However if you checked your luggage got your number and then left you would then be able to walk straight on when you came back

Dont know about the Pacifica but have been on Diadema and Luminosa in the last 3 months and neither had any buffet after afternoon tea .If you have a premium cabin the room service menu would surfice they also had pizza for

4euros which was really good and better than the pizza they were serving at lunchtime

Please report back about your upcoming TA.

 

Have a great cruise.

Hi we are back and had a great cruise the Luminosa was fabulous the food was great had a really great cruise much better than the Diadema

I guess we.ll never meet then The Diadema was awful more like Butlins at sea than a cruise Horses for courses what ever floats your boat

This was our 12th Costa cruise we hated the ship the crew were so full of themselves they were doing you a favour I was served watered down liquer in the bar and when I complained to the bar manager was told it was the bottle had been on the shelf a long time the ship was only three months old then or did they bring half used bottles from other ships.There was a child skateboarding in the pizza restaurant need I say any more.I am sitting in Miami at this moment waiting to board the Luminosa for T A cruise if this is no better it will be my last one with them

Try the club restaurant for your free night it was OK certainly better than the main restaurant but for my money I think its é5 for a pizza and they were fine but like you we can remember when pizza was included.Whatever you do look carefully before ordering in the icecream parlour we thought it was delicious but 2 banana splits were 30é Next week the luminoso maybe we end up eating pizza for 17 dAYS

i guess this was somewhere around the gulf of leon very bumpy and windy even in summer

Smuggling alcohol is a people's sport, but smuggling high wattage electrical appliances puts the ship, passengers and crew safety at risk.

 

Costa as well as all other cruise lines forbid the bringing onboard of such items as irons, hair dryers etc. not for any monetary gain but the paramount reason being the security and safety of the ship and all who sail in her.

 

The ships electrical circuitry is laid out for approximately 1500 Watt per cabin and not like a normal family house or flat, Just think using a power strip on the one socket and attaching a hair dryer, hair straightener, charging phones etc. could overload the cables and start a fire within them and be out of control before it is noticed.

 

These rules are there for a very important reason - SAFETY.

 

Boasting and encouraging others to smuggle is not a good way to end a cruise.

Not wanting to put a damper on this The Spanish blog site has reported that luggage has been impounded to remove hair dryers and straightners on the newly launched DIADEMA

for a week's cruise in early Feb. Never cruised Costa before (have been with Cunard, P&O, Thomson). Really looking forward to trying something different. We've booked AI as well which looks very good value.

Does anyone have any recent food menus please?

I've no preconceptions about Costa - any hints and tips about how to get the most out of the holiday and any info on the following ports (new to us):

Marseille, Naples, La Spezia, Savona.

Thank you!

Hi

We sail 9th Feb out of Barcelona what date are you sailing_

Hi folks,

We are booked to go on the Diadema on Mon 2/02. Cruisenation advised that Costa have not issued tickets to many of the UK passengers. Am concerned that boarding may be difficult due to lack of ticket even though other paperwork is present. Has anyone a similar experience?

Thank you

Waterbuff

Hi

1 Have you been emailed your tickets we are sailing on the 9th*same ship(

If you haven't don't panici n the past we have had nothing other than the receipt for the money we ended up seeing the hotel director and I quote if you are on the manifesto you are sailing so if you take all paperwork you should be fine Have a great cruise IM hoping we do the week after

Im sure by now that we all realise that nothing is a given with Costa having done quite a few repositioning cruises with them it really is up to the animation and how much they put into it.We sailed from Singapore to Savona ( 6 weeks this was a really old ship but the animation crew were brilliant and the number of thing they arranged it was amazing and although the vessel was bad I cried when we left (only time in 80 cruises)

I am a Brit dont live there but do like a cup of tea first thing It starts my day well.I have tried room service many times and the hot water jug has usually had coffee in previously and tastes awfull.I used to take my own small kettle and make tea however a lot of companies including Costa are confiscating them

So I guess I wont be taking my kettle next month on the Diadema

Dont know for definite but I would look at the train

Thank-you so much for that great review we leave in 4 weeks time and I am really looking forward to it.Please enjoy the rest of this cruise your cruise critic buddy in Almeria