jerseylily

Costa got back to me. A very poor English reply. Apparently you can only book one year out! So different from other countries in Europe!!!!

Don't forget I am travelling what is 17/18 season. All change...

Costa Favolosa leaving Savona 24th Nov 17. But I may get on in Barcelona. In all cases getting off in Rio.

Customer Service staff say I have to be a country resident to book on that country's website.

I would really love to book a transpacific at the end of November 2017.

I see that it is bookable on the Italian, German and French websites but not on UK.* All with drinks package.

I would love to spend my money. The UK customer phone team advise I will not be able to for one month.

WHY??? Please tell me they are wrong.* They must be. It is making me a little bit angry...

I have emailed Costa with the same question so if I hear anything I will update this post. But if anyone knows how I can book I would be grateful.

Thanks for the swift replies. I think the tux and ' longs' can stay at home this time

We were also thinking of giving it up. Perhaps I should just check cruise reviews from this season. I can't imagine it would be anymore formal than trans pacific can you?

Hi all. Apologies if the had been asked before but... on cruises out of Sydney how formal are the formal nights? What percentage of men would you say wear tuxedo?

I did a China to China on MOT Seas in 2015 and it was totally not what I had ever experienced on a cruise ever. The market is different and the ship adapts totally to it which is totally correct but I just wish I had known in advance that every aspect the cruise would be there but present in unexpected ways. From dining, food, to formal nights, to rooms out of use because too full of gamers and amazing debarking on port days.

Just disappointed rcl did not advise of the culture change before I boarded. At least I could prepare mentally.

.

I waited and was rewarded! 400 pounds off the total priced additionally select drinks package for 2 for the 12 nights...result!

We had a super transatlantic 15 night cruise back from Guadeloupe on the Favolosa commencing 2nd April. I have cruised costa before but some ago and so I was interested in seeing what had changed if anything.

Highlights for us:-

Cabin immaculate and well attended to (much better than my last cruise with NCL in the autumn of 2015 where the cabin was very shabby)

Staff were a bit subdued at first (I feel that there is an element of over management) but they perked up and we had a grand time.

Dining -breakfast menu (different country's breakfasts supplemented by your choice of eggs and extra bacon or sausage (english or german)) in MDR was enough for me but the buffet was great too. The place to sit in the buffet at breakfast or lunch is just up the stairs in the buffet on floor 10 much less hectic and more spacious.

Lunch we did not do every day but if we did then it was in the buffet which dependant on day could be open in one form or another up to 4 or 5 in the afternoon to allow those on tours a chance. Buffet faves were Make your own pizza (my invention) Salt Cod goujons and tempura squid

Dinner - we ate in the MDR - the food was themed italian each night. There were a few great dishes (tuscan octopus salad, Ligurian Ravioli with walnut sauce etc) but you do ideally need to like italian food. There was the odd less nice dish but the waiters were good at helping you choose, Gloria even showing us pictures of all the main dishes to help on her personal phone on one night! Buffet was open every night for dinner as far as I know.

Shows and entertainment - right up my street. A great mix of high octane las vegas style shows, Vibrations, etc. with great dance troupe (Afro Arimba dancers?) and very good "house" singers . They also had less energetic shows featuring operatic tenors/baritones that mixed classical and contemporary and acrobats of the highest order. They even had a fantasy show which combined fairy tales that appealed to all ages and was very well staged. The solo singer called Vicus was just stunning. He really rocked and did a whole show on his own. The bars had good entertainment too but a bit too loud in one or too small bars. The Diamond Atrium and the later shows in the bar on deck 5 forward were great (BTW no way as loud as on the NCL trip where noise "bleed" on the ship was a big problem for me).

Club members welcome back do - this was actually a proper cocktail party! yea! not a cup of coffee and a biscuit or nothing at all as other cruise lines are now offering.

Captains farewell - again an actual party for everyone, Yea!

We did not do any ship organised tours so cannot comment but captain kept us on time at all stops.

All in all what a great trip. Congrats to the whole Costa Team. We will travel with them again.

We have done 3 Costa Transatlantics and find the best solution is to download entertainment on to our iPads before we leave home.

Caryl

Hi Caspall,

Sounds like you are an expert on the transatlantic Costa style. Do they do anything differently for the Transatlantic? number of dress up nights (on 15 night cruise)? special prices on anything like drinks packages for instance? We are doing a transatlantic back to europe in April and gathering as much info as possible. We have travelled with Costa before but only standard cruises.

I just got off the Pearl yesterday, and the MDR menus were the same as the ones I had on the Epic end of August/beginning of September.

I am not up with what has new v old..does this mean a no to new menus?

Hi..has the pearl got the new MDR menus?

Are these to be rolled out for the rest of the fleet? If yes when do you think it will be available?

I knew you would have the answers. We are staying next to the station so we will probably go for the taxi to savona station and train to Genoa then just pray there are no train strikes,....did not think to factor that in...will look at public bus back up!!

Can you give me current information on Costa transfers at end of cruise.? I asked the Costa 'service's team who told me to talk to my TA....So I thought I would ask the experts...Can you buy a transfer when on the ship for a transfer from Savona cruise port to Genoa train station ie centre of Genoa...not the airport.

Did I see on these boards that they were trying new MDR menus? Have they been rolled out to the Pearl yet?

Does anyone know if NCL provide shuttles paid or otherwise from the port to the old walled city?

If you Google it a few things turn up........

The ship docks for what looks like 2 hours in the evening in Colon yo pick up tour passengers. Does anyone know if you can get off the ship and stretch your legs if you have not been on the tours?

PS I did read somewhere that for those staying onboard they open the crew outside deck and have drinks available out there. Can anyone verify that? Many thanks , we are on the Nov 19th sailing.

If you mean partial transits in and out we are on an 11 day including this in November and think that there is one before ours. I too am interested in entertainment on the Pearl, especially any shows on this itinerary. I haven't been on NCL for many years.

I noticed there is a thread that posted the packages, so that is good, but they include white and red, can you swap out whites for red on the ship?

Hi I do not see wine packages listed with the items that you can purchase for your cruise before sailing.

Are wine packages available on Costa now and if yes can you purchase them before sailing or are they only available once you have boarded. I would be very interested in knowing what the current packages are and how much they cost.

I think I have answered my own question to quote NCLs web site 'Please note, only booked shore excursion guests can disembark at Gatun Lake. But everyone is welcome to explore at our port-of-call in Colón.'

Thank you for your swift reply. You mentioned tendering is that to enable people on the ship to get to the lake shore and can you visit the lake shore whilst the ship is at anchor there